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) Sri-OJcchlji €l)rottick&ocitiiicl ml. vv. & W. S JONES. AUGUSTA, Ga. TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 24, 1840. VoL jy.—No. 35. IrTllU CHRONICLE AND SENTINEL. IS PUBLISHED I D JLY TRI-WEEKLY, AND WEEKLY, At No. 209 Broad-slrect. terms: Kgailjpaper, Ten Dollars per annum, in advance. BIW Weekly paper , at Six Dollars in advance or ■BfSjven at the end of the year. *l Weekly pap ’r, Three Dollars in advance,or Four at ■ the end of year. BhIIONICLE AND SKNTLNEL. AUGUSTA. MONDAY MORNING, MARCH 23. fcw, (£/■ See first page. “ The crowded state of our columns to-day, and our wish to give place to the most important news by th British Queen, do not permit the insertion of the Report of the Minority of the Committee on the New Jersey Election. It will appear to-morrow. f The Hanisburg Keystone, alluding to the peo ple and the banks, says, “but having so long borne the evils which have resulted to all from the de- | nu gement of the currency and licentiousness of the banks, a little longer delay on the part of the legislature may be tolerated, for the sake of great >. er security and stability hereafter.” jjh The Philadelphia Inquirer of the 19th, says, letter from Harrisburg states that the Commit- B|eo of Conference have been unable to agree, and »,have determined to ask for two more members fefrom each House. Also, that a minority report f has been submitted by (he Committee on Internal ir Improvement, which goes against borrowing any gmore money, until the State Debt is reduced. It makes appropriations only for repairs. Correspondence of the North American. New York, March 17, 3 p. m. The President and Cashier of the Manhattan Bank have both resigned. The report of the in vestigating committee is printed and advertised for delivery to stockholders to-morrow morning. / The opinion of the brokers is not changed mate rially by what has leaked out, as they offered 74 > at the Board. Geneset (lour stands bettor to-day, in conse quence of the sales which I mentioned yesterday $5 1-3 is the lowest price. But Southern is dull and cheap, as at the close of last week. The sales of Cotton are only one lot of Upland good fair at 8} cents, 60 bales. Stocks rose to-day, hut I do not doom it neces sary to repeat the details of changes, as your readers will see them in the sales which you copy from our reports. Domestic Exchanges.—Philadelphia, 6J ; Baltimore, 5J ; Richmond, 6} a 7; Charleston, 3J a sj ; Savann ih, 6 ; Augusta, 8 ; Macon, 9 a 10 ; Mobile, 6 ; New Orleans, 5$ a SJ. Washington, March 12. Thefo'lowing Resolutions were offered by our Representatives, Messrs. Dawson and Habersham in the course of last week : On motion of Mr. Dawson, Resolved, That the Secretary of War he re quest'd, as soon as lie can conveniently, to lay before the House the claims of the Stale of Georgia against the United States, for payments made for military services rendered by the militia arul volunteers of the State, during the Seminole, Cherokee, and Creek campaigns, curing the years 1835, &c.,and which said claims were presented for payments to the Secretary of War, by Iverson L. Harris, Esq. during the year 1838; and that t..e Secretaiy accompany such claims with such views as ho may deem due to the Slate, with the reason why said claims could not ho paid, under existing laws. Mr. Habersham submitted the following, which lies over: Resolved. That the Committee on the Judiciary do inquire into the necessity or expediency of so amending the Constitution of the United States, as that the same shall define and prescribe the evidence upon which persons claiming to be members of the House of Representatives of the United Slates, shall take their scats in the House, and he entitled to exercise the privileges of mem bers until after the organization of the House, and an investigation and report by the Standing Com i mittee of Elections, on his right of claim to such seat, and a final decision of tue House ou such report. Mr. Waddy Thompson submitted the follow ing which was objected to, and lies over: Resolved, That the Secretary of War be re quested to inform this House to what instance in which Congress has refused the necessary ap propriations for tho prosecution of the war in Florida, ho alludes, in the following passage of his letter to Governor Call, bearing date the 20th June, 1838— “It (tho Department) is still further restricted [ by the means to provide for but a limited force, as it is with the greatest difficulty that appropria tions can lie obtained of Congress for even the smallest possible force necessary for the execution of its duty of protecting the inhabitants of Flori da or elsewhere.” Correspondence of the Baltimore Patriot. Washington, March 9th. BANKRUPT LAW. In the Senate, to-day, several memorials were presented in favor of the passage of a law, estab lishing a uniform system of bankruptcy for the United Stales, which were referred to the Com mittee on the Judiciary. Mr. Wall, Chairman of that committee has intimated that, owing