Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-03-19
of that protest, and was willing to bear testi-

mony to their honorable character everywhere,
and must, therefore, testify to their honorable
motives. They might be mistaken as to mat
tiers of form and on questions of substance, SO
far as they affected the rights of his colleague
to seat but he did not believe that they
were moved in this act of grave responsibility
by other than pure motives. But for the un-
happy remarks of his colleague, he would not
have troubled the Senate for moment, but
he could not remain silent when an observation
was made involving the integrity of twenty
FIVE members of the Legislature. He agreed
with his colleague that the charge of an cleo
tion by fraud and corruption was grave one,
and he was as slow to entertain the iGea as
any man. He was proud of his native State,
and he had as exalted an opinion of the men,
bers of the Legislature as his colleague, but
he could not allow the impression to go out
that this allegation was trumped up without
any reasonable ground for the charge. The
party to which Mr.. Cameron did not belong
elected a majority of the Legislature. The
Democrats were entitled to and expected the
Senator, yet they were disappointed, because
three members, in violation of their party
principles and the assurance of their friends
voted for member of the Republican party.
The members of the Legislature who thus cast
their votes aud became subjects of criticism,
were elected by large Democratic majorities.
One was elected 10y 2000, and another by L.
500, and his colleague must be aware that the
allegation was promptly made by their con-
stituents, that they had betrayed them from
improper motives He united in the hope ex-
pressed by Mr. Pugh, that there would be no
evidence of corruption. That was too dear q
price to pay for seat here. He could not
agree, considering the circumstances surround
ing this case, that it should be disposed of
without full examination. He now asked
that the case might lie over, and the report of
the Committee on the judiciary be printed.
Mr.. Cameron replied that there had been no
time within the last twenty-five years, and his
colleague knew it, that there had not been
more than three men in the Pennsylvania Leg
islature, of any party opposed to him political
ly who would have voted for him for any Of
fee in the county of Schuylkill, where two
of the members resided, there never was
time when a majority of the Democratic par
ty did not prefer him to any other public man !;
in the county of York, his colleague had rea-
son to believe and know that there had always
been a large portion of the Democratic party
favorable to him Cameron1 and when Big
Ter was nominated for Governor, he Mr. Ca
merOn got the delegates from that county to
vote for him. Many gentlemen voted for him
cameron from personal preferences. But
he did not desire to discuss this question, and
asked the Senate to decide it at once
Mr.. Bigler replied that his colleague had
said he had large body of personal friends
who adhered to him with great tenacity He
maze no issue with him on that point but so
far as concerned the members of the Legsla-
ture from Schuylkill and York, he Mr.. Came
ron, would scarcely contend that they were
elected to vote for him on the contrary, they
were elecied to vote for Democrat. One of
these gentlemen went into the Democratic eau
Gus and voted for the nominee AS for the
circumstance that at one time, when acting
with the Democratic party, his colleague fa-
vOred his ( Mr.. Bgler'sI nomination, he could
hardly see what bearing that had on this case
He did that when he was O member of the
Democratic party.
Mr. Foote submitted the following resolu-
ton =
Resolred That Simon Cameron is entitled
to seat upon this floor as legally chosen
Senator from the State of Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Benjamin offered resolution that the
Secretary of the Senate obtain for the use of
the Senate, from the report of the decisions
of the Supreme Court, 10000 copies of the
opinions of the Judges in the case of Dred
Scott, and that the same be paid for at rate
not exceeding fifteen cents per 100 pages pro-
vided the same be stitched, with paper covers,
in pamphlet form.
After an Executive session, the Senate ad-
journed till tomorrow, at ii o'clock
WASHINGTON, March l3.-In the Senate to-
day, in reference to the contested seat from
Pennsylvania, it was agreed on all sides that
the informalties presented in the protest do
not affect the right of Mr.. Cameron to his
seat and it was held, also, that the question
of alleged fraud and corruption in the election
properly belonged to the Legislature of Penn.
sylvania, and not to the Senate. The resolu-
ton declaring Mr.. Cameron entitled to his seat,
as legally chosen Senator, was withdrawn by
Mr. Foote, who offered it. The Committee on
the Judiciary having been discharged from the
further consideration of the subject, the whole
matter rests where it is