Mr. VOORHEES. Mr. Speaker, I never before arose to address this douse with the same feeling of personal indifference in regard to its action on the subject under discussion as I entertain at this time. If my title as a member of this body is not clear and above suspi cion, the charms of publiclife would not tempt me to linger here a moment. My heart is not wedded to this Hall, and to retire from it is only to go to pleasanter scenes and more congenial duties and if, on the other hand, by every rule oflaw and justice I am a legal Rep Representative of the people, and still the majority here think proper to cprive me of my seat and my constituents of representation, even then I Will retire with cheerful nudOncern, well knowing how fully the future compensates for such IDJUSHCG. Sir, I am aware of the power of committees in this House. Indeed, am ready to admit that it is highly proper, as a general rule, for a deliberative body to indorse the action of its committees. But it is equally true that there are cases in which they are not entitled to this respect. I will suppose one. I will suppose that the seat of a member of this Honsa is contested in the usual way; flat the case is reached and taken n by the ComElections; that full an elaborate argument is heard by both parties to the contest, extending throng 3 days; that all the evidence is in, and so far as the contestant and the sitting member are concerned, the case is closed and submitted to the committee. I will suppose that the sitting member is politically very obnoxious to 7 out of the 9 members of the committee, and has no charitable constructions to expect at their hands; that he informed them in the argument of the case that all he expected or asked was simply what the law and the facts Would compel them to ive, that bare, naked justice, after all doubtfu points had been ruled against him, was all he sought to confirm his title to his seat. I will suppose that after the close of the argument the committee, of its own motion and against the wishes of both parties, took the whole matter under advisement during nearly the space of a week, at the end of which time its members announced themselves ready to vote. I will suppose that thereupon the roll of the committee was called for the ayes and noes, and that every member of the committee, with but one exception, answered that the sit ting member was entitled to his seat; that the one dissenting vote was given by the chairman that then for some reason of which we are all profoundly ignorant, this action of the committee in favor of the sitting member was with held from this House, and that alter the lapse of nearly another week, during which time no more evidence was taken, no more argument heard, and no further notice given, at east to the sitting member, a different conclusion was reached, and the contestant declared to be elected by the very some men who a few days before had solemn declared that he was not! I need not sto to characterize such a proceeding with c it ets. It will find its proper estimation int e minds of all honest men here and elsewhere. Nor need I nuse to inquireinto the motives which governetfsnch conuct. There is no eye so blind as not to discern them, and no heart so calloused by partisan rejndice not to be pained at their exhibition. et such has been the action of the committee on the case now under consideration. They ask your indorsement and approval. Rather should they seek your charity and the forbearance of a just minded public. I can conceive no honorable explanation within their reach. Were they so liberal as to give me the scat upon the 1st. vote without ll consideration when the had taken a week for that very nrpose? did they ne li ently conclude that was duly elected? divt ey take so little notice of the matterthat they never found out they were wrong until the chairman made the discovery for them? Was there an overwhelming case against me which calls for my expulsion and yet no one but the chairman could find it after engthydebate and consideration? and then was it so easily found I a few days after without any further evidence or discussion? Sir, I know not whether these are the days of magic, but certainl such pro ceedings have very much the air O witcheraft, and the chairman appears in the character of an irresistible sorcerer. I might,I think, without impropriety ask that this case be again referre to that committee to ascertain whether the same result can be reached twice. Let us at least play a rubber and see who will et the 2 best in 3 games of chance. I e are only even now, and it is hardly fair to the House to ask it to play the odd game, and thus decide the case without any aid from the committee.