to the creat amount of busi ness before them which calls for prompt action, he has not been able to prepare the bill for the bankrupt system as soon as be wished, but would probably be able to present it during the next week. ENCOURAGEMENT OF SILK MANUFACTURE. Mr. Wall presented several petitions praying for aid and encouragement to the cultivation and manufacture of silk, by the imposition of duties on foreign silk. LOSSES IN INDIAN WARS. The bill lor paying the damages suffered by certain persons in Indian wars since 1830. was then taken up; and, after some discussion, was postponed till to-morrow. CUMBERLAND HOAD. I The Senate then proceeded to consider the bill I making an appropriation for the continuance of i the Cumberland road through the States ot Ohio, i Indiana and Illinois. a Mr. Norvdl proposed to amend by adding an 1 appropriation for the improvement of certain c harbors and rivers, and on it a discussion arose, i The amendment was ordered to bo printed, and f the hill pas-ed over. c The hill the more effectually to secure the pub- \ lie money in the hands of officers and agents of a the Government, and to punish defaulters, was r also taken up, and, after several amendments, the Sen ile proceeded to the consideration of Exccu- i live business. t HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. NEW JERSEY CASK TREASURY NOTE BILL. I In the House of Representatives, to-day, after an unsuccessful motion to suspend the rules in order to allow the presentation of petitions, &<•,• from the Slates in their order, and tho reference of them to he continued, the consideration of the t motion pending for printing the testimony before [ the Committee of Elections on the New Jersey t case, was resumed, and Mr. Jenifer resumed his ( remarks, and proceeded to comment with inerted j severity on the course of the majority of the ( committee in refusing to examine all the testi- , mony actually in their po session, and especially ( in disregarding entirely the evidence which had t been forwarded by the commissioned members, t proving the unlawfulness of the voles given in a Millville and South Amboy. Mr. Jenifer’s ex- j position was so complete, and so conclusive of t tho injustice of the majority of the committee, that member after member was continually start- c ing up to explain, or endeavor to escape from J his charges. j In conclusion, Mr. Jenifer noticed a charge first made by the Globe, lull since repeated by Mr. { Medill of Ohio, that he (Mr. J.) had occupied ( the floor for three morning hours, and prevented | all explanation or reply from the members of the t majority. He had pronounced this accusation , untrue —when made by the Globe—ami now, t when re-aflirmed by the member from Ohio, he would not qualify the strength of the expression, j He never had refused to any man, of any party, , on opportunity to explain. He had sought ex- ( planation;—and now he wished the majority to ( reply to his charges, if they could. | Mr. Brown of Tenn., a member of the major!- s t.y of the Committee, then rose, and began a set | speech in reply;—but before he had proceeded f far, he gave way ior a motion to go to the orders , of the day. ( The House resolved itself into Committee of the Whole, (Mr. Dawson of Georgia, in the Chair,) and took up the bill reported by the Com- c mittee of Ways and Means, authorizing the issue a of five millions of dollars of Treasury Notes. 'J Mr. Cushing, who was enti Jed to the floor ro»c, f and spoke at considerable length, in continuation of his reply to Mr. Jones, the Chairman of the ( Committee of Ways and Means. f This speech will add to the reputation of the t honorable member, for patient investigation, and industrious research, for his thorough information ( of the subjects he touches, and animated and vi- , gorous eloquence in expounding them. | He followed the Chairman very closely, and ( exposed with singular ability the fallacies of the i Head of the Treasury upon which the Chairman chiefly relied for argument. In entering on the discussion of the measure, Mr. Cushing expressed a sentiment, in which the American people will coneur: his gratification that, at last, at the end of the third month of the session, tho House of Representatives is approach ing the business of the nation. The discussions ( sions heretofore have been entirely beside the i great business interests of the country. A noth- i er sentiment, too, was expressed by the honora- . bio member, in which all will concur —it is, as to the party relations of the Opposition to this inca- 1 sure. In this, the fourth year of the Administra tion, we all desire that tne Government may have ] the supplies it needs. No man of any parly ( wishes to see the institutions of his country pros trated for want of means to support them, (how ever much that idea may be paraded by Benton | and his brother destructives in the Senate, for partisan purposes.) On the 4lh of March next, ( when a brighter Aurora shall arise of prosperity and honor to the country, the Administration party shall not be allowed