The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-03-16
United States Senate,
WAsHINoroN, March IL, l8lo,


United States Senate,
WAsHiroToN, March II, 1870.
SHIELDS.
After the reading Of the journsi Of yesterday,
hr WEBsrER rose and said, that ss Il had been sui
esea that the resolutions Of yestsr lay declaring vol
the Senate, needed word two to explain the mesz
ips 81 IL; II this b so, and the Senator from Mssi.
npPi vii withdraw his motion to postpone We ma
the Judgment Of the Senate.
| m MI foote not withdra wing the motion,
OLD whole subject till the nrst Monday In Dsosmbs
Mr.; DOUGLASS called for the yeas and nays. Or
mr. DIcHINsor-Befors the question Is taken, We de-
ir 20 Inow whether the gen tlemsu most interested
Mir. Rusx thought that 1t would be sar.s.b. 70 IN.
senator from Illinois; but that he would NOT int
with the action Of the Senate.
Mr ATcHisoN said he willing for the M ,,nops
ment Gen. Shields deered Il with the pro,nsct .,
psodGcns further testimony to support his claim ii
no advantage In the postponement.
Gen SnELDs rose In his place and said he should
testimony in support Of his claim, The message which
No sent TO the committee had failed BY an accident
the messepger They had made out their report With
n and psssively to the decision Of this homo
Mr. SEWARD was opposed to the postp smspt url.s,
General Shields desired it, and unless t IVES
understoc that he desired 1t with the view OF
ing further evidence In support Of his claim to see,
ME- WALKER suggested smother form of resolution
simply declaring General Shields ineligible instead Of
declaring his election void.
Mr. SEWARD rssuDed-Hs against the postpone
ment unless csn DO understood that Gen Shields
ns opinion that he can prove he has been nine years
citizen up to the 4th Of March. lS49. he prove
that due to him andths State of Illinois, that the
subject should be postponed.
lCol Bliss here brought in message from the Pres.
Mr. DouaLAs said bis colleague hoped to procure tho
most evidence Of his egbility and that
appointment.
Mr.. SEWARD said he had a. little respect for this
constitutional qualification Of nine years citizenship
to teat In tho any man; yet there vas
but one path Of duty here and that was to follow the
requirement. OF the constitution.
MI fooTk was glad to hear that tho Senator from
Missouri, and the Senstor from New York were in
favor Of the potpopem. mt, it would conduos to the
evidence required and he appealed that the opportu
nifty be given BY postponins the whole subject till next
Mr. WKBsrER-There is only one v.v oon.,.t. nt
with duty, and with respect to the gentleman directly
interested, and with respect to the State Of illinois,
and With regard to the rights which she possesses and
that 10 our duty to the constitution No desire has
been expressed BY the Senator whose interests are at
stake for delay And Il 10 strange that his colleague
fhoud argue the II there Q desire expressed
by Gen Shields for . postpenemsnt.
MIR. Dou raid he had argued the postpon mt
fri what be considered to DO the State Of I'LL
nois and not from any intimstion from his colleague
that he desired poetponement
MIR. WEBSTER. Web, then, the Senator urges
does not think will be useful.
Mr.. DoUGLAss- do not admit that
Mr.. WEBsTER-W WELL sir, do not want . POSTPONE
mept unless the Sen ator asks is.
Mr.. FooTE animated that he should not have moved
the postpoDement unless with some tscit understand
Ing that 1t would meet the wish Of Gen. Shields.
Mr. WEBsTER- He has not asked It.
