Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1839-05-16
Connecticut Legislature.
DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.


Debate on Saturday, the 4th, on the resolu-
ton Of Mr.. Wordsworth. inquiring whether
any persons holding seats in that House, are
disqualified by holding Offices under the gen.
eral government.
Mr.. Copp, of Groton, remarked, that he
considered this resolution unreasonable and
uncalled for. Do gentlemen, (said he,) wish
10 raise board Of inqWisitiOn here, by ap-
pointing a committee for such an object IF
such a committee is to be appointed, why not
go farther, and let them inquire whether any
members hold their seats by means of bribery,
trickery, &c.! Such course as this is calcu-
lated to turn this floor into perfect arena, to
stir up party strife, and make glGdiotors of us
instead of Legislators. Ifany cases are known
or suspected, of members holding seats ille-
gally, let them be specified and inquired in
to by the proper committee. Such resolu-
! lion he had never heard of in any legislative
| body.
Mr.. Catlin replied-a resolution of pre-
cisely similar character was introduced in
1887; committee was raised, and facts
brought to light and it was very proper
that this House should ascertain whether any
such cases now exist. The members have
taken solemn oath to support the Constitu-
ton, and if there are any officers of the gene
raj government here, it ought to be known.
| If precedent was wanted, he presumed the
| legislature of 1887 was good enough authori-
ty for the gentlemen who now opposed the
resolution.
Mr.. Higgins, of East Haddam, expressed
similar sentiments.
Mr.. Curtiss, of Watertown, said, he could
not perceive the injustice or oppression of
appointing committee to inquire whether
any person from South Carolina or any 9TH
er State, or whether any officer of the gene
raj government holds seat here. AS to the
precedent alluded to, gentlemen certainly had
nothing to fear from that-if that amounts to
any thing, Postmasters, &c. have perfect
right to hold seats in the House. Two post
| masters retained their seats through the ses-
sion of 1887, and he was not aware that they
J suffered any inconvenience-it all went off
very WE'LL He hoped no such cases existed
here, but if there were any, it ought to be
known. The committee on elections was not
| the proper committee to make this inquiry
their duties were of different character.
Mr.. Waldo, Of Tolland, said he was not
aware that this inquiry was called for
True, the committee could do no harm, but
he was opposed to raising SO many special
committees. Besides, it was throwing suspi-
cion on members-it was rejecting too much
on the intelligence and honesty of this body,
to suppose that members were holding seats
illegally. The legislature of 1887, of course,
was not at least a precedent for majority
of this House, and as the proposed commit
tee was useless, he should vote against it.
| Mr.. Foster, of Norwich, differed from the
last gentlemen as to casting suspicion upon
members. A resolution of inquiry certainly
ought not to be regarded as throwing suspi-
cion upon any one-but at any rate, it should
not be passed over now without an examina-
tion-let ushave the light, and clear ourselves
of these suspicious.
Mr.. Woodward, of Middletown, thought
the resolution, it adopted, ought to 60 farther,
and extend to all classes of members who
might be supposed to hold seats Illegally
Why specify officers of the general govern.
ment? Let the investigation be general, and
include all cases of bribery, corruption, &c.
Mr.. Clark, of Say brook, was in favor ofthe
resolution. The committee on elections will
examine such cases as the last gentleman
alluded to,-bribery, &c. but they cannot
reach the object of this resolution.
Mr.. Copp Observation-Disclosures committee
can do it as we'll the disqualification is the
same in both cases-but if such resolution
is passed, let it be general-let the commit
tee ferret out every case of illegality in cleo
tions, and bring it all to light. The resolu-
ton will reflect discredit on ourselves, and
a feeling Of contempt for us all over the Un-
ion it is ofthe same character as the resolu-
ton of last year, for a sovereign State to fur
nish eight copies of Green's Register to the
House. He wished to feel spirit of good
fellowship with all the members, and not
to take the part of gladiator in political
strife. Nothing will be gained by the reso-
luton If it passes--if any member is suppo-
sed not to be entitled to his seat, he can be
memorialized against, and his claim examin-
ed by the proper committee. he did not
care what was done in 1637-he was not here
then; if he had been, he should have oppo-
sed any such resolution. He was somewhat
| familiar with the proceedings OF the British
Parliament, and he never heard of any such
resolution in that body, nor in Congress, nor
any State legislature before the resolution
OF 1887 was an anomaly in legislation.
Mr.. Brownell, of E. Hartford, said he did
not suppose that this resolution could have
excited SO much feeling, but he perceived it
had among few members. He thought it
the duty of the House to see that the consti-
tuition was not violated by any party, and
was in favor Of the resolution.
Mr.. Wadsworth, of Pennington. said he
was plain man, and did not profess to know
SO much about parliamentary proceedings
as some others, but when the resolution was
handed to him to introduce, he thought it
very proper one. He did not know of any
cases particularly calling for it, although
there might be some, and from the feeling it
had excited, he began to suspect there were,
though he did not mean to hurt any body's
feelings by Offering the resolution
Mr.. Curtiss said he was surprised at the
objections made to this resolution-to hear it
denounced as of q political nature. and inn
proper 10 make any inquiry into the subject.
&c. The constitution seemed to consider it
dangerous aud wrong for officers Of the gov:
eminent to hold seats in the legislature, and
yet gentlemen here saw we ought not to in.