Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. 4 (of 16)United States. Congress
History
Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. 4 (of 16)
United States. Congress
Law -- United States; United States -- Politics and government
Mr. STANFORD denied that the case which had been cited from the
Presidential election in 1801 had any bearing on the present
question. That was a case in which, a State being divided, one-half
the representation voted blank, and left to the other half of the
representation the right of voting for the State. As, at the same time,
a gentleman now from Kentucky, (Mr. LYON,) then the only representative
present from Vermont, had, by his single vote, his colleague being
absent, decided the vote of that State, he thought there was no analogy.
Mr. RANDOLPH moved that the House proceed to ballot a second time for
Speaker.
The Clerk having put the question, it was carried--67 to 43.
Mr. MACON said he certainly felt a sense of gratitude towards those
who had voted for him; but he should be obliged to them to vote for
some other person. He had rather remain on the floor of the House than
be placed in the Chair. He had experienced the difficulties of the
situation; besides, by an illness during last winter, his lungs had
been so affected that he did not feel himself adequate to the task.
As his declining the situation might be unexpected to some gentlemen,
to accommodate them he would ask a postponement of the ballot for a
time. He considered the office of Speaker of the House as one of the
most honorable in the nation. Perhaps none was more so, after that
of President and Vice President. Notwithstanding this, were there a
probability of his being chosen, he must decline being placed in the
Chair.
The House then proceeded to a further ballot; and Mr. N. R. MOORE
reported the result to be:
For Mr. Varnum, 65; Mr. Macon, 45; Mr. Pitkin, 6; Mr. Howard, 1; Mr.
Nelson, 1, and Mr. Goldsborough, 1.
Mr. VARNUM having a majority of votes was declared elected, and
conducted to the Chair; whence he addressed the House as follows:
"_Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_:
"The continued manifestation of the national confidence
in me, expressed by the Representatives of the people on
this occasion, fills my heart with grateful sensibility. In
obedience to the call of my country, I accept the office
assigned me, and will endeavor to discharge the duties of it
according to the best of my abilities, and agreeably to the
wishes of the House."
The SPEAKER having been sworn, the oath to support the Constitution of
the United States was by him administered to the members, by States.
The House then proceeded to the choice of a Clerk, by ballot. The votes
having been counted, there were--
For Patrick Magruder, 63; Daniel Brent, 38; Nicholas B. Van Zandt, 14;
William Lambert, 7, and Mr. Scott, 1.
Mr. Magruder having a majority of votes, was declared to be re-elected.
Mr. GEORGE POINDEXTER having appeared and produced his credentials, as
the Delegate from the Mississippi Territory of the United States, the
oath was administered to him by the Speaker.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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