Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-12-07
RUTLAND II EkALD.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1865.
Organization of the House.

uFEautLtttoh
Eaitoa' Of he Haala The public jour
mas of the country have INDUCED in
tonsiderable comment upon the ques-
hon as to whether the clerk ofthe United
sates House of Representatives will
tace the names of the members elected
tom the lately rebellious States upon
teroll, and give them voice in the
organlzatiou Of that body. SO far as l
laye observed, this important question
has been discussed as if the whole mat
tn o. demonstration, so far as it depends
upou the admission of members of Con.
gcs, from the reconstructed States,
L IN the hands and under the despotic
control of the Clerk Of the House of
representatives Hence the eager en-
bury, what course will the clerk pur-
sue2 And hence the somewhat ostenta-
tiouS semi Official PRONUNCIATION by the
tlerk that he has dccidcd not to place the
names of members from the late rebel
lious states upon the roll, but to leave
tae question to he settled by the House
\ d the clerk gracieusly adheres to this
heCisOn, no dispute will arise between
him and his masters, the members of the
House in organizing that branch of
Congress to-day. But suppose he
changes his mind In that event the
Washington Republican suggests as the
Cny chance left of keeping out the men,
bers from the South until proper guar
3ntees for the future peace of the coun-
Dry are secured, that they cannot take
their seats without being sworn in, and
they cannot take the oath without COM
hitting perjury. AS If that would be
anything more than a straw in the way
ot those who hesitated not, by the COM
mission Of the same crime, to make
themselves traitors to their country.
Now it seems clear to my mind that
by no law or usage, nor by any power
which is inherent in the duties imposed
ppon him, can the clerk usurp this grave
question, and decide it over the heads
bud in defiance to the will of the Ma
ional Representatives.
A case in point is afforded in the his
tory of the difficulty occasioned by the
double delegation from New jersey, on
the opening of the Goth Congress, in De
Cember, 1889, in consequence of which
was presented to the country and the
world the perilous and discreditable
aspect of the assembled Representatives
Of the people, unable to form themselves
into constitutional body. 1t was in
the midst Of this difficulty, and when
confusion was at its height, that John
Quincy Adams, the old man eloquent"
waved his magician wand over the
House, and brought order out of chaos.
On first assembling the House has no
officers, and the clerk of the preceding
Congress acts, by usage, as chairman of
the body till Speaker is chosen. On
this occasion, after reaching the state
OF New Jersey the acting clerk declined
to proceed in calling the roll, and refused
70 entertain any of the motions which
We're made for the purpose OF extricat-
ing the House from it's embarrassment.
Many of the ablest and most judcious
members had addressed the House in
vain, and there was nothing but disOr-
der in prospect. From Reminiscent
ces by an Old Colony Man in which
some account of this event is given, we
learn that the fourth day opened, and
still confusion was triumphant But
the hour o disenthrallment was at
hand, and scene was presented which
n sent the mind back to those days when
u Cromwell uttered the exclamation
Sir Harry Vane woe unto you, Sir
Harry Vane and in an instant dis
persed the Rump Parliament. Mr.. Gar
land, the clerk, commenced calling the
roll, beginning with Maine, as was then
usual, and was proceeding towards New
Jersey, when Mr.. Adams, who previous
to that time had maintained silence
clasped the front edge OF his desk, where
ne was accustomed to place his hands
to assist him in rising, looking, in the
language of Otway, like the
"-fower eager for his prev"
" New Jersey" calculated the clerk
Mr.. Adams sprang to the floor. ~
rise to interrupt the clerk" was his first
ejaculation.
" Silence, silence" resounded through
the hall. "Hear him, hear Mr.. Adams,
was heard on every side.
In an instant the most profound ST.
lence reigned, and every eye was rivited
On the venerable Nestor. He paused
Tor a moment, and having given Mr.
earland withering look, he proceeded
-, 1t was not my intention" said he
10 take any part in these extraordinary
proceedings. had hoped that thi!
House would have succeeded in organic
ing itself; that speaker and clerl
would be elected, and that the ordinary
business of legislation would be pro
gfeSsed in. This is not the time O
pace to discuss the merits of the con
nlait, a,14a O.,