The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-14
In SENATE OF THE u. STATES.
TUESDAY, MARCH 10. lsa9.

'o seat IN
into the eligibility OF the said James Shields to such seat
report:
That having given due notice said Shields he appeared
before them and hey took the subject ioo
cares that the said James Shields chosen sena-
Illinois on the 18th day Of January that il further appears.
and is admitted by the said James Shields, that he
pa se IN the
contained In the copy OF certificate Of naturalization IN
The circuit court OF Eingham county, in the said State Of
Illinois, which IS annexed TO and made part OF this report
by which certificate appears that the said James Shields
on the 2.t day Of oc,obs $40 The eommi,,ss therefore
RESOLVED. That the election of James Shields be
senator OF the United States void he having been
citizen OF the United States the of required
a qualification TO be a senator OF the United States
The following the documents accompanying the
report:
Er parte james Shields
day pTrs%Gaay ED IN G open court J.me
James Shields being duly sworn in open court declares
on oah thar he was born in the county of Tyrone in the
1876 that he emgrated to the United States while a mi
nor aud continued to reside within the Un ted States three
yeas and has continued reside therein the pres
ent time he now upwards of wentyone years OF age
Illinois Aforesaid of the United States That it is his
intention to become citizen of the United States, and to
renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity any foreign
prince, poteniae, State sovereignty, and particularly
the sovereign of Great Britain and Ireland and he further
piicaion has been his bona hde intention to become cit
zen of the United States JAMES SHIELDS.
October, 1910. VIM. IL BLAKELY,
Clerk of SAID court.
This day personally appeared, in open court, James
of age, and applied be admitted become citizen
the United States and who, being duly sworn, declares
of the United states and doth ABSOLUTELY and en,ey re
nounce and abure all allegiance and fidelity to every for
and Of The sovereign Of Grea, Britain aud Ire
land, whereof he was born a subject And the court
quiremens of the laws of the United States the sub
jsct of naturalization and that he has resided with
the State of Illinois upwad Of year preceding
tbs application and thai during the whole Of he time Of
OF good moral character attached to the principles Of the
constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the
ordered aud aJudged that the said James Shields be ad
tted citizen of the United States, and that he IS hereby
admitted as such.
STATE OF ILLINOIS,
Bingham county,
John s. Kelly clerk of the crcuit and for the
said county certify that the foregoing is true ooPy Of the
tered appears upon the record on the 2l day OF Oco-
Given under nv hand and private SEAL being
L., fetal seal YET provided for said court, at Ew
''S'' ''''' '''' NJ JOHN s KELLY, Clerk
Mr. SHIELDS | take the liberty OF saying few
words upon that report 1t may be the only occasion or
opportunity that shall have 10 address this honorable
body in any remarks or observations The objection to
competitor here from my State, conesng my right to
hold scat in the Senate OF the United States. had an
honorable and high minded opponent before the egsia
ture of my State, member Of the opposite party. Gen.
Thornton; and, sir, think, from my knowledge OF that
gentleman that no inducement could prevail upon hun
to to this body and contest my seat upon this
ground. There is memorial, no petition, no appica
ton from the State OF Illinois, questioning my right to
hold in the Senate of the United States; and, sir,
State, influential and respectable party and though
have enemies every man has In his own party have
sufficient confidence, and sufficient opinion of my State
believe that there not five that State capa
BILE OF presenting memorial praying to eject me from the
Senate of the United States upon that ground
From the time have resided in the State-seven-
teen years; from the number of offices have hed-a
member of the legislature, requiring naturazaon--au
dltor OF pubic accounts, requiring the same-judge OF
the supreme court, Commissioner OF the General Land
Office, general in the United States army-even sir, for
three days governor OF Oregon-all requiring the
know that if the statement was sent to the Legislature
of my State, my right would not be contested by her, nor
by citizens of Illinois.
The gentleman who has raised the objectionh the sem
ator from Wisconsin Mr. WALKER had perfect right
to do So do not complain OF his conduct Perhaps 1t
was his duty to do under the circumstances But sir,
the objection having been raised, the certificate of my
State being refused on the first day-the question having
been referred to an honorable talented and influential
committee l have made up my mlnd-and | am deter
mined to act upon ito remain entirely passive, to let
matters take their course, to submit unresistngy to the
decision of this honorable body, and to throw myself
again upon my State. and appeal to the people, and
hear what they have to say the subject If my State
deserts me now, bright, and honorable, and dstin-
guished this body is, shall never again seek to pre-
sent myself as of the United States If does
not to the appeal which am about TO make to it,
will say further that it is my ntenton-though have
endeavored to prove my fidelity to this country by every
act of my fenever to offer again for office in the United
States.
The committee has acted, sir upon the evidence before
it. They could give other decision upon the evidence.
Were il competent, could explain that record But sir,
have been guilty of too much rashness already. |
have been guilty of indscreton since my arrival in
this city, which has panied more than would my
election from this honorable body | have committed an
error--a wrongly letter written to gentleman who
preceded me in this body. acknowledge my and
my fault before the Senate of the United States and be-
fore the country. When two kind generous and con-
sderate friends called upon and pointed out to the
improper character of the letter which had written
(and hope the Senate will tolerate me in these re-
marks)when they stated to me the cruel and injurious
lmputaton, or construction rather OF which it was sus
cepble, authorized them to withdraw the letter i'm
mcdatey, and to make any reparaton in their pow
er, to acqut me of such construction | am anxious
sir, for only thing standing here in the Senate OF
the United States-beore this honorable body-5efore
the natonl would say, in presence OF the God before
sruction put upon that leter-l dsavow it ia toto; am
incapable of such thought menace of assassina-
ton Sir, could call upon every acquainted with
in the United States to dsavQw for such nu-
rious intention could make Witness of the gentleman
himself, who put that construction upon it. and he could
sassnaton at the hazard and peril Of my life, in the
town OF Beville where reside. inteposed and thrust
my body between him and assassination.
Sir, do not make this statement by way OF complaint
merely wish to extenuae my error, and exculpae my
sell from cruel and injurious imputaton My detemi-
nation has been that would submit to the action
of this honorable body-to the decision OF the CON-
nd hr,ic au