Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-01-30
Rhs case OF Garrett naVJp-DabRtd
ON the RESOLUTIONS 81 CenSqHe.
WAaptHnTOH Ian s27 1894,

WAsHlHdTos, Jan ~, 1884.
The morning hour having expired, tho
Senate proceeded to the consideration OF
the resolution to expel the Senator from
Kentucky, (AIr. Dsvis,) with the amend
ment of Mr.. Howard, to ceusure.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Maine, addressed the
Senate, in reply to the Senator from Mary
land, INF. Johnson. he characterized
the instances cited by him of opposition to
Executive policy, yesterday, not paralleled
in this case. Nobody proposed TO crush
the Senator from Kentucky for criticising
the Government 10 his hearts content in
debate. he made reference to the fact of
Mr.. Davis having arraigned his compeer
for disloyalty, and said the Senator from
Kentucky would not stand moment In
the Senate, judged by the rule he would
have applied to him. BE also referred TO
the resolution of Senator Davis. passed
before the emancipation proclamation,
which he said gave full power TO reduce
the States TO subjugation.
Mr.. Davis, of KY, in reply, said that he
only meant in cases where the people re-
| pudiated the Government and refused 70
set up government for themselves. Then
it was the province Of the military COM
manders to establish a temporary State
government. li9F
Mr.. Morrill,, of Maine, said the Senator
had introduced more bills for tue punish
ment of treason and the oVerturning of
disloyal State governments than any other
Senator on this floor, and IL was absolute.
" too late to set up for him such defence
as that set up for him by his disclaimer
These resolutions were not words spoken
ia debate. There was NO question before
the Senate when they were offered. He
sdVerted TO authorities as to the extent of
privileges allowed in debate, contendinR
that the resolutions offered were offensive
TO those privileges. l
Mr.. Hale, of N. H., said that all efforts
80 establish a rule limiting debate bad,
aud would fail. He looked upon this as
an indirect effort to do that which the SEN
ate bad heretofore refused to do directly.
He had no sympathy with the resolutions
OF Mr.. Davis, but declared himself unAl-
terably attached to free discussio6.u He
thought the amendment to ceusure more
misenleVous than expulsion. The censure
was always followed by a resignation.
When the freedom of speech was CENTRALIZED
1 in this body, no man would express an
honest opinion here unless under the fear
OF expulsion. He felt sensitive on this
subject, having come here some sixteen
| years ago, with scarcely sympathiziug
friend on the floor, aud if this proposed
course had been adopted for the honest ex.
preston in disapproVal OF the acts of the
majority, he would have been expelled.
Within few years there had been Others
who had occupied his position Tue Sen
ator from Massachusetts (Sumnerl had &C
cupted a position less obnoxious than him
self, not because there WAS any great. diff.
terence of opinion in their views, but be-
cause he (Mr. Hale) was the oldest sin
ner. CGreat laughter Mr. Hale then
referred to the Secretary. OF State. who for
years was in minority here, but was bold
and frank in his sentiments of hostility to
the policy of the Government. He would
class him as zone who was almost per
suaded to be a Christian." [Great laugh.
ter He said that we must forgive some.
thing to the spirit of American Liberty
freedom of speech, as Webster said, was
\ home grant-=-A ireside right-Aud be
would leave no richer heritage 10 his chill.
dren. We should be responsible here To
no power but the Power which gives ma
the power Of speech. In s4ytng ibis be
did not mean that The Executive or the
senate could be Wautonly insulted. He
nau hstened TO the able arguments of the
Senators from Michigan and Maine. bnt
they had failed to convince him tbs, the
Senate should censurs or expeIMr. Davis
1t was declaration of the apostle of
American Democracy, that error should be
lett tree, provided truth were lett free To-
combat 1t. Truth was the proper senate
| Flal weapon to use against this resolution
Freedom Of debate should be maintained
at all hazards
! Mr.. Powell, of KY, was gratified at the
language of the Senator from New Hamn.
shire. Mr.. Hale. The proposed action
was calculated to strike down free speech,
and free press. When the matter was
fully sifted, it would be found there was
no occasion for the dismissal or rebuke of
his colleague, unless, indeed, it was be-
cause he entertained opinions iutmical to
those of the dominant party. The Senator
who feared to sound the alarm of maIad !.
! mlnistration on the part of the Government
was less than vassal, aud deserved nd
seat here. Mr.. Powell, then proceeded ID
lengthy analysis on the resolutions Of
Mr.. Davis, oontending that the policy there
IN recommended, it inaugurated, would be
OF all others, the most distastetul TO the
rebels. BE animadVerted also, to the Dol!
icy OF the President, that one-tenth of the
people should shape future State govern
ment, as a measure subVersiye of the prinl
ciple that majorities should rule. he conl
tended that the States were already In thl
Union.
Mr.. Anthony, of R. l., said that it was The
great misfortune of the Senator from Ken.
lucky [@r. Powell in being Democrat
to have become im6ued with the pestilenl
theories of Calhoun, aud that he natursII1
fell into associations with men who incuiI
cate doctrines leading directly to rebellion,
His colleague was brought up in a differ.
ent and better school, aud YET he was now
DESTROYS to shake hands With men who
maligned 10 life aud iasu lied 10 death the
memory Of the Senator's departed leader.
Aud yet be did not think that the Senator
should be expelled, as we were bound to
accept his disclaimer. While he consid
cred the resolutions Improper and indecor-
Gus, he did not think they were snficient
cause for his expulsion, or censure, which
was tantamouut to it. The Senator woufd
find in his regrets in the future for II