The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-14
Mr.. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, AND THE
CONGRESS OF 1889.
A Conclusive Precedent for Louisiana.
Editor New Orleans Bulletin

Editor New Orleans Bulletin:
In an editorial contained in your paper of
the 9th instant, you expose with great force
the legality of the late organization of the
Conservative party in the House of Represen-
tatives of Louisiana, and you conclude your
article with an extract from the st. Louis Re
publican, to support your position. The ex-
tract is as follows:
The following is apropos of our case:
"When, many years ago, the organization
of the National House of Representatives was
hindered by an impudent though perfectly
parliamentary clerk, acting in the interest Of
factious minority, John Quincy Adams did
not hesitate to override usage and him self put
the motion which virtually kicked the clerk
out of doors and thereby permitted the prose-
cution of public business And public opin-
ion placed the scandal Of the performance not
upon the shoulders Of Mr.. Adams, but upon
the real authors thereof. And so it will be In
the present case."-&. Louis Republican, 9Th
inst
If the above extract exposed the precedent
truly, with all the force it rightfully carries to
your position, nothing need further be said
about it. But it does not. 1t has many
errors. Will you allow me, who was present
and witnessed the whole transaction in the
Congress of the United States, III 1889, to
narrate it?
The House of Representatives had been for
four days striving in vain to effect an organi-
zation. The Cle7k; was the Clerk of the pre-
vio7s Congress, and was not an 'impudent
Clerk" He pretended to do only what all his
predecessors had done-by the tacit acGuies-
cence of previous Houses of Congress-cau the
roll of the members elected to organize the House.
His right to do this, unless with the unani-
nous consent of the members of the new
Congress- Of which he was not an officer, was
glaringly apparent, as soon as the question
was made. He, in fact. had no more right to
call the roll of the new House, and thereby
determine, without even protest, who were
rightfully entitled to be on the roll, and to
take seats in the House for its organization,
than any other citizen in the United States.
The House, by the Constitution, was empow-
cred exclusively to organize itself No at
tempt in this direction, amidst all the agita-
ton in the House, had been made. At length
Mr.. Rhett, member from South Carolina,
made the effort, which proved successful by
seating Mr.. Ade1ns in the Speakers chair.
After a speech, calling upon the members to
put an end to the discreditable and dangerous
condition Of things in the House, Mr.. Rhett
proposed that the House should enforce the
purpose, he proposed that Mr.. Adams, the
Oldest member in the House, should assume
the chair as temporary Speaker OF Chairman
But who was to put the question? MIR. Rhett
put the question himself to the House, and
pronounced it carried by o large majority. Mr.
Adams, however, did not move from his seat
to take the chair. He sat ne arthe Speakers
chair; but Mr. Rhett's seat was near the peri
phery Of the semi-circle, which inclosed the
seats Of the members.
Mr.. Rhett then moved that Mr. Williams,
Of North Carolina, Ohen the oldest member
Of the House, and himself, should be ap-
pointed by the House committee to wait on
Mr.. Adams and conduct him to the Chair.
He put this molten also to the House; and
declaring it carried, Immediately advanced
down the aisle to Mr.. Adams and said to him,
- a1r. Adams, you have heard the voice OF the
House clllng You to the temporary Speaker
ship, allow me to conduct you to the Chair.
Mr.. Adams rose and took his arm, and they
assembled together the dais on which the
chair was placed. Mr.. Adams being thus
seated, took the gavel, and the House imme-
diately and easily organized ITSELF
In all these transactions party seems to have
been utterly ignored. Mr. Rhett was esteemed
to be an extreme Southern man /; Mr.. Adams
an extreme Northern man MIR. Rhett was
Democrat Mr.. Adams Wing Mr.. Rhett
was Of the majority; Mr.. Adams of the minor
ity. The interests and honor of the country
seem to have united these men, and to nave
inspired the House Of Representatives. Con-
gress to cast off the unexpected and discredit-
able embarrassments which reflected SO in
juriously upon our then free institutions of
The precedent these transac-
tons established most forcibly support the
organization Of the late House Of Representa-
tives in the Louisiana Legislature. Let us
see:
gress refused to allow the Clerk of the pre-
in their organization, and virtually to deter
mine who were the members entitled to assist !
in their organization. The Louisiana House |
Of Representatives did no more-no less.
2. An elected member OF the House (Mr. |
Rhett, known to be such on all sides), in the |
House Of Representatives in the Congress of |
he United States, moved that another mem |
Der (Mr. Adams, also known to be elected) !
should be appointed its temporary Chairman,
70 effect an organization of the House. Was |
not this exactly the purport Of Mr. Bilious |
motion to place Mr.. Wilt in the temporary
hair of the House of Representatives of Lou
siana
3. The member thus appointed to the tenn
oorary Speakership in Congress assumed the
chair, and discharged its functions by effect
ng an organization Of the House. Mr.. Witt
,niy followed Mr.. Adams in assuming the
hair OF the Speakership and organizing the
House of Representatives of Louisiana
The precedent in 1889, in the Congress Of
he United States, thus appears to be abso-
utely complete, and supports, in every point,
our position.
AN Ex-MEMBRR OF CONGRESS.