to say that the Oppo sition prevented the Government from executing , its purposes for the public welfare. Mr. Cusmso frankly declared that he was for giving tho appropriations asked for by the Ad- ‘ ininiseration, hut for holding them responsible fur the estimates; and when the day of reckoning s should arrive, he would ho d them responsible also , for the expenditures. In examining tho qneslion of necessity for the 1 issue of an additional number of Treasury notes, Mr. Cushing exposed, with great power, the want of frankness of the Executive in notcarlier ' disclosing its needs, if they did exist, and the inconsistency also of the President and Secretary I of the Treasury. They stated explicitly and pro- ( cUcly that no deficit would occur, unless in two contingencies—the failure of tho payment of tho bank balance, and the making appropriations be- * yond the estimates. Well, the second contin gency has not yet happened—Congress has not ( exceeded the estimates. Has the first happened 1 If it had, still onlv SBOO,OO0 —the amount of the 1 balance—would be wanted, not five millions ! ( hut one-third of the bank balances has been paid. Is there, then, in this any justification for a loan , of five millions of dollars 1 This is a pertinent | question. , Admitting there is to be a deficit—that there is ] scarcely enough money in the Treasury to pay the Treasury notes due this month—and that , some remedy must be applied immediately—ihc , question is, do Treasury notes constitute the best or a proper remedy I Mr. Ctshino contend- j od that Treasury notes are bills of credit in the j constitutional sense, and were refused place in the Constitution. Iflhcse notes were to anticipate a certain receipt, they might be constitutionally issued. They would lie analogous to Treasury ' checks or drafts; hut in this case they are not , such. Tho resources of the Treasury are not , certain. The revenue will not equal the expen- - diturc. The notes now proposed are not mere | anticipation or representation of the suspended ' payments of the banks. They area loan , not up- , on existing funds or certain revenue, but a aim- , p!e loan, in form and substance. | When tho Chairman of the Committee of , Ways and Means says he is against a loan, it is a question of words. He is, in reality, proposing , to create a debt to be paid from uncertain reve- , nue. at an uncertain lime. Ills a loan, and, what is worse, a fohcfii loan, for which he asks the , approbation of Congress. , On the point of expediency, Mr. Cushing j dwelt at considerable length. He quoted the views of Alexander Dallas, William H. ford, and for the benefit of the friends of , Denton and Bentonian policy, he presented tnso ( the arguments of that Senator, and other more ( deservedly distinguished statesmen. , The chairman of the Ways and Means com- , mittee had contended for the superiority of these 1 ( notes over a common loan, He said there was no tune to look up a loan. Ho says Government is now in want. It is only the sum necessary to re deam the Treasury notes of this month that is wanted. He further says the Government would he at the mercy of the capitalists, if a loan is called for. But what is the operation with Treas ury notes ? Is it more desirndle I The United Slates Government pays in paper instead of spe cie, to free itself from being shaved. The Go vernment's creditor is obliged to get it shaved, and thus the shave is shifted from the Govern ment to the people! ! Mr. Cushing continued to address the House until past three o’clock, and Mr. King obtained the floor. The committee thereupon roseand reported. And then the House adjourned. Correspondence of the Baltimore American. March 18. Mr. Brown, of Tcnn. continued his speech this morning, in reply to Mr. Jenifer, and in de fence of the conductor the majority of the com mittee on Elections. Mr. B. contended that tho Committee had done their duty strictly and im partially. Tho committee had not examined the V evidence before them, and had reported in favour of the sitting members without it, but in doing this they designed hereafter to act in favour of the commissioned members. Mr. B. referred to the journal of the committee, and the resolutions adopted in the House and committee for the pur pose of shewing that nothing wrong had been done. Mr. Fillmore, of N. Y. made some remarks in correction of the statements made by Mr. Brown. Mr. Jenifer also corrected some misunderstand ing of Mr. B. in regard to his speech.’ Mr. Brown contended that injustice had been done—unintentionally no doubt—to the majority of the committee by the gentleman from Mary, land. During the morning several interruptions took place between members of the Committee. All of them, however, were conducted in good temper. Mr. Bolts, before Mr. B. closed his remarks, interrupted him by stating that his remarks were full of incorrect statements. He would not correct them now, but with the journal before him, he hoped to have an opportunity to do so. Unintentionally,the member had made many’mis stalemcnts of the facts in the case, and if he had an opportunity he could satisfy the member him self. The debate continued until one o’clock, when Mr. Jones, ofVa, called for the order of the day. TREASURY NOTE BILL. The House then resolved ilsclfinto Committee of the Whole, (Mr. Dawson, of Ga. in the Chair) and took up the hill authorising tho issue of Treasury Notes-to the amount of five millions of dollars. Mr. King, of Georgia, who was enlillcd’to the floor, spoke with great ability and eloquence against the bill, on the ground both of unconsti tutionally and inexpediency. Mr. Bond, of Obi i, then obtained tho floor, and addressed the committee generally, on the finan cial concerns of the nation, and proceeded until half past four o’clock, when, without having con cluded, he gave way to a motion, by Mr. Under wood, that the committee rise. The House then adjourned. Eleven days Inter from England. The Steamer British Queen, arrived at New York on the morning of tho ISth. She left Lon don on the 2d inst-, and Portsmouth on the 3d, making her passage in a little over fifteen days. We extract tho following summary of the news hy this arrival from the Times and Commer al Advertiser. The Splendid Steamer, British Queen, Captain Roberts, arrived this morning. She left London on the 2d inst.,and Portsmouth on the 3d, making her passage in a little over 15 days. She brings papers, &c. to the day of sailing. The British Ministry have fallen into the mi nority on several occasions, and it la supposed they will resign. The French Ministry have resigned in conse quence of the Chamber of Deputies refusing to grant half million francs, annually, to the Duke de Nemours on his marriage. Money market at London remained much the same as per last accounts, but on Friday, the 271 h February, (the settling day) there was a heavy pressure. United States Bank stock had been sold at £ls 10. The accounts of the doings of the Pennsylvania Legislature respecting the banks had reached England, which produced the de cline in the U. S. Bank slock. The Liverpool market was nearly bare of flour; sales at 30 6 to 31, to arrive. The Liverpool papers of the 29th February represent the cotton market as very h avy, with a decline during the week £d. The sales are spid to have reached 27,000 hales, Agreeable News. —Tho Liverpool Albion says:—Wc hear with very great pleasure that the shipments of goods to foreign ports are in creasing. The New York packet-ships have of late sailed with fair freights. The Rescue, which will sail to-morrow, has even been compelled to shutout goods. To the East Indies the shipments of manufactured goods are unusually extensive. We hope, therefore, that these may he taken as indications of a revived and reviving foreign ex port trade. From the Liverpool Chronicle, Feb. 29. STATE OE TRADE. Manchester, Friday Evening.—Cotton Trade. —lt is difficult to describe correctly the state of trade hero for low as prices were for cloth and yarns on this day sc’nnight, spinners and manufacture's are compelled to accept still lower terms than on that day. and even since Tuesday prices are a shade lower. This contin ued drooping is evidently attributable to llie de clining prices of cotton in Liverpool; and as im mense arrivals are expected, pricca for this great staple are confidently anticipated to be lower in a month than they have been for the last four yeas; and until it arrives al this point, a steady or exten sive trade cannot reasonably be anticipated. Tuesday. —Theie was no improvement what ever in our market to-day. The demand both for yarn and goods were exceedingly limited, and prices continue to droop. An extraordinary express from PaS brings the important intelligence of the resig- nation of the French Ministry, in consequence of a signal delcal in the Chamber of Deputies, on the question as the ‘-fetation” for the King’s son. The Deputies, b/a majority of 22f> to 200, refused even to consider the Ministerial proposi tion. They voted against discussing “the para - e graphs of the bill,” The Chamber adjourned im mediately after tho vote; and the Ministers went directly with their resignations to the King.— Lou s Philippe, who is paid to have been “furi ous,” accepted the resignations, and sent for tho Dukede Broglie. The funds fell, and Paris was in a slate of great excitement. The vote was considered a severe blow upon the Orleans dy dasty. From the Dublin Evening Mail. Ireland. — Neither Father Matthew nor Lord Ebrington appears to have done more to restore the tranquility of Tipperary than either Mr. Jus tice Moore or the Marquis of Normanby. There are now in the county jail of Tip|>crary 498 prisoners, of whom over seventy are charged with murder; the double calendar for this coun ty at the assizes ( will be heavy; there being lor trial in Clonmel, 90; in Nenagh, 87. The district of Borrisokane is particularly dis turbed. The magistrates have applied for an ad ditional constabulary force. Outrages of the most atrocious kind characterise tit s disturbance; such as assaults in the dwelling bouses, with in tent to do