In an instant, the most profound silence reigned throughout the Hall—­you might have heard a leaf of paper fall in any part of it—­and every eye was riveted on the venerable Nestor of Massachusetts—­the purest of statesmen, and the noblest of men!  He paused for a moment; and, having given Mr. Garland a

“—­withering look!”

he proceeded to address the multitude: 

“It was not my intention,” said he, “to take any part in these extraordinary proceedings.  I had hoped that this House would succeed in organizing itself; that a Speaker and Clerk would be elected, and that the ordinary business of legislation would be progressed in.  This is not the time, or place, to discuss the merits of the conflicting claimants for seats from New Jersey; that subject belongs to the House of Representatives, which, by the constitution, is made the ultimate arbiter of the qualifications of its members.  But what a spectacle we here present!  We degrade and disgrace ourselves; we degrade and disgrace our constituents 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 depends upon our will, usurps the throne, and sets us, the Representatives, the 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 freemen?  Is he to suspend, by his mere negative, the functions of Government, and put an end to this Congress?  He refuses to call the roll!  It is in your power to compel him to call it, if he will not do it voluntarily. [Here he 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, then let him resign,” continued Mr. Adams, “and we may possibly discover some way by which we can get along, without the aid of his all-powerful talent, learning and genius.  If we cannot organize in any other way—­if this Clerk of yours will not consent to our discharging the trusts confided to us by our constituents, then let us imitate the example of the Virginia House of Burgesses, which, when the colonial Governor Dinwiddie ordered it to disperse, refused to obey the imperious and insulting mandate, and, like men—­”

The multitude could not contain or repress their enthusiasm any longer, but saluted the eloquent and indignant speaker, and intercepted him with loud and deafening cheers, which seemed to shake the capitol to its centre.  The very Genii of applause and enthusiasm seemed to float in the atmosphere of the Hall, and every heart expanded with an indescribable feeling of pride and exultation.  The turmoil, the darkness, the very “chaos of anarchy,” which had, for three successive days, pervaded the American Congress, was dispelled by the magic, the talismanic eloquence of a single man; and, once more the wheels of Government and of Legislation were put in motion.[Footnote:  Reminiscences—­by an Old Colony Man.]