The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-11-04
The Old Man Eloquent.


quenee of two.fold delegation from
New Jersey, the House was unable, for
some time, to complete its organiza-
ton, and presented to the country aud
the world the perlous and discredita
hle aspect of the assembled representa-
tives of the people unable to, form
themselves into a constitutional body.
On first assembling, the House has no
officers, and the clerk of the preceding
Congress acts, by usage, as chairman
of the body till a 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 TO entertain any of the
motions which were made for the pur-
pose of extricating the House from it's
embarrassment. Many of the able and
most judicious members had addressed
the House in vain, and there was moth
ing but confusion and disorder in
prospect.
The fourth day opened, and still
confusion was triumphant. But the
hour of disenthralment was at hand.
and a scene was presented which sent
the mind back to those days when
Cromwell uttered the exclamation I,
"sir Harry Vane, woe unto you, Sir
Harry Vane!' and in an instant dis
persed the famous Rump Parliament.
Mr.. Adams. from the opening of this
scene of confusion and anarchy, had
maintained profound silence. He
appeared to be engaged most of the
time in writing. To'a common OBJ
server he seemed to be reckless of ev-
erything around him; but nothing, not
the slightest incident escaped him.
The fourth day Of the struggle had
now commenced; Mr.. Hugh H. Gar
land, the clerk, was directed to call the
roll again. ... ~.
He commenced with Maine, as was
usual in those days, and was proceed
ing toward Massachusetts, Il turned
and saw that Mr.. Adams was getting
ready to get the floor at the earliest
moment possible. His keen eye was
riyeteI on the clerk. his hands clasped
the front edge of his desk, where he
always. placed them to assist him in
rising. .,ea...... ......,,a ire
I "New Jersey!" calculated Mr.. Hugh
II. Garland, "and the clerk has to re-
peat that-" ..e
Mr.. Adams sprang to the floor.
III rise to interrupt the clerk !" was
his first ejaculation.
"Silence-silence!'' sound e d
through the hall. "Hear him-hear
him." "Hear what lie has to saw"
"Hear John Quincy Adams |" were the
unanimous CALCULATIONS on all sides.
In an instant the most profound ST.
lence reigned throughout the hall
you might have heard a leaf of paper
fall in any part of it--and every eye
was riyited on the venerable Nestor of
Massachusetts. He paused for a mo-
ment; and, having given Mr.. Garland
a whitening look, he proceeded to ad-
dress the multitude.
'It is not my intention" said he, "to
take any part in these extraordinary
proceedings. l had hoped that this
House would succeed in organizing it.
self; that a speaker and clerk would
be elected, and 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 sub
ject belongs to the House of Represen-
tatiyes which, by the Constitution, is
made the ultimate arbiter of the quail
ifications of its members. But What a
spectacle we here present! We de-
grade and disgrace ourselves, F; we de-
grade and disgrace our constituents
and the country. We do not and can
not organize; and why? Because the
clerk of this. Honse, the mere clerk
whom we create, whom we employ,
and whose existence depends upon our
will, usurps the throne, and sets us,
the Representatives, the vice-regents
of the people, at defiance and holds US
in contempt. And what is this clerk
of yours7 Is he to suspend by his mere
negative, the functions of government,
and put an end to this Copgress7 He
refuses to call the roll 1t is in your
power to compel him to call it, if he
will not do it Voluntarily" Here he
was interrupted by member, who
said that he was authorized to say that
compulsion could not reach the clerk,
who had avowed that he would resign
rather than call the State of New Jer-
sey. "Well, sir, let him resign" con-
tinued Mr.. Adams, "and he may posi-
bly, discover some way by which we
may get along without the aid of his
all-powerful talent, learning and ge-
MUS. If we cannot organize in any
other way-if this clerk of yours will
not consent to our discharging the
trusts confided to US by our constitu-
ents-then let US initiate the example