The Madisonian

CONGRESS.

Friday. The question "shall the members from New Jersey be sworn?" still remains undecided by the Representative body.

The members were addressed yesterday very impressively by Mr. Adams. He was followed by Mr. Rhett, whose speech was principally explanatory of the course he has thought proper to pursue in voting first, that the members were entitled to their seats, and last, that they should not be sworn. One would suppose that such an extraordinary course pursued by him and Mr. C. Shepard needed explanation, and, whether, after the conclusive arguments they had used in favor of the New Jersey members, holding certificates, their explanations are satisfactory, we leave to their constituents to judge.

To supply the lack of argument, and the utter destitution of law, usage or constitution, the loco-focos consumed part of the day in raising and disputing idle points of order, without any of them once venturing to defend, by word of mouth, the high-handed proceedings in which they are so infatuated as to engage.

Mr. Evans, of Maine, was speaking last evening with great power when we left the House, and urging, of course, the constitutional obligations imposed upon the members present to permit somebody from New Jersey to be sworn. Several other gentlemen, we presume, will deem it their duty to vindicate the rights of New Jersey, and to save, if possible, the Constitution from violation, and the Government from disorganization.

For our part, we despair of seeing any thing effected by argument, or by facts. The period seems to have arrived when might alone makes right, and the laws, the Constitution, and the forms of government, are mere dead letters. If New Jersey is expelled from Congress we consider the Union quo ad hoc dissolved.