Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-03-14
United s.ntes sena,e-Rxsra Session.


WASHINGTON, March 13.-Mr. Benjamin call
ed up his resolution reported from the commit
tee on the judiciary, to discharge them from the
further consideration of the protest and papers in
Mr.. Cameron's case. Mr.. Bigler of Pa said he
rose for the purpose of making a suggestion
which his colleague would regard as perfectly fair
He (Mr. Bigler) intended to make no issue with
the report of the committee in which he concur
red, SO far as the legal points were concerned
and, as the case now stood, he would have 10 say
that his colleague legally entitled to the seat
he occupied. He could see nothing IN the Teas-
ons assigned to impair the validity of the cleo.
ton. With regard to the third proposition that
improper means were used to secure the election
he had supposed an opportunity would be af-
fOrded the members of the Legislature to sub.
stantiate the charge for fear they might incur the
dspleasure of some influential dispensers OF pat
ronage by refusal. This was no ordinary allega
ton. He had some hesitation as TO what course
he should adopt, but he could not sit silent when
so sweeping charge was made. What he wished to
say to his colleague this He had received
Geographic despatch, signed by four members of
the Legislature, in which they informed him that
they had sent a statement by mail, no doubt with
reference to the assertion of his colleague That
communication had not reached him, owing to
the irregularty Of the mails between Harrisburg
and Washington. He did not seek an unpeas-
ant controversy, and certainly did not wish to de-
lay the Senate, now near an adjournment
He asked that this question should be post
poned until Tomorrow morning, when he would
agree that it should be disposed Of He should
then have an opportunity of presenting whatever
communication he might receive, in justification
af the parties to whom allusion had unnecessarily
been made by his colleague
MIR. Butler could not agree to a postponement
He had no idea of making the Senate a tribunal
before which political parties were to bring their
controversies. If the members of the Legislature
of Pennsy l0ania had been dazzling in dirty wa
ter, let them wash themselves before they come
here. All the testimony which could could he
produced in the form of controversy would NOT
in his mind, change the issue.
Mr. Bigler said he had supposed that his pron.
ostion was so reasonable that there could be no
objection, and at the suggestion OF friends he had
concluded to offer no objection to the adoption of
the resolution, that the committee be discharged
from the fufthe consideration Of the subject 4
Mr.. Seward stated that the reason why Mr.
Cameron made no reply, was, that he acted by
the ad, ice of his personal and political friends.
The resolution Of the committee was then ad-
opted.
MIR. BENJAMIN, from the committee on the iu-
dietary, reported resolution proposing that all
the parties to the Indiana CONSISTED election case
be permitted to state the testimony before the iu-
dicial tribunal of that State. SO
Mr.. Trumbull of ILL.,, said there was no matteR
at all material TO the case. If so, the testimony
ought not to be taken. The facts can only be
proved by the record. He moved the adoption Of
the tOl owing, as SuDStlute IOf the feSOluuOn -
Resotced, That 1t is the duty of the Senate to
proceed to the consideration Of the question of
tine right TO seats of the sitting members from In
diana, at the present session, and dispose Of the
same before adjournment.
Mr.. Fitch of Indiana remarked that there was
no matter at issue material to the case, aad in the
face OF knowledge on his part to the contrary the
journal to which the Senator referred was merely
that of an unauthorized mob, and not the journal
OF the Legislature. The Senator had made
emendations and very large dilutions Of his former
assertions 70 serve his partisan purposes on this
OCCASION.
Mr.. Trumbull replied, that he had spoken Of
the question as 1t was his duty to do, as mem
bep,pf the Senate. He had nothing to do deli
cately, as he knew how, and had presented the
papers in as modest a way as he was capable Of
doing. But an attempt made to change the
issue, and make an assault on him personally as
If he had personal interest in the matter.
IL was agreed on all sides that the informali-
ties presented In the protest offered do not affect
the rights OF Mr.. Cameron TO his seat, and it was
agreed that the question Of alleged frauds in the
election properly belonged TO the Legislature, and
not to the Senate. The resolution declaring Mr..
Cameron entitled to a seat as legally chosen sen
ator, was withdrawn.
Various combinations Of executive appoint.
ments were made, among which were Samuel
Medary of Ohio, for Governor OF Minnesota Ter.
ritory; and J. Z. Anderson for Governor Of
Washington Territory Philip Clayton, for AS
sistant Secretary OF the Treasury.