Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1865-11-23
A Scene in the House Of
Congress twenty-five
Years Ago.

tion of the House of Congress, it
may be interesting and instructive
to look back upon the history of
that body twenty-five years ago
Those who suppose that the pres
ent threatening and unfortunate
condition of the House, is new
thing, are mistakens
On the opening of the 26th
Congressin December, 1889, two
fold delegation from New Jersey
appeared, and claimed seats. As
customary, then and now, the
clerk of the preceding body was
officiating as presiding officer be.
fore the election of Speaker. From
some motive, or stupidity and
rtubbornness, the acting clerk, in
calling the roll of members, upon
coming to New Jersey, invariably
refused to proceed with the call
He also declined to entertain anv
OF the motions made with a view
TO eXtricate the House from its
difficulty. Many of the eldest
and ablest members had addressed
the House in vain.
The fourth day had opened with
the prospect of continuance of
the same state Of affairs. We
quote from the Life of John Quin-
cy Adams:
"Mr. Adams, from the opening
of this scene of confusion and an
nrchy, had maintained a profound
silence. He appeared to be en-
gagged most Of the time in writing.
To q common observer, he seemed
to be reckless of everything around
him-but nothing, not Ethe slight
est incident escaped him. The
fourth day of the struggle had
now commenced; Mr.. Hugh H.
Garland, the Clerk, was now di.
,rected to call the roll again.
"He commenced with Maine, as
was usual in those days, and was
proceeding towards Massachusetts,.
l turned and saw that Mr.. Adams
was ready to get the floor at the
earliest moment possible. His keen
eye was riveted on the Clerk; his
hands clasped the front edge of his
desk, where he always placed
them to assist him in rising. He
looked, in the language of Of
way, like the
"-Fowler eager for his prey"
'New Jersey!" CALCULATED Mr..
Hugh Ii. Garland, "and the Clerk
has to repeat that"
Mr.. Adams sprang to the floor
81 rise to interrupt the Clerk -
was his first ejaculation.
"Silcnce, silence" resounded
through the hall: s.hear him. hear
him! Hear what he has to say:
hear John Quincy Adams! was
the unanimous ejaculation on all
sides.
In an instant the most profound
silence reigned throughout the
hall-you might have heard a
leaf of paper fall in any part of it
and every eye. was riveted en-
the venerable Nestor of Massa-
rhusetts-the purest statesman
md the noblest of men! He
paused for a moment, and having
given Mr.. Garland a
'-'-Withering look"
he proceeded to address the multi,
tudei:
at was not my intention" said
he. "to take any part in these ex-
traordinary proceedings. 1 had
hoped that this House would sue
coed in organizing itself; that a
Speaker and Clerk would be elect
ed, aud that the ordinary business
of Legislation would be progressed
in. This is not the time, or place,
to discuss the merits of the con-
flicting claimants for seats from
New Jersey; that subject belongs
to the House of Representatives
which, by the Constitution, is
made the ultimate arbiter of the
qualifications ofits members. But
what spectacle we here present..
We degrade and disgrace our
selves; we degrade and disgrace
our constituents and the country.
We do not, and cannot organize,
and why? Because the Clerk of