The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-10-27
The OLD MAN ELOQUENT
from the New York News.1

from the New York News.1
On the opening of the Twenty-sixth Coz
press, in December, 1889, in consequence OF
fwo-fold delegation from New Jersey, th
House was unable, tor some time. to compiet
its organization, and presented to the countr
and the world the perilous and dlscredltabl
aspect of the assembled representatives OF til
people unable to form themselves into cor
stitutional body. On first assembling, th
House has no officers, and the clerk Of tn
preceding Congress acts, by usage, as chail
man If the body till Speaker is chosen. o.
this occasion, after reaching the State of Me-
Jersey the acting clerk declined to proceed i
calling the rod, and refused to entertain an
OF the motions which were made for the pun
pose Of extricating the House from its embar
Fassment. Many of the able and most judi
cious members had addressed the House il
vain, and there was nothing but confusion ant
disorder in prospect
The fourth day opened, and still confusion
was triumphant. Bnt the hour Of disenthral
Dent was at hand, and q scene was presented
which sent the mind back to those days wher
Cromwell uttered the exclamation, "Sir Harry
Vane, woe unto you, Sir Harry Vane! and IL
an instant dispersed the famous Rump Parlla
ment.
Mr.. Adams, from the opening Of this scene
of confusion and anarchy, had maintained q
profound silence. Heappeared to be engaged
most of the time in writing. 10 a common
observer he seemed to be reckless Of every
thing around him but nothing, not the
slightest incident escaped him. The fourth
day of the struggle had now commenced; Mr..
Hugh H. Garland the clerk, was directed to
call the roll again.
He commenced with Maine, as was usual in
those days, and was proceeding toward Mas
sachusetts. turned and saw that Mr. Adams
was getting ready to get the floor at the ear
LEST moment possible. His keen eye was riv-
eted on the clerk, his hands clasped the front
edge of his desk, where he always placed them
to assist him in rising
"New Jersey" calculated Mr.. Hugh H.
Garland, "and the clerk has to repeat that"
Mr.. Adams sprang to the floor.
81 rise to interrupt the clerk " was his
first ejaculation.
"Silence-s silence !" resounded through the
fall. "Hear hm-hear him. "Hear what
he has to sayr' "Hear John Quincy
Adams! were the unanimous CALCULATIONS on
all sides.
In on instant the most profound silence
Teigned throughout the hall-you might have
heard leaf Of paper fall in any part of it
and every eye was riveted on the venerable
Nestor of Massachusetts, He paused for
moment; and. having given Mr.. Garland
whitening look, he proceeded to address the
multitude.
at is not my intention" said he, 'to take
any part in these extraordinary proceedings. /
had hoped that this House would succeed in
organizing itself 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 subject belongs to the House Of
Representatives which. by the Constitution
is made the ultimate arbiter of the qualifica-
ti0ns of its members. But what a spectacle
we here present! We degrade and disgrace
ourselves; We degrade and disgrace our con-
stituents and the country. We do not and
cannot organize I; and why? Because the
clerk Of this House, 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
MS in contempt And what is this
clerk of yours? Is he to suspend by his mere
negative, the functions of government, and
put an end to this Congress He refuses to
cal! the roll 1t is in your power to compel |
[ 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 Jersey ] |
swell, sir, let him resign" continued Mr.
Adams, ''and he may possibly discover some
way by which we may get along without the
aid Of his all-powerful talent, learning and
genius II We cannot organize in any other
ayif this clerk Of yours will not consent to
our discharging the trusts confded to us by
our constituents-then let us initiate the ex-
ample of the Virginia House of Burgesses,
which, when the colonial Gov. Dinwiddie or
dered it to disperse, refused to obey the i'm
perious and insulting mandate; and. like
The multitude could not contain or repress
heir enthusiasm any longer, bat saluted the
Indignant speaker with loud and deafening
cheers, which seemed to shake the capitol to
IL centre. The turmoil, the darkness, "the
'ery chaos of anarchy" which had for three
successive days pervaded the American Con-
sress, was dispelled by the magic. the tails
manic eloquence of single man and once
ion were put in motion.
Having by this powerful appeal brought the
ret unorganized assembly TO a perception of
To hazardous position, he submitted motion
equiring the acting clerk to call the roll.
This and similar motions had already been
made by other members The difficulty was
hat the acting clerk declined to entertain
hem. Accordingly, Mr.. Adams was immedi-
tely interrupted by a burst of voices demand
ng: "How shall the question be put p
Who will put the question:" The voice Of
fr. Adams was heard above the tumult II
intend to put the question myself That
'ord brought order out of chaos. There was
be master mind.
As soon rs the multitude had recovered it.
elf, and the excitement of irresponsible en-
nusiasm had abated, MIR. Richard Barnwell
.hett, Of South Carolina leaped upon one of
,e desks, waived his hand and exclaimed:
II move that the Hon. John Q. Adams
Ike the chair Of the Speaker of this House
nd oficiate as presiding officer till the House
Q organized by the election of its constitu-
onal officers. As many as are agreed to this
i'll say aye; those"
He had not an opportunity to complete the
who are not agreed will say
for the universal, deafening laundering !.
aye" responded to the nomination. +.
Hereupon it was moved and ordered that