The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1850-02-02

claim of his competitor from the committee on
privileges and elections 1t seems to have been
further understood by the senator from Medina
that II, while things were taking their ordinary
course under the rules of Parliamentary law, Mr.
BroadweI or his friends should attempt to thrust
him forward, by trick, upon the senate before the
report of the committee his case or that of his
competitor could be received, then the senator from
Medina was to interfere by his vote, if necessary,
to prevent it.
Well, Mr.. Speaker, under this arrangement and
understanding, it seems that speaker was elected
How have things progressed since that event?
venture to say, sir behalf of Mr.. Broadwell and
of other senators on this side of the chamber that
had things progressed in the ordinary parliamentary
course was understood between these parties,
this difficulty would never have arisen It is only
because things have been thrown out of the ordi-
nary track, by the votes and action of senators
the other side, that this extraordinary scene has
occurred venture to assert so far as can gath
er it from these papers and all other sources, that
there was distinct understanding that things
Should take their ordinary parliamentary course
have evidence that this course was understood to
confer on the speaker when elected, the power of
appointing the committee on privileges and elec-
tions. There can be no misapprehension or mis-
understanding in regard to this, and assert that
there was none. -=4z-g
MI MYERS LOGS the S6HaGOF IrOfu IlckdWdy
deny that the speaker was told that all fair and
honorable means, consistent with parliamentary
usuage, would be used to take from him the ap-
pointment of the committee on privileges and cleo
tons?
Mr.. Olds. The senator from Lucas shall hear
from on that subject directly; it is the question
of the poWer of the speaker to appoint that COM
mttee which I am now examining. Am right
in claiming that the power to appoint that commit
lkoo L.. l.
shall see
Mr.. Speaker for what was this struggle of four
weeks in the Gnoice of presiding officer9 Not
surely for the pary honor of sitting in that chair;
because every body knows that if man is at all
ambitious to display his talents and ability, the
speakers chair is the last place to which he should
aspire Tor there all his brilliant qualities which
might entitle him to distinction are emphatically
'hid under bushel" Then the struggle on this
floor for the first month of the session. was not for
the speakership as an object of personal or party
ambition. Sir, the struggle for that chair was be-
cause there lay the power toappoint that impor-
tant committee on privileges and elections! On
that point the controversy rested. For that reason
both sides held on in their laborious ballotings-
There was known to rest the question of the ses-
sion. All this was well understood on the other
side. Ifnot so understood why did the senator
from Cuyahoga, with all those soft Establishments
with which he strove to facnate the senator from
Jefferson, in those "public spirited and patriotic
conversations, when he told that senator he could
have the democratic vote for speaker, why did he
always add has proviso that the senator from Trum
bull Mr.. Beaver) must not be appointed chairman
of that committee? Sir, this matter was well un-
derstood. And now assert, in the hearing of
every senator on the other side of the chamber,
that if the election of speaker had resulted in the
choice of a democrat, you never would have heard
of this proposition of theirs elect this committee
by ballot. Never. sir!
And now, Mr.. Speaker, in reply to the inquiry
of the senator from Lucas, will say, that the
ator from Medina. was told as I suppose, at No
1877 of the Neil house. that every effort consistent
with Parliamentary usuage, would be made to take
out of his hands, if elected speaker, the appoint
ment of that committee; but it was equally well
understood there, that in all those efforts they
could in no case haze has Uote for that purpose
And what would all their efforts avail them p
1t was clearly understood that there were eighteen
senators on this side holding undspated seats, who
would stand BY and assert the right to have that
committee appointed in the usual manner; and
that on the other side there were only seventeen,
with undisputed seats, who could stand, and with
their votes maintain the election of that committee
by ballot How then could they expect to get the
control of that committee? Ah sir, I can very
well conceive that after four weeks balloting for
speaker, we were then to have another protracted
struggle this point, by the illegal vote of Mr.
johnson holding us from any choice of committee
and thus the time of the senate was to be wasted
until worn down by fatigue, senators on this side
would be expected 70 yield their ground. Now, sir
wish to say, Just at this point that while on this
side we engage in no bravado, employ no lofty
threats, make no loud professions of iuvincibilty
vet gentlemen on on the other side must not fall
into the of supposng that camness, and cool
ness sometimes under insult and outrage, are ev-
idence here of indecision and want of frmness-
| So far as l understand the operations of the hh-
man intellect, it is not from the nosiest and most
clustering that you may expect the sternest resist
ance and most resolute frmness in the hour Of
trial. Applause.
But sir, besides having this struggle in the rails
ing of this committee thrust upon us, contrary to all
the ordinary rules of proceeding, we are also met
with another violent departure from the ordinary
course in legislative bodies. Immediately upon the
election of officers it was to be expected tina: the
old rules of the senate would be adopted for the
government of the body, until new rules could be
framed and adopted This has been the unvarying
custom so far as l can learn, ever since there has
been senate of Ohio. For this purpose motion
is submitted by the senator from Franklin, and
roted doDn by the unanimous voice of senators over
the way, aided by the illegal vote of Mr.: johnson
This is done, not only because those rules recog-
nized the power of the speaker to appoint that COM