Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-03-19
Correspondence IF The American.

W ARLINGTON, March -, 1910
Payer by the Rev Mr. Slicer Journal of yesterday
Mr.. Mason from the select Committee to whom was
rterred the Certificate Of tie Election IF the Honorable
James Shields to seat in this dy with Instructions II
Inquire Into the eligibility Of the said James Shields to
such sea-Report.
That having given due notice TO said Shields, he an
peared bete them, and they took the subject into consd
GRAFTON
They farther report that the sai certificate Of election
declares that the said James Shields was chosen SEN
of the |. States by the Legislature of the State of
Illinois the 18th day Of January last-that il further
appears and admitted By the said James Shields that
ne an allen by birth. and the only proof before The
committee Of tie naturalization Of the said Shields in tile
u States IS contained IN the copy Ofa certificate of natu-
Ialza'i9n IN the Circuit Court of Eiaeham county, In
the said State Of Illinois, which is annexed to and
made part Of this report, by which certificate it appears
That the SAID james Shields admitted by said Court
citizen oi the U. States the 2lst day IF October.
iolO The committee therefore report the following eso-
luton:
Resolved, That the election of James Shields to be
Senator IF the United States was void he not hayno
been citizen Of the United States tile term of wears
required as qualification be Senator Of The United
States.
MIR. Mason stated that the Committee had several
DAYS since been prepared report and had then address
ed letter 70 Gen. Shields, through their Chairman
stating that hey We're ready receive any communica
uonWhlch he MI ht desire make or to afrd Hin apv
further time which he might require They met aran
che next day, but COMMUNICATION was received vs.
teFtay however, It ascertaued that General Shields
bad sent communication, but, from accident il Nan
net reached them. They had therefore further n,stn
ed unH 70 day the making If their report Jul General
HhIe'S had MT deemed 1t advisable 10 make any COM
municaon
The report and resolution having been read
General Shields rase ana said that his n,ib+ 4, +L
ony occasion which he should ever have 10 address b
oh"faole oody. ne objection 10 his eligibility urina-
'ed IN this body lie had competitor from his State
10 co"es his right 10 seat He had there an honorable
competitor IN the cand date Of the opposing PARTY before
the Legislature. Nothing, tie had reason ID believe
would nave induced that gentleman to come hcrs and
contest MS right 70 seat in this body Nur Hal ther4
oeen any Communication from Illinois expressnr doubt As
10 ms ehgIbl!y Though lie had large party there Cd
posed 81 nm, and Of course enemies in his own mart,
there could not te found five men in Illinois vbn lynrid
present here memorial u eject him from Ills sat IN ,b
ground Of lneIglbity. lie HAD been in the State u
lsatu'e, Judge, Commissioner in the general Land
Once General in the Army, for three DAYS Governor
OF Orfgun all requiring naturalzatiun and vet the us
usn Of egey had never been raised III connection Win
either 4 he Senator from Wisconsin Lad ra-.d tb9t
question mere, as lie had perfect RIGHT ID d. Perhans
II was MS du J 10 50. he question having been
raised and referred to the honorable and nellue6t conn
mitee who had repOred upon the subject he had mod
hp his mi d to submit to The dfcision M tis L5 it
PIT opp siilun, and throw himself upau his State VI
tain him. Ii they abandoned him he shoDld navsr ,,
L,'>eh again tor o1lce in these United States The
tohWttee had acted upon the evidence bef,re them
ihev could not act otherwise. He could have ev,lij
nu' as Re h2d already been charged with indiscre
,lon' ne foFe0ore tie had been guilty. III al error
ieteF to gentleman ofthis body and he confessed III
wrong. hen gentleman called on him. and referred
10 Inc injurious Construction Of which that letter was
susceptible he had Immediately authorized him 10 with
da" T. Before this oady and before God Ne dssyowed
ne construction given - that letter. He was iucanabs
u SGch thought, OF menace Of assqssination
ne "'olG cal! on every citizen of the L. States 10 re-
Tel srca an lmpua'ion. He would call on the c9,ls
il'n "Ilse' 1t!Ween whom and that genteman's own
onlheT-ln-law be had thrust Ills own bodr 4, sara I;
ifpm The consequences fan imputed crime arasf I'LL
domestic peace Of that brother i'll law Ha was nav
Feapog the effects Of his own ndiscretion and he h.
maze up his'mlod to submit unresisrinoly 10 the doc
- ti's o'dy-io g. home and appeal TO his own Stale
ut: lurrey was net satisfied with the rerort ortba
committee, and argued at length that the Cnnsti.n,io
eS moi require mat person shall have been nine years
cizen before his election buI only before he shall lake
his seat. A0 enaii 'AAe
IT. Foote was in favor Of postPoping further action
until me next session. and moved pos ponemeut Of I'M
resolution until The first Monday in December
hlr Mason addressed the Senate at considerable lenotb
|" explanation OF the views ofthe committee In the
case ct Mr. Gaatin in 1893, it appeared from the Jour
IA mat ne came to this country IN 1850 before The close
u Inc war and before the Constitution Of he nifad
Siaes had been adopted
lie resided in several States until O.foher 11S5
"feh ne sWure allegiance 10 the Stale Of Virqini, H.
'hfn rNtnv p Pennsy iyania and became nernannt
resident u hat SAFE. Ia l7SS he was elected fntbe