Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1859-02-25
How they do things in the
United States Senate.

ol potltftdl lttc STiultu tHtIh ny tHc
[. s. Senate. That body has in the face
and eyes of right, justice and honorable
above board dealing, decided the Indiana
contested election case in favor OF the squat
ters, Bright and Fitch. Mr. Bavard of Del
aware Chairman Of the Committee on the
Judiciary was willing to see the outrage per-
petrated. but had not the manliness to meet
the question and say it WAS right; so there
fore he reports that the question is closed by
the action Of the Senate at the last session.
lie does not say these squatters had any
right to seats ii that body because he knows
better, but the Senate-by trick or expedi
ent adopted through him at its last session.
having disposed of the matter without hav-
inc the honesty or manliness to decide it up
on its merits, he is row willing to consider
the case closed Having aiaei t. commit an
outra, re oae session, he will not right it the
xt, because the Senate does not possess the
power to do 50, When such man as james
A. Bayard, with the honors of a long politi-
cal life resting upon him, earned by devotion
to public duties and high abilities. is will
lag to become party to paltry political
trick to tolst upon that body, men who have
no right there and he dare not say they
have,-merely because they are political
/ friends and their votes are wanted to CEN
summate the wishes of the slave driving De
mocracy, what may not the smaller men Of
his party, and Of that body DO. lie says
himself he did not fully concur in the de-
eision Of the Senate, yet he helped make that
decision and then voted to make ii final
The history Of this contested case we have
published once or twice and it is needless to
- over it gain. Sufficient is it to say, that
the Senate dare not, or did not, say that
these man were legally elected; and every
body knows that they were not and have no
more constitutional right to sit in that body
than any other two men ef Indiana. Bat
their votes were important and much need
ed, 50 therefore the two Senators who Were
81 ctei. were denied hearing, and sent
home by the body OF men called the [. 5.
Senate, We pat on record what Mr.. Bay
ard said, and also Mr., Stewards remarks
more pithy and sententious speech in lis life.
1t abounas in sentences full Of meaning and
Truth. How true the remark, that Gins
POWER WHICH STILES COMPLAINTS is TIE pow
En- WHICH MAKES REyoLUTIoNs;' and it is
time the distinguished dogmatists of the bo-
gus democratic party in the [. S. Senate
commenced !, stila debate as they did in
Summers case, when he asked permission to
make lis first speech, and also when all
such men were kept of the Committees be
cause they We're outside healthy political
organization, q revolution has been going
on in that body. This last case makes the rev.
oluton the more sure in the end, If it post
pones it a little longer. But we are keeping
the reader from the remarks which We de-
signed only to call attention TO;
Mr.. BAYARD argued that the former lecis-
ion Of the Senate was a linality. 1t was
carving out the principle that there must
be some time or other an end TO litigation
and dispute The State Of Indiana had a
rirht only to fill vacancies occurring in her
representation in the Senate and her attempt
to elect Senators when the Senate had decided
tina. no vacancy existed was an act otconteml
of this body. He supposed these gentlemen
soucht admission upon this floor for the pur-
nose of making stump speeches Tor circula-
lion in Indiana. If the Senate should estab-
fish the precedent OF revising Its decisions
the tenure Of the Office Of United States Sem
ator would be gone. The Constitution
made the term six Years. but State Legs
Iature might Il ct Senator'S at any time, send
them here armed with memorials, and take
the chances of political charges to GUST sit
tine members. lie did not fully concur with
the f,r,ner decision of the Senate, but that
was wholly immaterial Las he held that decis'
ion to be wholly irreyersible by this body.
Mr.. SEWARD urged strenuo-sly the right
of the contestants to be heard on the floor of
the senate. He had not designed, he said.
to take much part in this discussion, but to
content hims If with the simple record of
his vote: but in tine course Of the discussion
the question had assumed such an extraor-
dinaiv shape, and propositions OF such NOM
entous. extraordinary and dangerous charac
ter had been advance that he telt IT his duty
to protest against them. Gentlemen mad
charged him with introducing many Con
stitutional heresies into the Senate; the
event would prove whether what were now
denounced AS heresies would not be regarded
ffty wears hence, as they were fifty years ago,
as sound constitutional doctrines. But
never in his life had he heard advanced here
sizes so wild so extravagent, and SO dangerous
to the liberty OF the people and the indepen,,
denee and sovereignty of the States, as had
been advanced in this body in the course OF
this debate. The decision Of the Senate at
the last session had been declared final, ire
yocable. and therefore infallible. lie denied
that this body had ever made such thing,
or could ever make srch thing as hna!
and irrevocable decision. The Senate did
not possess so much wisdom that 1t was I'M
POSSIBLE for them to err They We're liable
as Fox once said to the British Parliament
when that body sought to disPossess him Of