Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-03-21
THE PRoTEsT-THE FARCE ENDLD IN
SMOKE.

We stated few weeks since, that the pro-
test against the election of Gen. Cameron as
United States Senator, got up by his oppo.
nents in the Legislature, for the purpose of
preventing him from taking his seat, was one
of the greatest humbugs Of the day. The
Senate, when the question came up, literally
secuted it out from their presence. Cover
nor Bigler himself had to acknowledge tha.
Cen Cameron "was legally entitled to his
seat but wanted time to show that % OF the
members did not say that it was a humbug.-
Even this little courtesy was refused. The
rebuke OF Senator Butler Of South Carolina,
an old democrat, must have grated somewhat
harshly, on the ear Of Gov. Bgler. His adj
vice to the protesting meHIbers Of the legisla-
ture to "wash themselves if they had been
dabing in dirty water is not it is true as
complimentary as one might expect from
the chivalry Of the South, but it is very eX-
pressive. We think Governor BigIer should
have admitted at once that the whole thing
was looked upon, by the majority Of the
"Protestants," as humbug. Many Of them
we know, are clever and Intelligent men, and
to put any other construction on their pro-
ceedings, would be u reflection on their intel
ligepce and good sense.
WASHINGTON, March 10.
Mr.. Benjamin called up the resolution re-
ported from the Committee on the Jnticmry
to discharge them from the further considrrA-
tion Of the protest aud papers i'll the case Of
the seat Of NJ IA MH5Hs"rr:, h.. ro:e for ,bs r
making a suggestion, which his colleague
would regard as perfectly fair. lie intended
to make no issue with the report Of the COM
mittee, in which he concurred SO far as the
legal points were concerned aud as the case
now stood, lie would have TO say his colleague
was legally entitled TO the Seat be occupied.
| lie could see nothing in the reasons assigned
| to impair the validity OF the election With
| regard to the third proposition, that imprO-
| per means were used TO prScHre an election.
| he had supposed that an opportunity would
| be afforded the members ol the Legislature
making the allegation to substantlate the
charge. His colleague had thought proper
perhaps in the heat Of excitement, TO make
| the broad assertion that twenty-five of the
members OF the Legislature who had signed
the protest had called upon him and said
that it was all humbug, and that they signed
it for fear they might incur the disp!easure OF
some influential dispensers of patronage by a
refusal.
This was no ordinary allegation. He had
! some hesitation as to what course he should
adopt but he could not sit silent while this
sweeping charge was made. What he wish
ed to say to his colleague was ths-he had
received a teiegraphic despatch, signed by
four members Of the Legislature, in which
they informed him they had seat statement
10y mail, no doubt with reference to the asser-
ton Of his colleague. That communication
had not reached him, owing to the irreguari-
ty Of the mails between Harrisburg and Wash
ington. lie did not seek all unpleasant con.
troyersy, and certainly did not wish TO delay
the Senate, now so near an adjournment. lie
asked that this question be postponed till to,
morrow morning, when he would agree it
should be disposed Of lie should then have
an opportunity Of presenting whatever COM
muncation he might receive in justification
Of the parties to whom ullusion had unnec-
essarlly been made 10y his colleague.
Mr.. Butler could not agree to the post
pouement. lie haG no idea of making the
senate tribunal before which political
parties were to bring their controversies. II
the members Of the Legislature Of Pennsyi
vania had been dabhling in dirty water, let
them wash themselves before they come here
1t would be very unfortunate to postpone the
question an hour longer, because the Senate
has no jurisdiction over it, All the testimo
ny which could he produced in the form of 2
controversy, could not, in his mind change the
issue.