New-York daily tribune., 1856-03-26
ELECTION OF SENATOR'S.

The intrigue said TO be on foot in M ssachusetts
TO iorestal the functions Of the next Legs ature By
eectiDg this Winter q Senator to fill the Va cancy
which occurs on the 4th of March, 1857, is not en-
tirely original with the friends Of Governor Gard.
ner The same forestalling game was proposed not
long since in California. On that occasion DIR.
Gwin for whom il was proposed thus prematurely
to choose successor, consulted the Secretary OF
the Senate as to what appeared to have been the
practice, and whether there were any instances on
record of Senators having been thus prematdrely
elected. He received in reply the following notes,
which, as they OF an official character and Of
general interest, We print for the benefit of the
public generally, and of the Massachusetts, Know
NOhings in particular:
"OFrIcE OF rHE SEc'r OF THE SENATE L. Sd
WAsHISGToS, Nov Il, 1883.
" SIR: In answer to your inquiry | have the honor
TO state that upon examination OF the Records OF the
Serste and other meats Of information now wi hin my
reach tor the last twentythee years it il found that
in every instance where before the expiration of a
- Estora term Senator has been elected for the
suing term be has been elected at the session of the
state Legislature neat preceding the commencement
Of such term.
"The uninterrupted uniformity of this practice for
oug series of years, and throughout all the States
y
tie examination further back-especialy a. | see no
res ION to doubt that the result would be the same.
In this examination have been aided by refer
enee TO tie American Almanac, IN regard to the time
of meeting of Of the State Legs,atures-the ad-
mtted accuracy Of that work usifyng such reference
Bu! as that publication not commenced un'H the
wear l-3O, the like Information where needed IN regard
10 previous year, must be sought in various sources
many OF them difficult OF access, aud would require
y,ry considerable time
have tie hSs9T to BE- sir, your OFT servant s.
Hen wILiM GH" D Hsd s State. senator aes1oPo
Han Hotel, Broadway, New-York."
"OFTIcE OF HE SECREIARY .F TRY SENATE I
L. s., December ?, 1858.
"SIR: Since nv letter Of the l7th ult., the eXsmi-
nation has been carried back to the very first session
Of tLs Senate in 1882 and far can be asceained
from the records OF the Senate, II il found that IN
every nstepce where, before the expiration OF Sena-
toria term, Senator has been elected for the ensuing
tenn Le has been elected at the session of the State
Lee ssture next preceding the commencement OF such
term. have the honor to be, Sir,
Your oledent servant,
"AsBURY DICKINs, Secretary OF the Senate.
&" Hon. ". NJ. GwIS, Senator u. :"
The project of anticipating an election broke
down in California, as did also similar scheme
about TIE same time in Missouri. The same thing
also was thought of, we believe, by the Maine
Legislature of this year, but abandoned IA too un-
tcnable thing to be attempted. The only instances
in which Senator's have been elected year or more
in advance of the commencement of their term has
been where the sessions of the State Legislature
were biennial, the election being made, how
ever in all these cases at the session last preceding
the termination of the current term of service.
Such was the case of Jenhin Whitesde Of Tennes-
see, elected on the oath of November, 1907, to
term to commence March A, 1911. So also the
following cases:
HrGH l.. WHITE Of Tennessee, elected November {,
ls27-tcrm 20 commence March I, ls21.
RoBIRT j. WALKER of Mississippi, elected January
9, ls4O-term to commence March 1, 1871.
HEsRY =. FooIE of Mississippi, elected January TO-
l5i6-term to commerce March T. l947.
SOLOMON w DowSs of Louisiana, elected March .
ls46-tem to commence March 4, ls47
Thomas G.. PRATT OF Maryland elected January IL,
ls5O-tenl to commence March 4, lo5l.
RopERT TooaBs of Georgia, elected November a.,
ls5l-term to commence March 4, 1888.
In each of these cases the sessions were biennial,
and the elections took place at the regular session
mont preceding the end vf the Senatorial term.
Under these circumstances We apprehend that
Governor Gardner " i'll find it aecessary to forego
the intended coup d'etat