Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-03-09
(Reportcd Tor Inc Baltimore Sun.
WA>HrsoroN, March, s. lS49
UNITED STATE:

j T.
Senate met Al IL O'Clock. Gaiares again
name MOI aSceralrei.
On motion Of Mr.. Mangum, MIR. Badger wa.
sworn il.
Mr.. Corwin presented The credentials vf Mr..
Salmon Z. Chase, and he was sworn
The Irating Of The journal was''ispensed with.
Mr.. Douglass rose 10 privileged question
aud insisted that, nnier all the pfeceden> ~ such
cases. it vas NE right o. ms colleague, Gen
Shields, 10 be sworn. lie cited The cases oi Gal.
an, Smith, and Rich, AZ prcceiens, in all OF
which cases, hr SAID, they had been sworn in
and The question OF eligibility &c, involved, hat
been decided in The case Of Gal.aiiD aho was
expelled subsequently, as ineligible.
Mr.. d. sail he wonld not pretend 10 say hat
his colleague was eligible, hni h" hi say liia' his
credentials showed tina his elecinn had been reg
mar and with that evidence IN me possession Of
The Senae, il was due To the State ii Illinois that
he should be permitted 70 take his seat. He
should throw no obstacles in The way II a thor
oush investigation subsequently.
Th- Vice President decided tina, his question
Q, privilege took precedence Of Mr.. Walkers
resolution OF Yesterday, 10 refer the question 10
Inc Judiciary committee.
Messrs. Mansum, 1urney, Badger, Butler,
Aichiscn and Webster, concuued mainly in the
views expressed by Mr.. Douglass; and Mr. Web
ser, al The conclusion OF his remarks, moved that
Mr.. Shields be admitted and sworn.
Mr.. Berrien had great respect for precedenls,
but he did no! consider The certificate of election
pr,r,a face evidence OF eligibility, but merely
that the election had been regular. lie though,
il due 10 The Senate and to the Senator from
Wisconsin lha. the latter should make state
menI of the facts nPon which his resolution had
been yesterday submitted.
Mr.. Douglass interposed 10 say that his course
This morning had not been taken al the sugses.
ton Of Gen. Shields, bu from what he conceived
10 be his duty towards The Stale which re tMr.
d. in part represented on that ioof.
Mr.. Walker wonid make Inc statement caiea
for if were though, proper 10 me present Stage
Of the proceedings. he had iatenoeo no mus
tice toward Gen. Shields in offering the resolu-
ton. He had long known him. and duly appre-
cia,ed his character and position But he thought
i, would be better 10 have The question OF elis-
biIi,y frs, seliled-no, TO admit him and then re-
ice, him afterwards, but 10 give him in The first
instance an opportunity 10 establish his claim.
Mr.. Butter thought il woulo be hardly just TO-
ward Gen. Shields Tor Mr.. w. 10 make any
statements now, OF the character suggested by
the Senator from Georgia, and in this view Mr..
Walker concuued and relrained.
Alter some further discussion by Messrs. Wal
ker, Berrien and Fooe, Mr.. Webslers motion
prevailed, and Mr.. Shields was sworn and took
his seat
On motion Of Mr. Miller, committee, con-
sstng of Messrs. Miller and Aichison, was az
pointed to wait on the President, and inform him
lha, the Senate was organised, and ready TO re-
ceive any Communication which he might be
pleased 10 make.