The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1850-01-26

ing, as to goad him into breach of the peace on
this floor? / trust not. Sir, trust not. can
say, that Mr., Broadwell has borne himself through
out all these trying scenes the midst of reproaeh
and insult and riotous disorder, in manner that
commends him to the respect and esteem of every
good citizen, in manner which if more initiated by
senators the other sde will give new life to the
expiring dignity of the Ohio senate
Mr. Wilson. Will the senator from Pickaway
state that the rumor to which he has referred
came from our side?
Mr. Olds will state that those rumors came
from democrats but not, so far as my knowledge
of the matter extends, from democratic senators on
this floor. | say further that when these rumors
were rife through the city, and when the Senator
from Cuyhoga so suddenly shifted his attack from
the Speaker to the senator from the first district it
is right that should thus allude to these rumors,
that senators may relieve themselves if they see
proper, from what hope is an unjust suspicion.
Mr.. Speaker, there are other things of an extra
ordinary character, which demand our attention
We find ourselves suddenly and most unexpectedly
constituted into court of the most remarkable
character, and engaged in the investigation of
most remarkable cause Taking the allegations AS
they have been made first in the speech of the
senator from Cuyahoga, and then in the statement
and resolution of the senator from Summit (Mr
Swift and where are we! We find ourselves con-
stituted into court to try one of our peers a
senator here, representing constituency. of course
proud of his reputation and willing to defend it
And not only against senator are these charges
made, but also against our presiding officer, the
head of this body, the organ of this body, a man
who has been elevated so that hestands before the
State and the nation as the organ of the Senate of
Ohio More than that sir. If these charges are
correct find ourselves called upon to investigate
a contract Private contract said to be approved
and binding-a contract which, it is said, has been
violated contract which, when violated, involves
your personal honor, and will, as they say, "drve
you from the society of honorable men," with the
mark of Cain upon your browi
And how is this court constituted? Contrary to
all usages the Speaker, the accused, is compelled
to sit as Judge of that violated contract" that
"broken faith,' compelled say, against all rules
of propriety and decency, to sit and control this
body, now court. by the application and enforce
ment of the rules of order, and the principle Of
Parliamentary law. / heard the Senator from
Cuyahoga, if | remember Alright, enter an apology
for this course. and present an alternative to the
speaker And what did that alternative amount
to? Simply this sir, that the Speaker might be al
lowed vacate that chair during his own trial. pro
vided always that he would not call senator from
this side ofthe chamber to FIJI it in the mean time
That is, sir. that you shall be compelled to occupy
that seat during the progress of trial involving
not only your position as senator, but also your
character and standing private citizen as man
of honor unless you will call to that chair and re-
quest to sit with all the high power of Chief JUS
tice, a member coming from that side of the cham
ber which has shown during the past week de-
gree of unwarrantable excitement degree of per-
sonal hostility and partizan prejudice, such as
would exclude every one of them from a jury in
the most ordinary trial in the very lowest court
and between the meanest parties in all the land
And what is the apology for all this? Because
forsooth, the Speaker sees ft in the exercise of
clear undenied and unbniable right, to call to thai
chair a senator from this side of the chamber nc
one of whom, until this morning has been charged
with or even suspected of being in any way con
nected with this matter all of whom have stood a
loof from these contracting parties," and beer
in entire ignorance of the existence and terms o
the alleged contract, therefore shall the Speaker
sit in tibet chair in the taunting language of the
Senator from Fairfield "like the criminal IN tk
dock" or, in the language of the senator from
Cuyahoga, as Ireduced it to writing at the mo
ment in his very words, she shall sat there, con
spicuoals object of torture, whe isiet that tor
tatre ourselves"
Mr.. Speaker let senators beware in such an at
tempt to place your honor in the pillory, an indig
nant public sentiment shall declare that they hav'
GLIB eted their own!
| mr. Payne asked leave to interrupt the speaker
and explained the words he thought he used il
the above connection.
Mr.. Olds. If misunderstood the statement o
that senator, he is entitled to an explanation bu
the language as l have used it was reduced t
writing by me as it fell from his lips I noted
at the moment as a specimen of the gentlemanl
courtesy he professed to be governed by in hi
opening remarks. .-....
But more than this. The Speaker of this body
compelled to sit there, with lips sealed time 70
reflection, opportunity to prepare or enter upo
his defence, denied the poor privilege of appearing
on the floor of the Senate on a level with its hum
blest member and raising his own cause; and al
this too while the other party to this Contract
sitting member, to try his own case with hands
and arms, and lungs, and heart all free.
4 But, Mr. Speaker, one scene more in this drama
and this one scene strikes me, unfit to be exhibited
in any civilized or uncivilized community. In th
presentation of these charges and in their advoca
cy epithets have been uttered, vindictve feeling
have been expressed, such as I cannot learn iron
history that the Spanish Inquisiton ever tolerated
No judicial tribunal certainly in any country wher'
the English language has carried with it freedom
of conscience and liberty of thought would for al
instant have toleratedit it.
i But, sir, perhaps am going too far; perhaps
am wrong. For while my mind runs back among
the earlier days of English history, do remembe
a certain court do remember certain Judge
whose name has been handed down to us imnnorta