The New York herald., 1877-10-16
FROM ouR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.


oREss-ToRaGALrr1Es WITHOUT EXCEPTIONAL
NCrDENr-rHE CONTESTED SEATS.
The opening Of the Fcrty-ntth Congress was far in
fcrior In activity and dramatic TO tho inaugura-
Of It's predecessor. There crowds Of people
in tho gallery and huryburiy in tho Corridors but
with the Speaker tho chair and almost oil the
officers at their posts tho and around
tho floor rcsemblod rather proongaton Of tho IA
Forty Congress In dullcr and less exciting
times From tho galleries tho most conspicuous
change the Dew carpet, and tho freshly uphol-
stored desks framed in oak covered with green writing
cloths looking ike myriad square green islands
on sea OF grecn carpet Everybody looked for
row. but were disappointed. LOUISIANA. Florida
aud Colarado came and went without dig
turbance, II We except q short interludc in
which Nj. Eugene Halo, by questioning tho action
Of tho Clerk in che matter OF tho Colorado Congress
man, perpetratcd bunder the facts Of tho casc
but speedily rectincd by gracefully Withdrawing his
opposition to the supposed enrolment OF the domo-
cratic contestant Tho skill and ability with which
Clerk Adams acquitted himself Of the delicate duties
dcvoving upon him In the organizing Of the House
wcro admired and commended by democrats and re-
publicans alike. A. each stage o the roll call
whore objection waskciy to be madc 10 his In
putting on the namcs OF ono party tho other he
road an explanation logical frank In IT'S reasons
to silence anything like hostility the part OF
those who had felt themselves aggricved by him
and 10 win tho appreciation of all impartial
observers Of the The election OF the
Speaker followed and tho ormalitics oil INDUCED
by both majority and minority. Tho only novel
feature OF this proceeding was the point blank re-
fusal Of Mr.. Kelley other republicans to
vote for General Garfield anybody else. Mr.
Kelloy's objection giving General Garfield the CON-
plment OF his vote was based, It said, upon his
unwillingness to support oven by Of compliment
q free trador.
The swearing in Of the members developed the usual
amount OF fun when the squads OF Confederate
coloneis and brigadicrs dropped their upted hands
and foil hack out Of line tho sy iron.cad oath
only TO reform and tako position more when the
Clcrk administered the modified or simple oath
Drawing Tor seats took the rost OF the day. the perform
ancc being again turned into source o: constant
amusement, the luoxy n:embevs whose names came
out OF tho box first being greeted with rounds OF ap
plause Tho New York city delegation fortunate
enough to out early tho drawing that they
succeeded IN getting seats all in row.
Immediately after tho House Is ready for business
tomorrow IL Is tho intention Of General Garfield to
move that Mr.. Beford, the membcr-elect from Col
orado be seated without waiting for tho action OF
House Committee on Elections Tho leading repub.
lican members OF tho House characterize tho
action OF Mr. Adams to-day, however well
defended, as gravo intermcddng with tho rights OF
sovereign Stato tho declaration OF which the House OF
Representatives has, without exception always re-
spccted. The argument OF republican members in tho
House is that the authority OF State be ques.
toned by the House, and tho OF Mr. Beford pro-
sents the extraordinary fact OF the clerk of
q dead House Of Representatives, which was largely
democratic, interfering with tho dignity OF State
Cnr whn
he expected to make with his notion said that It de-
pended entirely upon whether republicans had any
rights which the democrats intended to respect Tho
facts plain admit Of argument or oven con.
trovcrsy.
The Louisiana and Florida cases, In which objcc-
ton has been made, wtl Of course bring up afrcsh
the question OF the relative Jurisdiction of the rival
returning boards in those States as well as the legal
ity Of tho proceedings taken by them in determining
candidates -elect.
THE LENGTH OF THE SESSION VIEWS OF
DEMOCRATS ON THE QUESTION.
II Is thought that caucus Of democratic represen
tativcs Will be held at an early day to consider the
subject of the length OF the special session.
The talk tonight indicates that tho impor
tance Of tho November elections will govern
the action OF the caucus. Many members
think tho best policy for democrats to pursue IS TO
hold snort session. allowing time only for The organ
ization OF the House and tho passage of the Army
Deficiency BILL and thus to allow full play to tho in
nuenco OF tho Ohio victory without the intervening OF
Congressional action or mcasurcs. rtrr
THE NEW CHAPLAIN OF THE HOUSE OF REP
REsENTATIvEs-AN OLD TIME CHARACTER.
Tho venerable Dr. John Poisa, chaplain olect OF the
House OF Representatives, was once a shoemaker In
Martnsburg, W. Va, and studied theology while
working on his bench. Hc has passed his hticth year
In tho ministry OF the Methodist Church. and Is n
fno representative Of tho rugged, self-educatcd
aud old time circuit workers OF that
denomination. Hc was formerly a pastor in New
York and was connected for years with tho religious
press. An interesting story related Of tho
sion OF Congressman j. Randolph Tucker OF Virginia.
by means OF powerful preached several years
since by Dr. Poissl. Mr. Tucker IS eaid TO have ocen
an avowcd sccptic previous to hearing tho elo-
qucnt pleading OF the old circuit rider, anu in the
recent contest for the position Of chaplain the
agea minister had no warmer advocate than the noted
Virginia represcn tave DR.. Poisal Is almost entirely
blind Hc is said TO know the Bib,e and Methodist
hymn book almost entirely by heart hts want OF eye
sight being compensated Tor by a wonderful memory
and studous habits. Ho is said to be exceedingly SEN
ssve about his affective sight, and has performed re-
markabe fcats or mcmoriziug to conceal IL.
THE ASSOCIATE JUsrIcEsHIP-nEAsoNs WHICH
AcTUATED THE PRESIDENT IN THE APPOINT
MxNT or GENERAL HARLAN.
Tho selection OF General Harlan, OF Kentucky TO
DO Associate Justice Of the Supreme Court in tho
place OF David Davis, made aftcr . careful study
Of tho claims OF the other applicants md is believed
to bo = concession to . political consideration
enforced by the result OF the election In OHIO
The President Is mindful OF the fact that the States Of
Arkansas Missouri. Texas, Louisiana Florida nave
II claim Tor a representative upon the Bonoh
who shall be thoroughly vorsco in their blended
system Of civil and common law growing out
OF tho old Spanish rt0ime but there
capable Of q ling tho position whose per-
sonal and legal qualities open TO strong cr-
cism in the senate. Several OF tho names
presented wcrc cxcolicntly recommended, cspcci-
ally Judge Hunt Of Louisiana: but tho con.