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 staken on Saturday, closing the debate
when there were number of Senator's 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 Senator's 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.. Simmonss reply:
mr. B. said: Now, sir, this revolution
having already commenced by the party known
as the Republican party in the Senate, the
question is submitted for the serious considera-
| ton of the majority A mere physical contest
| never was contemplated as 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? +,
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
WHO AAoi, Win ~ LiCbcttSclSIt DcIIllu W
the minority that when they will please to
permit the business of the 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 tt.f n 4,t
"Mr. SIMMONS. l 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 a
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 abiding, | 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 a 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
otdhuihB vi LuC UdOTlGy. IL was refused.
Having put myselfunder the care of q physician,
had to submit to his rules; and although 1
wanted to stay here as long as endurance would
permit, had to leave the Senate Chamber.
When came back at the request ofthe Senate,
was ready to give my excuse, but the Senator
from Louisiana voted down proposition to
enable me to do so. l 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
bility 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 toosick to stay
here to undergo trial Of physical endurance,
when they can out vote us and half of them
asleepi L., ,aEr Az
Sir, do not choose to submit to theimputa-
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, l should have felt it
my duty to ask leave of absence from the SEN
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
putauon upon me as that l 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, it 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 go 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 ofthe Cham
Der addressing empty benches on the other
side. 4 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 90 by, and withhold our
remarks until the Kansas bill should come reg
ularly before US. always take such a 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 Of gentlemen
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 10 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
tits 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 It 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
purpose to protract this debate one minute
longer than was necessary TO give us fair OPP
portunity to lay before our ow-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 conduitpipe, as
the Senator from Georgia chooses to call it, to
spout out speeches for the people, will take
INV lea va NJ this hodv haforo mill a,,,r al.