Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-31
THE OLD MAN ELOQUENT.

was unable, for some time, to complete its or
ganiZstion, and presented to the country and
tne world the peIiious and discreditAble aspect
OF the assembled representatives OF the people
unable TO form themselves into a constitutional
body. On first assembling, the House hiss no
otfeers, and the clerk OF the preceding Con-
gress, acts, by usage, sS chairman OF the bod Y
till q Speaker is chosen. on this occasion, after
reaching the State of New Jersey, the acting
clerk declined to proceed in calling the rolf,
and refused to entertain any of the motions
which were made for the purpose Of eXtricgting
the House from its embarrassment. Many OF
the able and most judcious members had al
DIRE sseu the House in vain. aud there was moth
ing but Confusion and disorder in prospect.
The fourth day opened, and still confusion
vas triumphant, But the hour IF disentnral-
nent Was at hand, ard a scene'was presented
which sent The mind back to those days when
Cromw uttered the exclamation, sir Harry
hane! woe unto you, Sir Harry Nanr." anu in
ment.
MI. Adams from tie opening of this scene of
confusion aud anarchy, had maintained y pro-
fCuId sileUce. he appeared 10 be engaged
most OF the time in writing. TO common
observer he seemed 20 be reckless of everything
aIOund him; but nothing, not the slightest incl
mt escaped him. The fourth day of the
struggle had now commenced; Mr.. Hugh II.
Garland, the clerk was directed 10 call the roll
again.
He CONNIE need with Maine, as was usual in
those days, and was proceeding toward Msssa-
Chusetts. ! turned and saw that Mr.. Adams
was Tt ady 10 get the door at the earliest nome M
lCSslnle. 6lS Keen eye was rlyeteG the clerk.
his hands olssped the front edge OF his de-k ,
wtere he always placed them to assist Tin in
rising.
"New Jersey" calculated Mr.. Hugh H.
Garland, "srd the clerk has to repeat that
Mr.. Adams sprang to the !oOr.
81 rise to Interrupt the clerk' was has first
ejaCu' alton.
"Silence-si!ence!, resounded throupb the
hall. Hear him-hear HIM" Hear what he
has to sayI' "Hear John Quincy Adams
were the unanimous CALCULATIONS on all sides.
In inst FAINT Ia rNfa, GOD
Teigred throughout the hall-you might have
heard a leaf OF paper fall in any part VI it-and
every eye was riveted on the venerable NestOr
OF Massachusetts. He paused for moment:
and, having given Mr.. Garland a whitening
look, he proceeded TO address the multitude:
sit was not my intention" said he, r'to take
airy part in these extr aOrdinary proceedings.
had hoped that this house would succeed in or
ganizing itself; that a Speaker and clerk would
be elected, and that the ordinary business Of
legislation would be progressed in. This is not
the time or place to discuss the merits OF the
conflicting claimants for seats from New Jersey;
that subject belongs to the House of Represen-
tatives, which, by the Constitution, is made the
ultimate arblter OF the qualification OF its mem
bers. But what spectacle we here present!
We degrade and Disgrace ourselves; we degrade
and disgrace our constituents and the country.
We do not and cannot organize: and why? Be-
cause the clerk OF this House, the mere clerk
whom we create, whom we employ, ana whose
existence depends upon our will, usurps the
throne, and sets US, the representatives, the
vice-regeDtS Of the whole American peopls AT
defiance and holds US in contempt? Ana what
is this clerk of ours? Is he to suspend by his
mere negative, the functions OF government,
and put an end to this Congress. He refuses
to call the roll! 1t is in your family to compel
him to call il, if he will not do it Voluntarily"
Here be was interrupted by member, who
said that he was authorized to say that cOmpul-
sion could not reach the clerk, who had avo we'd
that he would resign rather than call the State
of New Jersey: ''Well, sir, let him resign"
continued Mr. Adams, "and we NAV possibly
discover some way by which we can get along,
without the aid OF his al-pOweTful talent, learn
ing and genius. If we cannot organize in any
other Way-it this clerk or ours will not con-
sent to our dischaTging the trusts confided TO
Us by our cOnstituents-then let us initiate the
example of the Virginia House OF Burgesses,
which, when the colonial Governor DiDWit,lie
ordered II 70 disperso, refused 10 obey the
iHTerious and insulting mandate; ana, like
mer-'
The multitude could not contain or repress
their enthusiasm any longer, bUtsaluted the III
dignantspeaker with loud and deafening cheers,
which seemed to shake the capitol to its center.
The turmoil, the darkness, ''the very chaos of
anarchy" which had fer three successive DAYS
pervaded the American Congress, was dispelled
by the magic, the talismanic elOq uence of a sin
gle man; and once more the wheels of govern
ment and legislation were put in motion.
HaTiDgby this powerful appeal brought the
yet unoTganized assembly to a perception of its
hazardous position, he submitted a motion re-
curing the acting clerk to proceed 10 call the
roll. This and similar motions had already been
made by other members. The difficulty was
thstthe acting clerk declined to entertain them
Accordingly, Mr. Adams was Immediately iu-
terrUPted by burst of voices demanding;
How shall the question be put?'' "wh0 VII
put the Question: The voice of Mr.. Adams
was heard above thetumult: 81 intend to put the
question myself.' That word brought order ont
OF chaos. There WAS the master mind
As soon as the multitude had recovered itself
and the excitement of irresponsible enthusiasm
had sbated, Dir. Richard BaIDwelI Rhett OF
South Carolina leaped upon one OF the desks
waved his hand and exclaimed:
81 move that the honorable John Q. Adams
take the chair Of the Speaker of this house and
ofhcate as presiding officer till the House be or
gained by the election of its constitutional of
heefs AS many as are agreed to this will say aye;
those"
He had not an opportunity to complete the
senteuce-"thOse who are not agreed will saw
no''-for the universal, deafening, laundering
"aye" responded to the nomination.
HereuPOn 1t was moved and ordered that
Lewis Williams of North Carolina and Richard
Barnwell Rhett conduct John Quincy Adams to
the chair. In speaking Of this scene; Mr.. Wise
OF Virginia said SSH, I regard 1t as the proud
est hour Of your life; and if, when you shall be
gathered 10 your fathers, were asked to select
the words which, in my judgment are best cal
culated TO give at once the character Ofthe man,
would inscribe upon your tomb this sentence
81 will put the question myself"
Too OLD TO SRPARATR.-The Des Moines