Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-03-18
Legislature of Maine,
MIR. MoRsE,s SPEECH.


of Wednesday, Feb "a upon the order introduced Dy hi
relating to breach rules of the House by Mr. peie
dener. 1t is full report, but as much as We nave
room for at present.
Ma Morse said he had no wish to proiong this
exc;t;ng discussion. and he believed that the uni
ted voice of the whole House would bear him
witness that whatever he had addressed the
House on this unpleasant affair, he had done SO
with perfect GOODNESS, and with all that candor
and frankness which the nature Of the subject
requires He had not allowed the a,dor of feel
inp TO gain the ascendency, and led him into
paths that his sober judgmen Mt might condemn the
ordor which he introduced on Monday last was
not brought forward hastily. 1t was no neon
siderate act, but such an one as his unbiased
Judgment taught him the necessity of the case
required When he first moved in this matter,
he did not for moment suppose it would be
made a party question. 1t was matter in which
every member on this floor has equal interest.
lie had supposed that if there was any one thing
in which all could unite, it was in sustaining the
good order, character, and dignity OF the House
lie had supposed that no member would hesitate
in giving his marked and unqualified condemna-
ton against conduct so reprehensble in men,
Der of deiberative assembly. Let these scenes
of violence, which seem to be increasing over the
country, pass without being strongly condemned
and influential members seek for excuses to
screen the guilty, and respect among the people
for law and lawmakers will sink in a correspond
ing proportion Let members beware how they
suffer the law-making branch of the Government
to be broug hit into contempt; Its banetu inf1u-
ence will spread over the whole State, lessening
the respect and affection of the people for the
Government they have created. He regretted
that the friends of the member from Baeyville
had made this party question. Are the chords
which bind to party so much stronger than the
chords that bind us to country When our
free institutions, which we are placed here to
watch over, are assaled in vital part, must we
seek first TO ward off the blow which ought to fall
on guilty member of onr party He hoped the
House would pause and consider, and look upon
this question as elvated above the reach of
party strife and parzan bitterness. 1t is too
common for members on this floor to shroud
every measure that is brought before us in the
noxious ef1uva of party. Hardly bill or reso-
luton, of whatever nature, can receive consider
alton here, without having the walls OF political
wrath poured ont upon it. This mlngling OF
party conflict with all deliberations retards
useful legislation, lessons confidence in each
other, and weakens the ties that ought to bind us
together as laborers for the common good.
But, said he, we are told no rule of the House
has been broken, therefore we have no jurIsdIc-
ton over this case. IT'S true, we have no rule
for n, n member from
striking one of the officers of the House; but
there is something higher, Of more binding force,
than your rules and orders. So cautious were
the trainers of our Constitutions, that they were
unwilling to trust so serious matter to be gov
erned by rules and orders, that Liable to under
90 such frequent changes. They therefore nser-
ted an article in Constitution, giving each
House the power to ''punish its members for dis
orderly behavior, and, with the concurrence OF
Two thirds, expel member Here is an author
ity which cannot be travelled over or set aside.
Its operation, as rule of both branches of the
Legislature, is continual, and, unlike your rules
and orders, depends on no annual vote of this
House. So careful were those who set this Gov
eminent in motion, in protecting the independent
action of this House, that they thought it neces-
sary to declare, in our fundamental law, that
''each House, during its session, may punish,
by Imprisonment, any person not a member, for
disrespectful or dsorderly behavior in its pres
ence, for obstructing any Of its proceedings,
threatening, assaultlng, or abusing any of its
members, for any thing said, done or doing in
either House." When we consider all these
guards which the Constitution has thrown around
our deliberations, and the care taken to preserve
the good order and dignity of the Legislative
branch, how can gentlemen tell US that we have
no power to punish, in any reasonable way, acts
Of violence committed on this floor by of our
members' But if this power were not expressly
granted by the Constitution, it would result from
the very necessity of the case. The power of self
protection and preservation is essential to the ex-
istence of Legislative assemblies.
Are gentlemen conscious, he continued of the
extent to which their reasoning leads them! They
would strip this House of the power of protecting
itself. We must sit here, and suffer acts of vio-
ience to be perpetraed in our midst, without the
power TO check them. Suppose member should
walk up and plunge dirk into the heart of the
Speaker; if the doctrine here advanced prevail
we have no power to touch him. He might re-
turn to his place, and rejoice in the fendish act
All must be borne in silence, without even the
power of suspending him until reparation was
made for the crime.