New Hampshire Statesman And Concord Register

The Statesman.
SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 1829.

Extra-Legislative.
A scene somewhat farcical, but withal a little serious, inasmuch as many deemed it might have cost us our Governor for the ensuing political year, occurred in the House of Representatives, on Wednesday last. On that day, by the provisions of the Constitution, and agreeably to invariable usage, the votes for Governor are to be laid before a Convention of the two Houses, to be by them examined. The Constitution says expressly that this shall be done "on the first Wednesday of June."
A member of the House, of the present dominant party, not having the fear or the knowledge of said Constitution before his eyes, moved an adjournment to the next day, before any thing was done about bringing in or canvassing the votes—which motion prevailed. Some of the more knowing ones soon discovered the mistake, and off the Door-keepers were posted, to re-assemble the members. A quorum appeared late in the afternoon—but how to re-organize was the question. The House, as a House, could not convene—for they stood adjourned to the next day. The conclusion was, pro hac vice, to organize as a Convention. The member from Gilford was accordingly placed in the Chair. The mistake was then stated by the member who had been somewhat instrumental in getting the House into the hobble, and a Committee appointed to wait on the Governor for relief, under that provision, probably, of the Constitution, which provides that the Governor, with advice of Council, may convene the Legislature at an earlier day than that to which they may stand regularly adjourned. (The Senate, by the bye, we understand, still remained in session.) Some of the Committee backed out—others, we are informed, went to the Council Chamber, but not finding His Excellency, concluded to give up their commission—trusting perhaps for relief to the construction put upon the Constitution by an honorable member, that the first Wednesday of June, meant, for their purpose, the whole month of June, or the whole session of the Legislature.
On Thursday morning, the Senate, apprehending something, doubtless, from the snail-like movements of the House, and wishing to set a laudable example of promptitude and despatch, embraced the earliest opportunity of looking in upon the House, and joining them in Convention, without waiting for the dull formalities of a special invitation.
Some constitutional scruples were suggested by Mr. Wilson of Keene, as to going into Convention and canvassing the votes, on the ground that the Constitution expressly provides that this shall be done on the first Wednesday. The objections were, however, overruled, or rather waived, at the suggestion of the Speaker, who conceived that the proper time for considering the subject would be on the question of accepting the report of the Committee who might be appointed to compare and cast the votes.
On Friday morning this Committee reported. The course that the business then took, will be seen in our Legislative Journal. The majority very promptly "looked down all opposition,”—and we shall, after all, have just as good a Governor as if the votes had been examined on the first day of the session.