Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-03-16
UNITED STATES SENATE.
rRrnnr.td inr ue Baltimore Sun |

WA>HiSGT ~, March -, 1919.
PRAYER b. The Rev Mr.. Sheer. journal Il
yesritay read.
Mr. Mason from the select committee u whnr.
was referee. lnr certificate o election Of The la.
aorablc James Shcits 10 .ea in lhls body, witi,
instructions - inquire 1910 he eilg'hili7 81 u"
sam James Shields IL such reported,
That ayin. gwen due Ioice 70 salt Shielis
ne appeared b.lore them, and hey took the sub.
jec' mo cUnsi'era'inn.
They farther report that the said certificate 81
election ,,cates that The said James Shields was
chosen Senator ~ The United States by the
Legislature OF the State u Illinois, on The 18Th
rs of January Iast-that i; inrhe! appears and
is admitted by The said James Shields hat he is
an alien b. birth, and the only proof before the
committee OF the naturalization OF he sad
Shields in The United States, is contained in the
copy OF certificate OF naturalization in tie Cir.
cuil Cour, Of tfingham county, in the sal State
OF Illinois, which is annexed 10 and made par
OF this report, by which certificate i, appears ha
me said James Shields was admitted by saiC
Court Gil zen o. the United States on the 81.
day o; October, 1870. The committee therefore
report the following resolution:
Resolved, Thai The election II James Shields
TO oe Senator OF The United S.aes, was void, he
not having been citizen Of the Uni'ed States
tae term vi years required as qualification 10 be
Senator ol tie Unied States.
MIR. Mason stated that Inc committee had seve.
raj days since been prepared 20 report, and hac
then addressed Letter 10 Geo. Shields, ihrough
their chairman, stating that they were ready lc
receive any communication which he might de-
sire 10 make, or TO afford him any further time
which he might require. They met again The mex
day. but no communication was received. Yes
lerday, however, II was ascertained that Genera
Shells had sent communication, but, from &C
cidenl II had not reached them. They had there
FIRE further postponed until To-day the making o.
their report, but Gen. Shields had not deemed il
advisable 10 make any communication.
The report and resolution having been read
Gen. Shields rose and said. tina, this might be
The only occasion which h. should eVrf nave
10 address This honorable body. The Objection
10 his eligibility originated ~ his b,dy tlc bad
no competitor rom his Sale IL contest MS rien'
10 a seal. He had there an honorable compet!tor
in the candidate otthe opposing party before the
Ieoi,latrre Morning, he had reason 10 believe
would have induced that gentleman 10 come here
and contest his right to seat in this body. Nor
had there been any communication from Illinois
EXPRESSING doubt as 10 his eligibility, though be
had large party there opposed 10 him. and Of
course enemies in his own party. There could
no, be found five men IN Illinois who would pre-
sent here memorial 10 reject him from his seat
on the ground OF inelieibily
he had been 10 The Stale Legislature, a Judge
Commissioner in the General Land Office, a
General in the Army Tor three days Governor
Of Oregon, all requiring naturalization, and ye
the question OF eligibility had never vel teen raj.
sed in connection with either. The Senator from
Wisconsin bad raised that question here, as he
had a perfect right 10 do. Perhaps 1t was hi.
duty 10 do so. The question having been raised
and referred 10 the honorable and intelligent com