The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-01-01

SPEECH OF HON. HANNIBAL uANLrS.

In the L. S. Senate on the 10th inst, Mr..
Allen, of Rhode Island, reported the list OF
Standing Committees previously agreed upon
in Democratic caucus. The question being
ON their adopt by the Senate. Mr.. Ham
lin OF Maine, made the following remarks {:
Mr. President, I propose to state briefly
the reasons which control the yo'e | shall
give, and why shall not vote Tor the reso
luton which has been submitted by the
Senator irrm Rhode Island. Iobject to he
cast of the committees because they are un.
just. disproportionate, and sectional and !
intend To show, us briefly Us can, the truth
OF each Of these propositions. W
In time like the present, when the slave
power has seized upon the judicial depart.
ment of the Government, and when that
br.rch has already undertaken to decide
UliIical questions upon u record which
shows that decision was attempted on an
issue not before them. and ut a period Of
time when the Executive Of the country is
tied up and bound down by that power, und
a great party, called Democratic, has no
other standard by which to measure its men
no other alembic through which all it,
principles are distilled-it il u time when
every good man should carefully examine
the mode and manner in which each branch
Of the Government is administered, and, in
so far Us he may be able, to aid in bringing
il back to what our fathers made it and in.
tended il should be.
On the organization Of the committees Of
the Senate every Senator knows the form
md direction TO the business Of the Senate is
mainly dependent. Ii is through these com
luIttees, to u very great extent-to much the
greatest exteot-that the business of the
S.nate is prepared and presented to the Sem
ate Tor its action. Now. SIR, rs one OF q
minority in this body. personally | can say
and think l may truly say that believe
Represent the whole minority personality
We might have no objection to any cast that
the majority Of the Senate might see iit To
impose upon US. We d. not seek response
b,lity personally. We do not ask for po,i.
ton for the purpose Of position. But US the
representatives Of equal States, we have obi
CATIONS imposed upon us.from which we can
not and ought not ~ shrink. As the repre-
sentatiyes Of equal States, We are entitled to
an equal representation in the organization
OF this body. and are under obligations to
our constituencies to discharge, 30 lar us We
may be able, the duties that are incumbent
UPON US here.
| have affirmed that these committees, Us
cast under this resJlution, are unequal, un.
lust. and sectional What are the facts ?
We have s,Ity.,wo members Of the Senate
thirt, two an. IRON non.slayehol'iing States,
thirty are IRON the slaveholdins States. The
whole number OF places upon Quantities Is
one hundred and twrnty-siI. Numerically,
upon an equal representation, there should
DO assigned to Senator's from the slave States
sixty ono places, and to Senators from the
free States sixty. Eve. The cast, although IL
has been slightly modified this morning,
think Is not substantially changed. As u
was made and presented to the minority,
suppose the changes will not exceed one
BY that cast there were assigned to the slave
States sixty.seven, and to the free States
fity.nine, showing disproportion Of ten
The whole number Of committees OF the Sem
ate 10 twenty-five, Or these committees