bodily harm, female abduction, riotous assemblages to resist the landlords’ tights—udiUl From the Liverpool Standard. Rumoured Resignation op the Minis ters. —We have received tho following Irom a respectable correspondent. Wc know not what truth there is in the statement, hut z«e induced to give it publicity ns it corroborates i 1 a great degree what wc printed a few days since upon-the same subject: “ Lord Melbourne’* administration has- at length determined on resigning their long mis managed trust. It is generally supposed in well informed circles that their resignation would have been tendered yesterday, only that there are sot# serious difficulties at present existing, which pre vents Lords Brougham anil Durham from enlist ing under the banner of Lord John Russel, who* there is no doubt, will be the new Premier, sup ported hy perhaps ns groat an agitation for a re peal of the corn-laws as that for reform, vshich marked the eventful year 1831.’* Bank ok England.— The following notice was posted at the Bank of England on Thursday: —“The Governor nud Company of tho Bank of England do hereby give notice, that they are rea dy to receive applications for loans, upon the de posits of Bills of Exchange not having more than six months to run. Exchequer Bills and East India Bonds, such Loans to he repaid'on or before the 24th April next, with interest at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum, and to he for sums ot not less than £2,000 each.—Bunk of England, Feb. 27, 1840.” From the Boston Journal of Monday. Fire. —A fire occurcd this morning, ai about 11 o’clock, at East Cambridge, which destroyed more prooerty than any fire in this city or vicin ity, for along time past. It broke out in n- stable, owned and occupied by E. 11. Winchester, and spread so rapidly that the horses and other ani mals in it were rescued with difficulty. The fire soon communicated to a long two-story wooden building on the left, occupied as a dwel ling house hy several families,and l owned' hy. Ed mund Munroe, and which was much burnt. On the right of the stable stood anotlisr, whivh caught fire, and was destroyed. A wooden building occupied by T’. J - . Kfced as a tavern, next caught fire, ami thorenrofit was very much damaged. This building and rile sta bles belonged to widow Brooks—insured. Reed’s property was got out, much of it in.a damaged state. The fire is attributed to an incendiary- The Sud-Tiieasury System,—The follow ing "Cask,” which we copy from n Connecticut paper, as showing the effect of the Sub-Treasury, hard money system, and the arguments uoed by its supporters, deserves attention, from the me chanics and working-men of every Stale in the Union; A Case. —We are informed that in the city of . Hartford there is a certain mechanic who has in his employ something like eight or ten journey men. The whole of theso persons were nomi nated as delegates to the Loco Foco Young Men’s Convention, and calculated to attend* Bat a leader of the Loco Foco party happening at the shop a day or two before the Convention met, began to speak with the Items upon the subject of wages—and as an argument to convince him that he might to be a Loco, too, said that the effect of carrying into full operation the Buh-Treasury measures would he to reduce the prices ha would have to pay to his journeymen one half—so that where he now paid sl6 a month, he would have to give but SB. Tins he said in an under time; upon which the employer raised his voice so that all his workmen might hear, repeated what the Loco had said, and asked if that was bis belief 1 He replied. Yes, Well, said the employer, will the price of lea, coffee, sugar, &c., he also pro portionally reduced 1 No* says the Loco, still in a low tone, hut flour, and meat, and other do mestic provisions will fall considerably. Tile employer again raised his voice, and caused the Loco to repeat what he had said, so that all his workmen might hear what was the doctrine pro mulgated hy the Loco Focus. The Convention was accordingly held, hot not ime of those work men attended ! Wo have names for these facte—and one of thorn bearing a strong affinity to Judge Niles. — Litchfield Enq. China. —Wc had yesterday an- arrivalfrom* Canton, the ship Morea, Copt. Western. Our news collectors inform-us that Capt. W. reports that at the lime ofleaving Macoa, the Bth Nov., the trade with all nations- had been stopped by tho Chinese. Though such information was no doubt given to him, we; for our part, arc strongly inclined to doubt its correctness, We have both directly and by the way of England, intelligence to the 7th of the same month ; therefore as late ns he could possibly bring, by the short period of I one day, and at that time, the English accounts particular.y, speak of the lucrative trade carried on under the American flag, from which they were debarred. Indeed, it seems to have been ; the policy of the High Commissioner Linn at that period, to encourage the American trade, probaldy for the purpose of quieting the discon tent which would naturally arise at the stoppage of all trade whatever. The Captain also reports that a-vessel belong ing to Macao arrived there just before ho sailed from Hanan Island—that the Captain of that vessel reported that att American brig had been wrecked at that place-—that near (he wreck he saw two children in- Chinese clothes, whom-he took to he Americans, as they spoke English, 1 that hail been on board the wrecked brig—that ! the children pointed out tlieir father to-the Cap- , tain, who bad been made a slave and bad a col- j lar on his neck.