The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-12-28
Speech of Mr.. Blythe On the United
States Senatorial Election Bill.


Mr.. SPEAKER have to confess, Sir, that
have been much interested, not only in
the arguments of the gentleman from Marion
(Gordon), but also in his statement of the
question-in his facts. Yet Sir, that gen.
tleman will pardon me for saying that it
strikes me he has occupied the time of the
House for nearly two hours, without touch
ing the important question presented for the
consideration of the House by the amend
ment to the bill now under consideration.
| think that there are two of these ques-
tions involved in the proposed amendment,
neither of which, if I understand the argu-
ment of the gentleman, has he discussed or
attempted to discuss.
| do not intend now, sir to go into any
argument upon these questions, nor to join
issue with the gentleman from Marion, with
regard to the facts of this case. l have come
to this conclusion because believe it to be
necessary, for | am satisfied that in the mind
of every member of this House there is a
foregone conclusion as to what will be his
action in the premises. One thing is clear,
as well from the arguments made by the
gentleman, as from all past observation and
experience. 1t is this that there is to every
political party, as to every individual citi-
zen, great danger in doing wrong, and, sir,
whenever a party finds that it has done
wrong, the wisest, safest and most virtuous
c1urse is at once to confess the error, and
repair whatever wrong may have been
done.
Will the Republican party permit me to
suggest to them that they themselves-the
gentleman from Marion included-have
committed a great wrong, and wrong
which | will characterize by the harsh Ian
guage which was applied by the honorable
gentleman to another party, but wrong the
mischievous influence of which no man can
estimate.
| am not going to retort upon the gentle
men the language that he has used, but
accept his position as true, that the usage
and practice of the State has established a
mode by which we are to elect United States
Senators. Granted. There have been two
instances, the gentleman says, where this
practice has been departed from. Granted.
But the gentleman says also that it is the
sworn and bounden duty of every man who
composes a part of the Legislature of the
State to see that duty performed at the
proper time. Let him apply that to the
great party that he then represented. You
understand, every gentleman here under
stands, that do not belong to that party
Both, sir, in this matter, two years ago, did
wrong, and as sure as there is justice in the
future they, sir, will bear the consequences
of their wrong doing.
If the position which the gentleman has
assumed is true, and l concede it to be
true, it was the duty of every individual
member composing each branch of the Gen.
eral Assembly two years ago to use all of his
power, all of his influence, to bring about
an election for q. S. Senators 1t would
not do for the party which he represents, to
argue that no invitation was given to the
members of the Senate to come into the
House to elect Senators. 1t was a duty OBJ
ligatory upon each and every member OF
each branch of the General Assembly to see
personally to this election. No man can
shield himself from this responsibility by
reason of his party associates. / say to the
gentleman from Marion, and to the party in
whose behalf he has made defence to-day,
that it was his duty and the duty of every
member of that party to make that propo-
sition to go into the election of u. s. Sena-
tors. and who does not know that if that
duty had been discharged, and if that pro-
position had been made, it would have been
met DO Tue ueIupCEdllC vi Tic lWO
Houses and the election free from all diff
Guilty, free from every charge, or taint, and
suspicion of fraud would have been had,
(applause.) | charge, sir, that both parties
then did wrong. One of the gentlemen who
now occupies seat in the U. S. Senate,
fairly outraged the rights of this people,
when, as President of the Senate, he acted
as described by the gentleman in his speech,
| (applause) There is no doubt about that.
! But you cannot justify yourselves in the
wrong which you have done by pleading
that others likewise did wrong. 1t is the
duty of every man to do right, and let con-
! sequences take care of themselves.
Now, Mr.. Speaker, | propose to do what
conceive to be right, in this matter, and
intend TO let consequences take care of them
selves. Unlike the gentleman from Ma
| rion, it is a matter of indifference TO me-
! sir, whether the result of this course shall
! (even if shall hereafter deserve it) return
me to this House by an increased or dimin-
| ished majority; the question with me is the
| rightI That, if | can learn what it is,
propose to do. Allow me to say to my Re-
publican friends upon the other side of the
House. that you are now asking of us to
| do what we believe, nay more, what we
know to be wrong You are asking of the
| Democratic members of this House to dc
what they believe to be wrong.
Doubtless on the recital that you make
| in the 9th Section of this bill, you believe
that you are asserting only the truth. But
men of equal intelligence and equal hon.
esty, may we'll differ about a question of
! this Sort.
Now what are the two questions about
which ! should have been pleased to have
heard the gentleman from Marion?
One, sir, is this. Whether the PROPOSE
ton made by my friend from Floyd Davis
to strike out the 9Th Section of this bill, and
| insert a section containing a simple declara-
ton of emergency is not just as effective
Just as wise, just as well arranged, as the
section as it now stands in the bill, recitine
that we have no Senators in the Senate o
the United States. Another question, one
which may well exercise the stronges
and most vigorous legal mind Has not the
Senate of the United States, by passing
judgment upon a case of which, by the Con
st.tution, it has the sole right to judge; ha:
not that Senate by the act, precluded al
further inquiry into the tenure by which
these gentlemen hold their seats in th'
United States Senate?
Familiar as that gentleman is with all tn
facts which go to make up the history o
this case, skilled as he is in logical reason
l.