Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-31
Written for The EVENING Star.

49, ADAMS In opposing the clerk OF the no use
Of Representatives in the organization Of the
Twenty-si1th Congress had escaped the memory
Of some of your. readers, AZ am informed by
correspondent. and therefore will give the
incident as related to me by an actor in that
exciting scene. There were ct that session Ave
contested seats from the state Of New Jersey,
which In the division Of the House, then SO
close, became important factors in the organ
ization. and the clerk, assuming power which
was denied by Mr.. Adams and other members
Of Congress, placed on the roll only one mem
Der Of Congress from New Jersey, whose seat
was uncontested. The clerk said he would not
undertake to decide between the contestants.
The failure to call the names Of the five men,
bers from Now Jersey who held the governor
cetifcate would give the organization Of the
House Of Representatives to the Democrats,
and as the clerk of the House (Hugh A. Gar
land, esq, was democrat, it was charged he
expected to retain his position under a
democratic organization. The proposition of
from New Jersey from the roll call, though
they held the governors certificate, gave rise
to storm and bitter debate, which lasted I'M
til o'clock Of the first day, when the motion
to adjourn was made, but the clerk refused to
put tie motion because the House was not Or
ganized. There was determination to adjourn,
however, and many members left the house.
The next day and the next the debate in the
unorganized body went on and many resolu-
tons were offered, which only increased the
confusion. Mr.. Adams was called upon to lead
the House out OF this snarl He refused at
first, but said if he did so he should advise the
House to organize themselves. He declined to
interfere, however, but the following day, the
9Th of December, after there had been a length
eped debate, Mr. Adams was recognized by the
clerk, and turning to the House, said: Fellow
citizens and membera-elect of the Twenty-sixth
Congress of the United States, and then roceed-
ed to point out the effect of the two decisions Of
the clerk and called upon the members in the
name of the people of the country and Of man
kind to organize themselves and to secure
decision. He offered a resolution ordering the
clerk to call the members from New Jersey who
held credentials from the governor of the state
The question -7as raised, ''Who will put the
motionY' Mr.. Adams stepped forward and
said: II intend to put the motion myself"
His determination vas received with shouts Of
applause, and MIR. Rhett Of South Carolina
offered and put motion that Mr.. Adams act
as chairman. The motion was carried, and ap-
piause again rung through the hall, and Mr..
Adams was conducted to the chair. Several
days OF debate followed and frequent ballot
ings. but the wings and the opponents of the
administration united to elect the Hon. r. NJ
L. Hunter of Virginia Speaker. The whig party
at that time was very largely represented in both
the House and Senate, and the opposition to
tensified by the financial condition OF the coun-
try. which was in some measure caused. indeed
wholly, as the wings claimed, by the removal Of
the deposits and the destruction of the United
States Bank years before under Gen. Jackson
and the adoption of the monetary system of
Mr. Van Buren's administration. That cause
In great measure secured the election of Gen.
Harrison the following year.
TO EMANcIPATE SLAVES IN THE DISTRICT IN 1861.
met few days ago a gentleman whose
name at one time resounded throughout the
country in connection with the abolition Of
slavery in the District of Columbia. Gen.
James VI. Ashley Of Ohio, in the first session Of
Congress after the election Of Mr.. Lincoln, in
troduced that bill. which was but one short
section, enacting THAT slavery and involuntary
servitude should cease in the District of CO.
lumbia from after the passage of this act"
The committee on the District Of Columbia to
| which the bill was referred and of which Gen.
Ashley was member, was presided over by
| the late Roscoe Conkling.
The excitement the introduction Of this bill
caused was very great. 1t was regarded as q
declaration Of war against the south and the
institution SO intimately connected with its
prosperity was thought to be inseparable
The bill introduced by Gen. Ashley made no
provision for the compensation of the owners
Of this description of property, which was
| recognized by The Constitution, and Mr.. Chase
sent for Gen. Ashley and suggested the intro
duction OF bill which would provide for the
payment Of $500 q head for slaves to loyal
shareholders. Mr.. Chase said Mr.. Lincoln
would not approve the bill unless such provi-
sion was made and desired Gen. Ashley to see
the President and, if possible. prepare such a
bill as would command the necessary votes of
both houses OF Congress and the active sup
port Of the administration. Mr.. Chase also
said Mr.. Lincoln seriously consider
ing the practicability OF compensat-
ing the border states if they
would take the initiative and emancipate the
slaves. Gen. Ashley saw the President on the fol-
lowing day, about the 7th or 9Th day of March
1861, and it was agreed that Gen. Ashley should
ask for the appointment Of Senator on the part
Of the Senate District committee to unite in
framing bill upon which the committees of
the House and Senate would report favorably,
and which would have the Presidents ap-
proval and the support Of many OF the Rep
resentatives from the border states a. could be
induced to vote to 'initiate emancipation" as
Mr.. Lincoln expressed it. Senator Lot NJ
Morrill, Of Maine was appointed, and with Gen.
President and Mr.. Chase. One million of dol
lars was appropriated to pay for the slaves Of
loyal owners" at price not to exceed
$500 per head, as agreed upon. The bill was
reported from the committee on the Dis
trict Of Columbia on the 18th of March. 1862.
and on the 18th of April, 1862, the bill az
| amended by the Senate passed the House by q
vote OF " in favor of to 80 against it and at
once secured the signature OF the President A
commission was appointed to take testimony
| and decide on the value of the property to be
paid for, and the Hon. Horatio King. Hon.
Samuel F. Vinton of Ohio and Mr. Goodloe
were appointed on the commission. As an
appraiser to determine the value of the slaves
emancipated Mr.. Campbell, who was engaged
In slave dealing on very large SCALE was Sc
lected and performed the duty with such dis
elimination as WAS satisfactory to the owners
| and the commission. The action OF Congress
was positive relief to the owners Of slaves in
the District of Columbia, for they were
Of little value, and in the case of many families
| they would gladly have set them free but that
| q law then in existence forbade it unless de-
ported from the surrounding states This
| feature was an abhorrent one for the city was
| their home, as it was ours, and the feudal at
tachment existing between these families and
| the slaves they had reared cannot be understood
out Of the states where slavery existed.
ANOTHER EXCITING SCENE IN THE HOUSE
One of the most exciting scenes witnessed in
the House Of Representatives was detailed to
me by Gen. Ashley in my interview with him.
| Following up his success in abolishng slavery
| in the District Of Columbia Gen. Ashley, on
the 14th Of December. 1868, introduced a
proposition to amend the Constitution, abol-
| ishing slavery in all the states and territories
| Of the nation, and it was referred to the COM
| mittee on the Judiciary. On the 10Th of June.
1864. the House voted on theproposed consti.
| tutional amendment, and it was defeated by
. vote Of ninety-four for IL and sixty-fiye