— N. 7. Courier. Broken English- —A Frenchman having a weakness in his chest, told his physician he felt a bad pain in hi* portmanteaul The Suppressed Report Os the minority of the Committee on Elections, on the New Jersey case; presented to the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States, March in, 1840— and con trary to all precedent, excluded from the House, fils reception and reading being re fused, with the previous question pending, and all debate cut off, J by a party vole in the negative. The undersigned, being a minority of the Committee on Elections, to which was referred the New Jersey case, not concurring in the rea soning and conclusions of the report presented to the House by the Chairman of that committee, in justice to themselves, and (what is of still higher importance,) in justice to the State of Now Je sey, and her representatives, bog leave to pre sent to-the consideration of tho House the follow ing report: Wc regret very much that the report above re ferred to, should have been presented to the House so soon after it was adopted in committee, as to render it wholly impracticable for us to sub mit to the House al the same time our own views 'of the interesting and important subject before tile committee, in the form of a counter report; and we also regret that our lime and attention have been so much engrossed by the proceedings of the House or> this subject, since the principal report was submitted by llio chairman, that wo arc now necessarily limited to such a statement of material facts connected with the question be fore the House, ns is indispensable to a true un derstanding of its merits. When the subject was first referred to the com mittee, the parties to the contest wore severally notified that the committee was then ready to re ceive a statement of such facts in writing as they proposed to prove, together with any legal points they might think proper to submit to sustain their respective claims. In pursuance of this suggestion, they made to the committee written communications, In which their views of llio controversy and the grounds of their respective claims were fully developed; and which were in substance as follows: The commissioned members claimed the vacant seals under and hy virtue of the commissions issued by llio Executive of New Jersey; and insisted that if the committee should determine 1 1 go hack of litose commissions and to inquire into the merits of the election, they had a majority of tho legal votes jiolled, and also a majority of the votes law fully certified to the Governor. The non-commissioned claimants admitted tho authenticity of the commissions, hut alleged that they received the greatest number of votes polled; that the Governor and Privy Council unlawfully refused to count the voles from the townships of Millville iMid South Amboy, for the reason that they were not included in tho certificates of the clerk of the counties of Middlesex and Cumber land ; and that, had the votes of the townships been counted, the result would have been a ma jority in. their favor. That tire commissions being thus erroneously and unlawfully issued, were void. The commisioned members alleged numerous frauds and illegalities in the election; some of which they insisted ought to set aside the polls ; atid others, invalidate the votes; such as exclu ding duly elected persons from officiating us judges of election ; tho determination of electing officers to receive alien voles, and, in fart, receiv ing such votes, knowing that they were illegal; disregarding all challenges of illeguUfvotes, and permitting persons, attempting to challenge, to he driven away by thrci ts and violence ; and fraud ulently abstracting votes given for them, and sub stituting others for their opponents; and rejecting legal voles offered for them ; and admitting illegal votes on the other side; and they also submitted to the committee a list showing about 230 illegal voles given and counted for the non-emnmission ed claimants, and three or four legal votes offered for the commissioned members and rejected. They also allcdgcd that they expected to prove an extensive eonspi try among the friends of (lie opposite set of claimants, to perpetuate theso ' frauds and obtain these illegal votes; that they had taken some evidence to establish said Let, but had been prevented from completing the proofs, because there was no law regulating the mode in which the same should l he obtained, or giving compulsory process to compel the atten dance of witnesses; and also because