Mr. FoorE-Well, but man may change his opinion.
senator nSturaliz.d in October ls4o He hs, lot
bee nine years Citizen, and the election IT, there
fore void, beosuse be not competent upon
tha I'm Ntf NJ avviA
produced 10, that the parents Of the senator we're
alised so long sgs as to include him in the
any proof OF that Sort Our duty plain % tur
pibe read The mere opinion Of the people Of Ill oois
II they were oil here nothing The question Is before
US and oSr duty is plain. live entertain the opinion
that the ntemsn il not eligible ought to say So
Mr.. HALE said be should against the postpone
ment unless tho gentleman should state, unequivo
csly friend for him, that he expects BY fur.
tAer time to change the state Of the evidence The
Sen stor from New York has said that hs has but little
respect for that clause OF the constitution
this citizenship Of nine years. Now, sir do respect
IT. When nearly oil other Of its provisions have been
spot and sush should wish 1t remain in ,olats
Gen. SHixLDs rose to speak, but gave way to
Mr. CALHosr, who said that It is certain the election
10 void where the Senator Is not eligible to his scat
He was opposed 10 the postponem unless the So.
nator alleged that further lime 10 allowed he can
establish his eligibility from the 9Th OF March No
such allegation, however, Is made. 1t 10 due, there
fore frat TO the constitutions and due to tho
nator from Indiana
Mr.. DoUGLAss-lllinois.
Mr. CALHoUs--Ths Senator from illinois, that ws
should act upon this question.
Mr.. DoucLAss-But the Legislature docs not meet
till January sgsin.
Mr.. CALHoUN- January again. Still 1t 10 our duty
to scti so that the Governor cannot appoint there
the Legislature before tho fret Monday In
next 1t 10 . duty to Gen. Shields He will gain by
the course ndicated he will loss BY the advised
by his friends. Assuming that the question Of sllg
bility commences with the beginning Of the term for
which the Senator s elected, Mr.. Calhoun msved to
mi nd tim m ha
void the Senator elect net having been the required
nine years oitizen-'st tho CONNIE noemsnt Of the
term Tor which he was elected"
MI. WEBsrER-I have NO objection to that amend
ment.
Gen. SHIEIDs-Ths Senator from Mississippi offer.
ed his melton to postpone without consulting me- and
without my consent
Mr.. FoorE-i certainly did so at my own option,
becaufe thought the too delicate upon which
to consult the and ct his request chesrfuy
withdraw the motion.
Gen SHIELDs-Mr. President I now resign my seat
linois
Mr.. WEBSTER Cooking indisn.nt-I ask for the
question upon the amendment OF the Senator from
South Carolina.
Gen. CAs-i move you, MIR. President, to lay the
whole subject upon the table
Mr. BUTLER That takes the report with It.
A Voice-Yes, it carries the report to the tabs.
Mr.. WEBsTER-Ths ayes and noes for the motion
lays the report Of the committee on the table.
The motion TO lay ON tho table was lost-l8 to "a.
QUESTION ON THE AMENDMENT
Mr.. FooTE asked the reading Of the sms ndne mt
with the resolution declaring the election void Gen
Shields not having been nine years citizen from the
mt Of the term for which he elected
Mr.. Foote spoke at some length, aud With much ear
peetnees, in opposition to this resolution, on the
grounds that would stultfy ths Senate that IL would
be- insult to the State Of Illinois that IL be
unjust . worthy man, and that it would encourage
the spirit Of ince dia.ism which, few years ago,
burned dswn churches and excited state Of civil war
among The people.
ME-. WALKER submitted an sme ndment simply de-
Glazing that Gen. shields Is insig bic suDstsuts
for the original resolution, declaring the election
void.
Mr. DOUGLASS insisted with uuyie ing zeal that the
resolution OF the committee declaring the election
void would leave the state AZ Illinois unreprssnted for
tao years except IT the exp-ps~ of extra session Of
she tgislsturc the Cover nCr having pc to sp
point where there was DO vacancy In the resignation
Of Gen. SHIELDS every thing npshed usosssa-
~ to v,ndicats the Senate.
Mr. HALE uoved to postpone the farther oons!dera.
tiep OF the subject till TO- morrow and esdcd that 1t
was due TO the ordinary courteeks among scntlensn
that the resignation offered should be received and
In IeceixtnR II Ia fhau9ht that further action