Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-01-19

field, and others.
A Senator demanded that the Sergeant.at-
Arms should be directed 10 keep order.
Mr.. Whitman. Brute force, is itl All!
ha!
Mr.. w. then read his resolution, which
provided for the appointment of a committee
Of six members Of the House and - members
of the Senate, to examine the returns for Co
vernon, in the presence of the members Of
both Houses.
/ have here, Mr., Speaker. (holding up a
volume,) the precedence and the argument
to sustain this resolution.
. Mr.. Dennison. So far as | am concerned,
| care nothing for your precedent. 1t will
not sustain you.
Mr.. Whitman. All, ha! l suppose not.
Mr.. Dennison. | contend that there is
nothing in the laws or the constitution
which authorizes the Speaker 10 appoint
a committee for the purpose contempla-
ted in the resolution. The constitution
d~evolves upon the Speaker the duty, which
the gentleman would place upon the Shout
ders of a committee. In the paper which
has been read, we have a fragment of an in
formal committee, taking upon themselves
the right to submit a report here, and 10 tell
the Speaker how he shall proceed in the per-
Torrance of his duties. Mr.. d. proceeded
to say that he entertained the most supreme
and profound contempt for the attempts which
had been made by the Senator from Fairfield
and his friends, to intimidate members upon
this floor. Mr.. Speaker, there is no law I'M
der which | know the committee that
has already been appointed but if the action
of that committee is to be reported to this bo-
dy, The report should come from its chairman,
and not from the Senator from Fairfield.
Mr.. Dennison. Mr.. Speaker, | wish 10
know whether the resolution is in order?
The Speaker. The resolution is out of or
der. These speeches are out of order. The
whole proceeding is out of order.
Mr.. Whitman. | hope not, sir. ! hope
not, sir. l hope not. / hope when an inter-
est Of this magnitude is at stake, that the ut
most liberty of discussion will be allowed
He was astounded at the doctrine of the Sem
ator from Cuyahoga. He was sure it was
not warranted by the constitution. What!
Are we TO sit here silently and see a viola
ton of the constitution Of the State? Ii so,
a pretty entertainment this we are invited to
by the Speaker! He hoped that, for the no.
nor of the State, for the sake of Justice, this
discussion would be freely gone into. If
this resolution be adopted, as | presume it
must be, it will simply give gentlemen an
opportunity for that examination, which they
have not given the question. had supposed
in the innocence Of my simplicity, before l
came here and was enlightened by certain
gentlemen, that examination was necessary
before deciding on so momentous a question.
| will not charge gentlemen with being ready
to check discussion-tha the Speaker is rea-
dy to check it. | will wait the cast of the
die, before | do this. hope this monstrous
spectacle is not 10 be exhibited in the capitol
of your State.
In answer to the Senator from franklin,
who says he views with inefable contempt
my threats Of force, | would remind him that
it was not until a Senator from his side threat
ened me with the Sergeant-at-Arms that /
made them. If they wish 10 try force, let
them come on. If the house shall refuse my
resolution, Il. consequences be upon their
own heads. He would now proceed to the
argument. Designating the sneers of The
Senator from Cuyahoga, assuming no SUI
p%eriority for his side, making no invidi-
Gus comparisons, he wished gentlemen 10 lay
their hands on their hearts, and, remembering
that a day is coming when they must answer
before the bar Of God. 10 decide this question.
If, after this, they decided in favor Of Ford,
he would find no fault. But if, ignorant.
i|mpelIed by party strife, they blindly shut
their eyes to the light, fearful will be their
responsibilities.
CAT this moment the Speaker was engaged
in the consideration Of a paper which had
been handed to him. Mr.. Whitman had pre-
viously addressed his remarks to the Wing
side of the Convention but he now turned
and addressed the Speaker.)
Mr.. Speaker Of the Senate, I hope you will
pay due attention 10 my argument, at least
lhe common respect which a iuryman paws
- ~ nly,,-.a y-flI ,-,;, NJ Is.I.
until you are ready to attend 10 me. Mr..
Speaker, you DO not regard me wiki much
favor, yet | hope you will pay attention to
the feeble arguments which |. the humble
representative Of 10000 freemen, think pro-
per to offer, for the purpose of endeavoring to
save you from trampling the constitution un.
der foot. Mr.. Speaker, | will! repeat my ar
guments for your benefit. | will be under
the necessity of repeating them, again and
again, until they receive that attention which
their importance demands.
Mr.. w. denied the propositions Of the Sc
nator from Cuyahoga, in whole and in part,
and he said, with due Difference, that that rem
lleman could not maintain his position for
one moment. A good old-fashioned doctrine
is, that all powers conferred upon any officer
are TO be interpreted in consonance with the
constitution under which he was appointed.
The constitution recognizes you as Speak
er Of the Senate, and it defines your powers
clearly. Nothing has been heretofore more
misunderstood than your powers. 1t has
been taken for granted that you have the pow
er TO declare the vote for Governor. Moth
ing can be more preposterous.
Mr.. Whitman commended that although the
two Houses were nominally in Convention,
yet they are distinct bodies, and under the
control of their respective officers. If one
House choose, it may declare Ford elected,
and the other may declare Weller elected
thus the Speaker would have to declare two
Governors elected.
Mr.. Whitman went on at great length cit
Grating and reiteTaling" these positions. lie