The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-17


Who sav thew are true and the clerks who have sworn
that they are true Their oaths against his state
ins NJ BRIGHT. win the senator allow me for mo
Mr.. TRUMBULL. Certainly.
Mr. BRIGHT desire here TO state the point to which
directed my remarks when stated that the paper was
untrue understood the protest read the part oil TWEEN
seyen senator's of Indiana to state that there was not
majority OF senators present the first convention Tor the
purpose Of counting the votes for governor and lieutenant
Mr. TRUMBULI. am unable to inform the senator
whether IL states not cannot recolect all that
in il
Mr. BRIGHT. | so understood hearing it read.
will state here that the paper was prepared and signed be-
fore the election took place That state my response
by senator here; and further state that there was
majority OF the senators present at the time the conyen-
ton met and will be so made apparent at the proper
time
Mr. COLLAMER When metz For what purpose3
Mr.. TRUMBULL. The paper purports to have been ex-
ecued and signed before this pretended joint convention
for eecng senator's took place 1t is Reputation in ad
of the action which it supposed would be at
tempted, and appears upon its face That is no new
discovery The senate of Indiana being apprzed Of what
they style the fraud which about to be pepetraed
attempted to be perpetrate upon the sovereignty OF In
danathe insult as they term it about to be committed
protested in advance against the contemplated action Ger
ny they had their presiding officer on one occasion
before without authority leave his seat and repair to the
house they passed resolution stating
that they would have nothing to do with that so-caed
joint convention which had adjourned to future day In
defiance of that resolution passed by constitutional ma
senator's the lieutenant governor the presiding officer goes
out into another convention.
Mr.. BENJAMIN Will the senator from Illinois allow
me to ask him, him question?
Mr.. BENJAMIN understand the senator from Illinois
that the president OF the senate of Indiana went into
joint convention without authority have been informed
have not read the consttutonthat the constitution of
Indiana expressly required the senate TO 60 that day into
joint convention with the housethat it in obedience
to the constitution of the State that he did So
Mr.. TRUMBULL. will state what understand the
constitution OF Indiana to require 1t directs the votes for
governor and lieutenant governor to be directed TO the
speaker of the house of representatives and requires the
speaker in the presence of the general assembly to
and the votes That is what is required by the
Mr. BENJAMIN. 1t was that day that the president
of the senate in obedience to the constitution went into
Mr. TRUMBULL. That was the first time
Mr.. BENJAMIN. That is the time are speaking Of
TWAS the original convention speaking Of I'M
derssnd was in obedience to the constitution of Indiana
Mr.. TRUMBULL. As / have cndeavored to state, he
was not bound by the constitution of Indiana to do 1t
did not require him go there in that manner and that
apprehend would have very little to do with the election
which took place three weeks a month afterwards The
rst meeting was for particular purpose and that pur
pose was in order that the speaker should open and
vass the votes for governor and lieutenant in the
presence of the general assembly That purpose
complshed. The United States senators were then
elected That meeting was adjourned By a senator called
temporarily TO the chair where he had right be The
Speaker was the presiding officer whose duty it to
lieutenant governor to the chair without authority drec
ted the convention adjourned to particular day. the I'd
of February Before that day arrived the senate took the
ing the I'd of February The constitution did not au-
thorze an adjourned meeting TO that any other day
and repeat what said before that according TO these
papers, the presiding officer Of the senate in defiance Of
the order of that body went into the house of
sentatives These facts are not only certified to by the
senate but thirty members of the house have signed
the protest subsequent to the election stating that took
place at an dourned meeting OF this sostyed joint
ysnton and read this morning from paper the organ
oil the dominant political party in Indiana the Sentinel
and believe the official paper the report Of the proceed
ings, to show that fact.
did not suppose the face of these facts and what has
TRANSFERRED that it was possible there was any individual
prepared to admit the applicant here 1t is desired
TO admit him temporarily for what objecti For what
purposef Is this case to be hung up for months? Are
the Judiciary Committee prepared shed any light upon
ItI That committee is composed entirely of the senator's
political friends he will have the in the hands of his
friends and intend to move before sit down. TO refer
these credentials and papers, and the motion the senator
from Indiana to the Judiciary Committee and let them re-
POT. upon the case at once There danger of their
holding up improperly and perhaps they could have de-
cided upon It and reported the Senate during the time
we have already occupied in discussing question Let
he matter 60 to that committee and let them make speedy
report upon it. If there any facts to be ascerta;ned
they can inquire as to them trust there may be no On
lection 70 Its taking that The committee is com
posed entirely OF the political friends of the person claim
ing the seat Not one of that class persons
by the senator from Indiana "repubcansr and who
u possess peculiar horror to him, is on the committee
30 tna ne Will not he likely to be damaged by any Of thai
class OF men, hope may end the discussion by refer
ring the matter 10 the Judiciary Committee and ask them
to act on 1t Mt once; and make that motion
Mr. HUNTER. Mr.. President these contested eec,;ors
present always two questions which are usualIv
oy the senate in their order The first is the Question o
rcturn--who has the return-and know Of M nstano
N whch there was an undisputed vacancy when soma
tor or member of the other house appeared
an undisputed certificate undisputed retnrn vha ~
has been refused to be in upon the nreaa. iu m
the papcr Alter he is sworn in on the nrasantt ~
the return, (which is always done il il be rood . ~
sts mce) then the other question as to his VI
ally referred to committee tried b- not co;.,
it .Ho give 'her opinion up
say sur know Of 40 instance in which an undsnpted
na az De RESENTED, where there was an undoubted
man VI tne senate has refused to swear in any
VIZ presented it. How is it In this case Does any
dispute this return Is it not valid return on iis
Does not the present applicant come here as every
otner applicant has appeared from the State NJ nd
ana with the certificate of the governor which Il the evil
dence Oh the return2 Why then should we depart from
tne usual custom of the Senate The senator from hi
mons Mr. TRuMsuLL says because he is not elected and
mus ne seeks to PREJUDICE that question: without the as
stanoo Oh committee to look into the facts which ara
disputed FOR 'hey stated one way In that paper and
we are told there Is to be another statement by the
men VINO apply here for places under this election and vet
we are asked TO depart from the usual practice of the SEN
70 decide this question Of election without ever having
ne ac Ried or without having heard the applicaI
IN MS own BEHALF Was this ever done Before Wonld
oe unjust on the present occasion to set this prece
acknowledge that in the case of dsnptea re,,r, |
where there double return where two persons
eacn claiming to have the return then Won can aear IL
NEITHER because the Senate cannot be certain who ha.
anu tne committee must decide relation IN that