The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1893-09-13
ssIlear Johu Quincy AdamsI,,

John Quincy Adamsls
It was one of the most dramatic
incidents in American history. The
Twenty Sixth Congress, which be.
gan in December, 1899, had been in
session three days, and yet it had
not been able to organize. 1t was
the custom for the clerk of the
preceding Congress to act as the
chairman of the new Congress un.
til it bad organized and elected a
Speaker. Mr.. Hugh 81. Garland,
the clerk refused to proceed in call
ing the roll after reaching the State
of New Jersey, because the mem,
bership from that State was in dis,
Epute.
The fourth day opened, and con.
fusion still prevailed The clerk
had began he roll call with Maine.
and, as he was proceeding toward
Massachusetts, John Quincy Adams,
ex- President of the United States,
one of the most learned and most
eloquent statesman of the world,
was seen to clasp the front edge OF
his desk to assist him in rising, for
he was an old man. His keen eye
was riveted on the clerk.
New Jersey" called Mr.. Gar
land, "and the clerk has to repeat
that"
Before he could finish the sentence,
Mr.. Adams sprang to the floor, and
said:
81 rise to interrupt the clerk"
"Silence! Silenccr' resounded
through the Hall. "Hear himl
Hear himl Hear what he has 10
sayI Hear John Quincy Adams. .
In an instant the most profound
silence reigned throughout the Hall.
Mr.. Adams said: "This is not the
time or place to discuss the merits
of the conflicting claimants for seats
from New Jersey; that subject be-
longs to the House of Representa-
tives, which by the Constitution is
made the ultimate arbiter of the
qualifications of its members. But
what spectacle we hero present
We degrade and disgrace ourselves;
we degrade and disgrace our. con.
stituents and the country. We do
not and cannot organize; and why?
Because the clerk of this House, the
mere clerk, whom we create, whom
we employ, and whose existence de,
pends upon our will, usurps the
throne, and sets US, and the repre-
sentatives and vicegerents of the
whole American people, at defiance,
and holds us in contempt And
what is this clerk of yours? Is he
to control the destinies of sixteen
millions of freeman2 Is he to sus.
pend, by his mere negative, the
functions of government, and put
an end to this Congress2 He refuses
to call the ROLL 1t is in your power
to compel him to call it, if he will
not do it voluntary"
Here Mr.-Adams was interrupted
by a 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
"Well, sir" exclaimed Mr.. Ad.
ans, "then let him resign, and we
may possibly discover some way by
which we can get along without the
aid of his all-powerful talent, learn.
ing and genius. If we cannot or
ganize in any other way, if this
clerk of yours will not consent to
our discharging the trusts confided
to us by our constituents, then lei
us initiate the example of the Vir.
ginia House of Burgesses, which
d when the Colonial Governor, Din.
widdie ordered it to disperse, re-
! fused to obey the imperious and in.
sulting mandate, and, like men
Before Mr.. Adams could finish the
sentence the whole body, together
with the multitude of on-lookers
unable longer to repress their enthu-
siasm, burst into cheers. The anar.
chy of the past three days was dis,
PEELED in moment.
Several members shonted: "How
shall the question be putt" "Who
will put the question:" Above the
tumult Mr. Adams voice was heard;
az will put the question myseIfP''
Mr.. Richard B. Rhett, of South
Carolina, leaped upon desk, waved
his hand, and exclaimed:
al move that Hon. John Quincy
Adams take the chair of the Speaker
J of this House, and oficiate as pre-.
siding officer till the House be or
ganized by the election of its con-
stitutional officers. As many as are