Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-12-12
and that neither should be qualified.

II
question now presented to the Senate,
. but expressed hope that it would be
, examined with becoming fairness, and
I resolution to act justly. AT present, X.
/ Island stood in the Senate with three re-
, rre Sc natives, and he was willing to ad-
, init, that if he had the power, there was
no State in the Union to which he would
be more ready to allow triple represen-
tation. But the Constitution prescribed
restriction, and she could only have
her two Senators. The Senator from AL
ALBANIA had complained that it would be
doing injustice to the State to admit her
three Senators, and therefore he desired
TO limit her to one Senator. That would
! be u course in opposition to the rights of
/ that State, and Of every other State in
the Union, because the State of Rhode
Island had a right to her two voices on
that floor, and on every question, and
the Senator could not soy that she should
have but one.
Ii was not only the right Of Rhode-ls-
land, but of every State, TO have two
: voices on every question which could a
rise, and the first act Of the Senate, by
| which the States could be secured in this
right, was the verifcatioD of those who
composed that body 1t was the right
and the impe rative duty Of the Senate,
to say who were to be the Senators, and
who were the individuals to be associa-
ted in the performance Of the important
duties which devolved upon them. 1t
was now the time to decide, not conclu-
sively, he admitted, which are the two
members from the State Of Rhode Island,
to be admitted TO their seats. The .
question would then come up, as to the
ultimate right Of either Of the contesting
members. On this question, he was,
perhaps, as well prepared to give his o.
pinion now as at any time, having, by
examination, made himself acquainted
with the whole subject. But the proper
course, at this time, was to determine
who should have the temporary occupa-
tion of the seat which was contested
BY the laws of Rhode Island, a time
had been appointed for the election Of
United States Senator'S; by the laws,
that time had been fixed previous to the
OF the time Of the existing Se-
nators; by the laws, the election Of Sc
nator had taken place prior TO the 4th Of
March last; and in conformity to these
laws, Mr. Robbins had been elected; his '
credentials were certified, presented to
he Senate, recognized and recorded n
SO far, therefore, every thing was con- f
lucted in conformity with the Constitu- r
ion and the laws of Rhode-Isand. In {
he month Of October last, another ses-
ion Of the General Assembly of the
State was held, and without waiting to Il
zee il the United States Senate would Il
pronounce the election of Mr. Robbins b
aid, they pronounced it to be invalid; t.
hus, by their own act, and without any
onsultation with the United States Sc
ate, declaring the first election null and p
old, and electing another Senator, who n
ad now presented his credentials. The +
entleman first elected, and who had J.
lie prima .lacie right to his seat, had, in fo
to law, presented his creden- al
ais; his was the prior, and therefore the C;
aid deed; and therefore, in compliance
iII' every law and usage, he ought to re
= admitted. But he desired it to be fu
,derstood, that in taking this course, lie ne
'sired to do nothing which would pre-
ude to the other gentleman the privi-
&c of full investigation Of his right ro
e had used the term primd tacie, and
requested the Senate to look at The A
edentials presented by Mr. Potter, eF
nich admitted OH their face the previ- or
IS election, the validity Of which it dis sy
ted, on the ground of some non-con- u
rmty to forms. He had, however, ris- be
only, without meaning TO express any dol
inion as TO the ultimate right Of either
the members, TO vote for the adn's- me
n to his seat Of the gentleman who VII
$ first elected; and for leaving the va ord
ty Of the right to be afterwards exam acc
d by Committee Of the Senate.
Mr.. King congratulated the Senator ID.
m Kentucky on the knowledge which "PI
had acquired Of this case. For his "s'
I, he had not made himself SD well ac- 'a't
linted with the facts, and he was not ne,
well prepared to argue the question,
to decide who was entitled to the me
I under the constitution laws md Ho
ges of Rhode-Island. He wished to OF
in such manner as would be perfectly si.i'
and respectable to the State, and to OF
gentleman claiming the seat. 1t 'ee'
J his wish that The State should be re- m''
sented by the Senator she had duly 10
,ted-he would not say which that unc
!; it might be this gentleman, or it o'n,
ht be the other. He thought il well,
I was a novel case, to refer il 10 a "o'
ect Committee, and whenever the re- sup
Of that Committee should be sub 60.
ed, he would be prepared to say Una.
ch of the gentlemen was, in his opin- pun