the friends of the non-commissioned claimants had porsua dsd witnesses not to attend for examination ; and had prevented offirers Irom taking depositions by intimidation and threats of public prosecution for so doing; ami they asked further time, and the amhorny and direction of the committee to ena ble them to compel tho taking of tber testimony. The non-commissioned' claimants denied all knowledge of the nlladgcd frauds and illegal votes; hut slated that they had heard of some alien votes having been given at Millville, and ad mitted the fact, and also presumed that alien votes were given in other parts of the Stale ; but believed that there were as many on the one side as on the other. These statements were not completed 1 and laid before the committee untilths 23d day of Janu ary, and it was obvious from an examination of them, and of llio resolution of the House refer ring the mutter, that the committee must pursue one oftwo courses—that I bey must either make a-preliminary report, awarding the vacant seals to one set of claimants until the whole eabjoct could be investigated, and the final right deter mined; or proceed to a full and thorough inves tigation of the subject, an J decide upon the mer its of the w hole ease at once. Eight members of the committee out of nine were in favor of submitting a preliminary report, by wliklilhr vacant scats would have been filled ; but they differed as to tic basis on. which that report should be founded. We entertained the opinion that it should he based on the legal re turns of the only authority recogniiod by the laws of New Jersey, as authorized to gram the return—that being the highest pritna J'ac.e evi ! dcnce of an election that could be presented— and which it has ever been the practice of Uon | gress, and of all other legislative assemblies, to treat as conelusivfc in the first instance. And, ; accordingly, one of our members submitted the following proposition: “ Resolved, That thiscommittee will now pro ceed to ascertain and determine who have the re turns according to. the GonsUiution of llie United ; States and the laws of New Jersey, and will au thorize them to occupy the contested seals from that State, until tho question of ultimate right can be determined.” Ollier gentlemen of the committee, differing with us in opinion, thought that llie Executive commissions should be entirely overlooked; and that it was the duty of lha committee to proceed at once to ascertain which parly had received a i majority of all votes, good and bad, given at the i polls; and were; therefore, entitled to the returns and submitted amendments to that effect. This view of lbs subject we dsein utterly fal lacious; but time will not permit us to enter in ■ io the a-gument. The consequences resulting i £ om this novel doctrine, are well illustrated by the ■“ ~* ll Ml~l 111111 '■•« 1> Beenes of disorder and confusion which resulted' from its application at the present leasion-acenee* in a high degree discreditable to the House, and' endangering the peace of the country, and which* must greatly impair the confidence of all right thinking people in the perpetuity of our free in stitutions. Upon a careful examination of the laws of New Jersey, we ascertained that the Governor and Privy Council were mere ministerial officer* r charged with a specified duly, plainly set forth, viz: to ascertain and determine which six of the persons voted for received the greater number of votes, according to the returns made by the clerk* of the several counties of the State. That the individuals who were commissioned by the Gov-- ernor of New Jersey ns the Representatives of that State, had received the greatest number of votes thus returned according to law, was a fact m t disputed or denied. I* hiding this ditfercnce of opinion, however, to exist in the committee as to the basis of a report,- the mover of the original proposition modified 1 the same, with the view of reaching the sense of the committee; and merely proposed, in gen eral terms, that a preliminary report should he made, designating the individuals who should occupy the vacant scats until the ultimate que*-- tion of ultimate right could be determined; thus manifesting a disposition to have the seats filled,, ns llie committee and the House might determine, according to their sense of justice and propriety, li>it,(ioin an apprehension, as we presuma, that they could not succeed in the untenable, ground they bad taken, (bat the report should be made favorable to those who barely obtained a majority - • ol all the votes, legal and illegal, given at the • election, the modified resolution was likewise re sisted ; and a substitute offered, which proposed to inquire who were entitled to be returned as members elect: evidently on the ground of good ami bod votes; for when it was proposed to in sert an amendment which would make the case turn on the majority of legal votes, such amend- • ment was strenuously resisted, and only by the easting vote of the chairman. This resolution, os ultimately adopted, was as follows; “ Resolved, That this committee will now pro ceed to ascertain which five of the ten individuals claiming the. live vacant seats from New Jersey,. received a majority of legal votes, and therefore are duly elected members of the 361 h Congress from that State, according to the Constitution of the United States and the laws of New Jersey.” J hus it will bo perceived that the committee come to an early determination to investigate the ballot boxes, and ascertain who were entitled to the seals on the ground of having received a ma jority of legal votes, in which decision wo acqui esced; and, although our opinions were unchan ged as to the propriety of the views wo bad ex proared, we determined to make no further effort to procure a result that, in our judgments, every principle ofjustice demanded. W e then proceeded to the consideration of ano ther resolution offered by one of the gentlemen of the majority, which, as amended and ultimately adopted, is us follows; “ Resolved, further, That whilst in the opin ion of this committee, the certificates of the Ooi ernor of New Jersey are prirna facie evidence that those who hold them are entitled to seats, they arc not conclusive evidence as to the ulti mate right; and that such certificates, being con tested, such right must depend on the majority el legal voles given in conformity with the Con stitution of the United Slates and tho laws of New Jersey.” On this resolution a division was called for, to wit : on thefirst branch as follows; '•Resolved, further, That whilst in the opin ion of this committee the certificates of the Gov- - ernor of New Jersey are prima facie evidence that those who hold them are entitled to seats, they aie not conclusive evidence as to the ulti mate right,’* And those who- home paid much attention to the progress of this question, both in the House and the country, will perhaps be somewhat ama *ed to hear that this proposition, for which alone wc had contended in the House, and the defeat of which had caused a sovereign Stale in this Union to- lie deprived of live-sixths of her representation on the Hoof of Congress, and had excited the pub lic mind in every part of the confederacy, met with tho unanimous sanction of the committee. Tlie resolutions, as adopted, were communica ted to all the parlies engaged in the contest un der the following resolution: "Resolved, That the foreg ring resolutions bs communicated to each of the claimants to the vacant seals from the Slate of New Jersey, and i that this committee will hear them at their com mittee room on the 291 h day of January, instant, at 10 o’clock in the forenoon, on the subject of the measures which should be adopted to obtain the evidence applicable to inquiry before the commit tee.” Accordingly, on the 20lh of January, the par tics appeared before the committee,and there was a likelihood that after fifteen days of time and la bor i pent by the committee before they could I arrive at any conclusion, wc should at once pro ceed, in pursuance of these resolutions, to ascer tain which of the five of the ten individuals claim ing scats now had a majority of legal, voles, and 1 were therefore duly elected members ofCongress, when very unexpectedly to the undersigned, the chairman of the committee moved a reconsidera tion of these resolutions, with a view to offer substitutes. They were reconsidered accordingly, again discussed, and laid on the table, and the chairman introduced substitutes which were amended, modified, and discussed, and were final ly adopted, alter two days of additional labor, and i are as follows; “ Resolved, That the credentials of the Go vernor of New Jersey arc prima facie evidence that they who. hold them are entitled to seat*, hut, being questioned on ths ground that all the votes polled were not counted, this committee will now proceed to inquire and ascertain who of , tho ten claimants for the five contested seats, re ceived the greatest number of votes polled in conformity with the laws of New Jersey, at the lute election for members of Congress in that State. “ Resolved, That all votes received by author!- • zed officers acting in conformity with the laws, prima facie legal; but it being alledged, and of fered to be sustained by evidence, that plurali- - ties were obtained by means of illegal votes and ! frauds perpetrated on the ballot-box, this com mittee will admit evidence as to the truth of these allegations, and inquire who of the claim ants received tho greatest number of legal vote* ■ in conformity with tho Constitution of tho Uni-< ted Slates and" the laws of New Jersey, and therefore are entitled to occupy, as members of the 2Cth Congress, the five contested seats from i that Stale, "Resolved', That the adoption of the above resolution* does not proclud) this committee from ’ refuting the facts and testimony, with its opin ions thereon, tor the consideration of the House,. at any stage of its proceedings ;hat it may deem, it expedient to do so. “ Resolved, That acopy of the foregoing res olution* be communicated to each, of tb* cMMM