Litchfield enquirer., 1863-04-23

for the sake of the character of our State it is hoped that Senator Dixon will be able t satisfactorily explain these m matters.
 THE DOCTRINE OF SENATORIAL AuTocRAcY.
 The thing which finally enabled Senato Dixon to succeed in defeating my confrma ton, was an appeal TO SENATORS LOVE oI POWER. It was urged that every senator should control the federal appointments in his owr locality, and that his objection should be con elusive against nom inee. This suggestion t senators of the means for crushing out opposi ton to them at homo, and of increasing and O pefpetuating their own power, proved to bt irresistible to number who could, not be in fuence cd by other considerations-and accord ingly, with them, Senator Dixon's objection tc me settled the matter-without reference te the merits of the case. Leading senators in formed me that it was that prevented my con firmation.
 If the Senate had embodied this principle ir Q resolution it would read as follows:
 Resolued, By the Senate, that every senator shall have the right to control all the federal appointments in his own locality. and there fore his objection to nominee shall be con- elusive against such nominee, with reference to his merits.
 Is not this virtual annihilation of the con stitutienal rights of the President in respect to appointments requiring the action of the Senate And are the American people pre- pared for this advance of Senatorial despotism to crush out popular liberty, and make a mans eligibility depend upon his servility to his senator Thus is every senator constituted the a,tocrat of his own locality! And, under AL s. l.A e,-J would be deemed eligible for any appointment requiring the action of the Senate.
 THE DOCTRINE OF SENATORIAL AVAILABILITY.
 No charge was made from any source, that was wanting either in honesty, capacity or fdelity"-Senator Dixon, I understand, admit ted that possessed those qualifications even that I was zealous supporter of the government. But alleged that was personal ly opposed to him, and for this he asked my rejection. His allegations under this head to different persons were various-some of them were sad distortions of the truth, and some of them without any foundation in truth. And he was unwilling to have his statements in vestigated. That might not have the usual hearing before the committee of the Senate to whom such nominations are referred, he told Senator Fessenden, when called upon, that he had no objections to present to it, and conse- uuently the finance committee unanimously re- ported in favor of my confirmation. But Sen ator Dixon only waited until he had an oppor- tunity to assail me in secret session of theSen- ate, where he hoped to strike me down without my having any opportunity to defend myself He did thus assail me, and carried majority of the Senate against me. But by the timely action of Senator Foster, the case was sus- pended on a motion to reconsider. And learn ing Senator Dixons allegations, sent in 8 written appeal to the Senate, through Senator Fessenden, to have the case recommitted to the finance committee that it might be finally investigated, and all allegations, from whatever source, be inquired into. l also promised to demonstrate to the committee that thTopposi- ton to me had arisen from my active support of the government. I also asked to be per senally examined. Senator FesseHden, chair man of the finance committee, urged the jus tice of granting nay request, as my accuser had deprived me of hearing before the committee, in the manner above stated. What, fellow citizens, do you think was the response to this appeal for common justice It was, that to recommit for examination into the statements of Senator would be an impeachment of his veracity, and hence an assault upon the dignity of the Senate
 If this principle was announced in the form of a resolution it would read about as follows
 Resolred, By the Senate, that whatever ale gations Senator may make against any per son not member of this body, they cannot be the subject of examination-as 1t would be an impeachment of the veracity of such Senator, and an assault upon the dignity of this body.
 Thus are Senators virtually declared to be ;ssfalible by the Senate. And thus is inau- snrated in this country the doctrine that the king can do no wrong" This places every man at the mercy of Q Senator who can assail and crush him by false statements and the vic" tim cannot expose their falsehood to the Sen ate, as any such attempt would be an assault upon the dignity of the Senate? Gan any man submit to such doctrine, unless he is willing to be . crouching slave?
 rHE POLITICAL COMPLEXION or THE VOTE.
 Senator Dixon, by his arrangements and appeals, succeeded in carrying against my con firmation all the "border state" and demo- cratic" senators, excepting Senator Rice. But such noble champions of Republicanism as Fessenden, Wilson, King, Wilmot, Wade, Howard, Chandler. 1rumbull, Grimes, Wilkin- son. with others (not certainly known,) besides Senator Foster, voted for my confirmation. And some of these gentlemen boldly and elo- quently denounced the wrong done me for the qualification of the private feelings of Sena- tor. And Senator Foster, prompted solely by a sense of justice, eloquently deaounced the injustice of the Senate, earnestly labored for my confirmation, and faithfully represented the views of our citizens, as expressed in their remonstrances against my rejection. He did much towards redeeming the character of our state from the disgrace inflicted upon 1t by the conduct of his colleague.
 Thus you have history of the case, as far as my appointment and the action of the Sen ate are concerned.
 HIS MOTIVES.
 Senator Dixon had several motives in dc= feating my confirmation.
 lst. To gratify his malignity and weaken my influence.
 2d. To tcrrorize and break the spirit of the earnest republicans of the state.
 3d. To create an impression that he was omnipotent at Washington, so far as the dis pensation of federal patronage in this state is concerned, that ke might bring to his feet all the ofice-holders, and all others desiring gov ernment favors-to gratify his pride, and aid him in carrying out his hostile designs against republicanism.
 '4th. To secure the influence of my office for one of his own instruments.
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