Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-04-15


Constitution. If compared in any of
these respects with the Senates either
OF France or England that Of the UNI.
ted States will sustain no derogation.--
With respect 10 the mode Of its Cons,i
tuition, of those bodies | may observe
that in the House Of Peers in England,
} with tho exceptions but OF Ireland and
oil ScoIand-and in that Of France with
no exception whatever-the members
hold their places under no delegated
authority, but derive them from the
grant OF the Crown, transmitted by de-
scent, or expressed in new patents Of
nobility; while here we have the proud
title Of Representatives Of sovereign
States, oi distinct aud independent Com =
monweaIlhs.
| five look again at the powers exer-
csed by the Senators Of France and
Englan and by the Senate Of the Uni.
ted States, we shall find hat the aggre-
gate OF power is much greater here
10 all the members possess the LegsIa.
tive power. ln the foreign Senates. as
in this, the judicial power is invested, +,
although there it exists in a larger de-
gree than here. But on the other hand,
that vast, unde fined, and undeinable
power involved in the right to co oPer-
ate with the Executive in the formation
and ratification Of treaties, is enjoyed
in all its magnitude and weight by this
body, while it is possessed by neither
of theirs: besides which, there is anoth.
er Of very great practical Importance
that Of sharing with the Executive
branch in distributing the vast patron.
age of this Government. In both these
latter respects, we stand on grounds dil.
Ierent from the House OF Peers either OF
England or France, And then as 10
the dignity and decorum Of its proceed
ngs, and ordinarily as TO the ability Of
its members, | can with great truth de-
clare that, during the whole long peri
cd Of my Knowledge Of this Senate it can,
without arrogance or presumption, sus,
tain no dsadvantageOus comparison with
any public body in ancien! or modern
times.
FuIl Of attraction, however, as eeat
! in this Senate is, sufficient as it is TO
J Gil the aspirations Of the most ambitious
r heart, have long determined to iorcgo
it, and TO seek that repose which can be
, enjoyed only in the shades Of private
/ life, and smid the calm pleasures which
! belong to that beloved word "home"
r 1t was my determination to terminate
. nv connexlon with this body in Nov
embcr, 1870, after the memorable and
= glorious political struggle which dlatin-
guished that year: but learned, soou
! after, what indeed ! had for some time
r anticipated from the result Of my own
, reflections, that an extra session would
r be called; and | felt desirous 10 cO'oB.
crate with my politica and persona
[ friends in restoring # it could be effes-
/ ted, the prosperity Of the country by
I the best measures which their united
I counseis might be able TO devise; and
therefore attended the extra session. -
Ii was called, as all know, by the lam
enled Harrison; but the death and con
spquent accession Of bis successor
produced an entirely new aspect Of RC
fairs. Had he lived, have not one par
tlcle of doubt that every important NEE
sure for which the country had hoped
, with so confident an expectation would
: have boon consummated by The co opera
tion ol the the Executive branch Of the
] Government And here allow me tC
, say, only, in regard to that so much re
r preached extra session Of Congress
, that | believe if any Of those who
4 through the influence Of party spirit
or the bias Of poiitica prejudice, have
4 loudly censured the measures then adop
;. ted, will look at them in a spirit Of can
dor and Of justice, their conclusion, anc
+ chat Of the country generally, will be
e that if there exists any ground Of com
. plant, III to be found not ia what wa
q done, hut in what was left unfinished.
Had President Harrison lived. and thu
a measures devised at that session beef
n fully carried out it was my intention lheu
, to have resigned my seat, But, tn
9 hope Il feared it might prove vail
i. hope) that at the regular session tht
II measures which we had left uudont
nigh even then be perfected, or tn,
il same object be attained in an equvalen
= form, induced me 10 postpone the deter
minalon; and events which arose ate
"a the extra session, resulting from tn
a failure Of those measures which throw
v on our political friends a temporar
+ show Of defeat, confirmed me 10 the res
\. oIution to attend the present sessio
i. ulso, AMI, whether in prosperity or ad
., versly, to share the fortune Of n
ri friends. But resolved at the same I
retire as soon as could do so with pre-
to prlely and decency.
q, From 1906, the period Of nv entr