The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-01-16
Correspondence of the Charleston Stan.
dard.


WArnISGroN, January 7, 1851.
Yesterday was a day prolific in great Con-
gress>ional speeches. In the Senate, the
question rs to Mr.. IIarlan's right to seat as
Senator from the State of Iowa, Was discus.
sed 10y Judge Butler, anal Geycr, Of Nilsson
ri, on the one side, art Mrss,s. Teonhs,
and Pngh, Of Ohio, on the other. Grave
legal and constitutional questions were in
volvcd, and Judge Butler only desired the
Judgment of the Senate upon the facts of the
case. The Constitution OF the United States
required that Senators should bc elected bv
the "l-egislature," and the Constitution of
Iowa defined the Legislature to be "Scnatc
and House Of Representatives" 1t WAS
clear that an election could only be made
10y the two bodies in their capacities as such
though in joint convention. In Mr.. Hur-
lan's' case, the two Houses had assembled in
joint session, and failing to elect, adjourned
over till 10 o'clock the next day. The
Senate me. next morning before 10 o'clock,
and Immediately adjourned over till Monday
The House met and, after organizing, sent a
message to the Senate that they were ready
to receive them i'll joint session and proceed
with the ballotting for United State Senator
The messenger, finding the Senate had ad-
jourtlcd, reported the fact to the House,
whereupon the sergcautat-arms was des-
patched TO the hotels and other places to
bring in the individual Senators. Several
were found and attended, but less than
quorum Of the Scnate.-The President and
Secretary of the Senate were among the alb
sen,ees and the Statute of Iowa regulating the
manner Of organizing the joint convention,
directs that The President Of the Senate
shall preside, and the Secretary and Clerk of
the House shall be the tcllcrs In the ab-
scncc Of these officers, the Speaker of the
House presided, and appointed teller.
These were the circumstances under which
Mr.. Harlan was elected United States Sen
ator, on the 9th day Of January-just one
yccr ago.
Mr. Toombs contcnlcd that after the or
ganization of the joint convention, a majority
OF the members Of that body could meet and
elect, allhoug II no member OF the Senate hap
pened to attend.-Mr. Bigler, of Pcnnsyl-
vania, Gskcd him what he would do in case
the Senate was actually in session in their
chamber, and progressing with legislation.
Hc replied that the Convention could 60 on
and elect. TO this abSurdity did his doc
trine lead him, and sooner than yield the
point he suffered himself to he driven to the
unconstitutional position that one-half Of
the Legislature could do what the Consti-
tuition Of the United States empowered the
entire legislature alone to do
Mr.. Pugl,, of Ohio, who is the Youngest
member Of the Senate, took pretty much the
same view Of The subject with Dir. Toombs,
and spoke at length.
Mr.. Geyer, of Missouri, who has nation
al reputation as y lawyer, supported Judge
l;utler's positions and made powerful Ic-
gal argument. The subject comes up again
to-day.
Mr.. Bright having resigned tie Presidcn-
cy of the Senate, in order 10 supcrinten1
the approaching election for rhited States
Senator in lndiaun, Mr.. Mason, of Virgin
III, WAS yesterday elected lis successor,
with . revcrsionary interest in the Chief
Nagistracy Of the Union-and as Old Do
minion is the State for luck, beg President
Pierce to look we'll to his health, or there
will be another ":cc;Leucy' i'll the Execu-
tive chair.
In the House Yesterday, Mr.. Stephens,
Of Georgia, made one Of the ablcst speeches !,
of his life on the State Of the Union, and the !
position of political parties. The galleries
were crowded with visitors, and during the
time occupied by his remarks, almost breath
less silence was maintained throughout the |
hall. lie was followed by Henry Winter
Davis, of Baltimore, a young lawyer of fine
oratorical powers. lie attempted defeuce
of the fragment left Of the American party.
and was listened to with marked attention.
Next came Mr.. Cadwalader, of Philadelphia,
who made capital speech in defence ef de-
mocracy in rlicule of selfstylcd American
ism. The debate continues to-day.
IvAHHoE