Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-04-10
a JUST. BUT SEVERE REBUKE.

or compel the minority to agree that it should
be taken ON Saturday, CLOSING the debate
when there were a number of Senators yet to
speak upon it. Well, the majority refused to
adjourn, and q night session was the conse-
quence. About three o'clock in the morning,
Mr.. Simmons and other Senators were sent
for, awoke out Of sound sleep, and required
to come to the Senate. When Mr.. S. arrived,
Mr. Benjamin was speaking, and the character
Of his remarks may be inferred from the follow
ing paragraph, and from Mr.. Simmons's reply
Mr.. B. said: Now, sir, this revolution
having already commenced by the party known
4 as the Republican party in the Senate, the
question is submitted for the serious considers
ton of the majority. A mere physical contest
never was contemplated as a legitimate means
of determining the public business Of the coun-
try. How long is this to last? How long is it
consistent with the dignity of the majority to
permit it to last? And what is the remedy? a
" Mr.. President, for hours the factious minor
| ity Of this Senate have folded their arms and
pursued the course which have justmentioned
| know of but one remedy; my reflections on
the subject suggest to me butone thing to do.
1t is for the majority Of the Senate to leave
this Hall, and, with o messagelleft behind to
the minority that when they will please TO
permit the business of tho country to 20 on,
and will send us word, we will come back,
leaving it to them to break up the Government
know of no other course" Z. W
Mr.. SIMMONS. have no disposition to
! prolong this debate; but inasmuch as / was
absent, and there seems to be some reflection
cast on those who were absent and left the
Senate without quorum, | wish to make
suggestion. This matter has now assumed
different aspect; and the majority of the Senate
desire, as understand the explanation of the
Senator from Louisiana, to put the case before
the country lluding suppose, to those who
happened to be absent from physical necessity.
He proposes to raise the question in the Senate,
and suggests to the majority of the Senate to
commence the business of revolution in this
country by leaving this body without quorum.
1t is well known that the majority party in the
Senate is unusually large they have two to
our one. | had supposed that there was sort
of tacit understanding that we should sit six
| hours day; and the Senator from Texas
proposed that we should begin our daily sessions
hereafter at eleven o'clock, and that was laid
over. AT the hour of six o'clock, last evening,
when | had sat here six hours, proposed an
| adjournment, supposing that was the under
/
! Having put myselfunder the care of physician.
had to submit to his rules; and although [
wanted to stay here as long as endurance would
permit, | had to leave the Senate Chamber.
| When came back at the request the Senate,
was ready to give my excuse, but the Senator
from Louisiana voted down a proposition to
enable me to do so. voted not to lay these
motions on the table, because desired to
make an excuse to the Senate
The Senator from Louisiana now proposes to
the forty odd members of this body, composing
the majority, to withdraw and leave the response
biity on the minority. That is most singular
proposition to go before this country upon The
friends of the Administration in power have
two thirds OF the Senate; and unless they can
have their own way about transacting the
business of the Senate, they propose to leave the
body without quorum, pretending at the same
time that the minority are revolutionary in their
conduct because some of us are too sick to stay
here to undergo trial Of physical endurance,
when they can out vote us and half of them
asleep t.,.. 4.lsF, TE
Sir, do not choose to submit to the imputa-
ton Of being disposed to be factious when leave
here from mere physical inability foreman. |
make no factious opposition in this body, or in
any other body. III had known that the rule
of the Senate required it, should have felt it
my duty to ask leave of absence from the Sem
ate while could take the necessary rest to Sc
cure my health. / shall do that hereafter. No
man in this body, no man in this country, shall
ever have an opportunity TO make such an i'm
putaion upon me as that undertook to break
down the deliberate action Of this body. If men
caucus, and choose to try contest OF physical
endurance here let the responsibility be with
them, not with me. / never did such a thing in
my life, and ] never will do it.
But sir, II is not possible for men to sit here
always. Ii is most unreasonable request to
ask Senators to remain here during the twenty
fourhours of the day, to talk to empty benches,
while gentlemen Of the msjority may 60 away
and rest part of the time, having watchmen to
wake them up when the yeas and nays are call.
ed. Sir, should have attempted TO address
the Senate on this bill before now, but have
often seen gentlemen on this side Of the Cham
Der addressing empty benches on the other
side. attempted 10 get the floor in an irregu.
lar manner to make few suggestions on this
question, early in the session, but we were i'm
plored to let the Army bill pass, and let the
Presidents message go by, and withhold our
remarks until the Kansas bill should come reg
ularly before us. l always take such sugges.
ton as conclusive on me, because think that
is the most proper way to debate question in
the Senate. Ihave not said word on this SUBJ
ject since the commencement of the session, and
have refrainedat the suggestion ofgentlemen
on the other side Of the Chamber, who said it
was more appropriate that the debate shouldbe
deferred until the measure was fairly before us.
desire at some proper time to say something
upon this bill do not mean to occupy great
deal Of the time of the Senate, on any question;
but desire to speak, because great many inn
putations have been cast upon those with whom
il is my pride and pleasure TO act We are told
that this man speaks our sentiments, and that
man speaks our sentiments. Sir no man speaks
my sentiments in this body, unless II is the
Senator from Rhode Island, on this side of the
Chamber. | 10 not converse with others about
their purposes but do not believe there has
been entertained on this side Of the Chamber a
purpose to protract this debate one minute
longer than was necessary TO give us fair OPP
portunity to lay before our feow-Senators the
convictions Of our own minds on the important
subject now before the Senate. Whenever we
waste an hour, or moment Of the Senate's time
in any idle purpose Of debate here, for display
elsewhere, oruse this body as a conduit pipe as
the Senator from Georgia chooses to call il, to
spout out speeches for the people, win take
my leave Of this body before will ever disgrace