Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-03-08
Senate PROCEEDINGS.
WAsnINaToN, Mareh

The Senate confirmed the nomination of
Hugh McOolloch as Secretary of the
Treasury.
Mr.. Lane, of Kansas, asked leave to pre-
sent the credentials of Fishbsck and Bax-
ter as Senstors from Arkansas.
Mr.. Howard, of Michigan, objected to
their reception, considering it an insult to
the people of the loyal States. He could
conceive no greater sbsurdity than to
foist upon the Senate such representatives.
Mr.. Lane thought this singular an
nouncement, that It was an insult to offer
these credentials. he said they emanate
from 8 people as loyal as the Senator him
self, and they have the right of petition.
Mr.. Conness said that Mr.. Lane was too
persistent in trying to admit Fishbsck as
Senator; he also said that Fishbsck was one
of the leaders in taking Arkansas out of
the Union.
Mr.. Lane was indignant that the Com
mittee should attempt to lecture him, and
hurled back the ;,fmputations of the gen
tleman in his teeth. Those who we're op-
posed the admission of the Arkansas Sena-
tors use dthe same kind of language that
Butler, Mason, Hunter and other secession
lists did when Kansas was here under the
Topeka organization, which saved Kansas
to freedom.
During the debate on the admission Of
the Senators from Arkansas, which is hos
tile and wsging actual war against the
government, Mr.. Howard said he consider
ed it an insult to the loyal States and to
the people to have such Senators admitted
as members TO participate In the enactment
of laws. BE said the question to be decid-
ed was whether people disloysl to the
government have right to be represented.
Any foreign power might as well ask to be
represented while at war with the United
States. The proper time for deciding the
question was upon the presentation OF ere
dentials.
Mr. Lane, of Kansas, replied that the
Senate had already received the credentials
Of Senators from Louisiana snd Arkansas.
It sounded harsh to his ears when it was
said that the people of Arkansas had no
right of petition.
Mr.. Howard in reply declared he said
nothing about petitions.
Mr.. Lane declared that the loyalty of
Arkansas was undoubted, Louisisns, Tenn.
and Arkansas had loyal representatives
who had suffered much for the cause of the
Union.
Mr.. Conness referred to the proceedings
of the secession convention of Arkansas,
which he said showed Fishbaek was 8
member of that convention, and offered
some offensive resolutions against the Uni
ted States, and assisted to organize q mill
tary force against the United States. He
objected to admitting Arkansas Senators,
and hoped the matter would be deferred
until the next Congress.
Mr.. Lane admitted thst Fishbsck voted
for the ordinance of secession, but did it TO
save his life. He declared that he was a
strong anti-slsvery man from the tina he
went to Arkansas till he came hera. He
said that nine years ago he was In the same
position as the Senator from Arkansss
now is, and when he came here
Senators from Slave States used
the same argument against him. He said
Messrs. Wade, Sumner and Howard could
find exact copies of their speeches against
Louisiana and Arkansas in the Con.
gressionRl Globe, as they were made
against the Topeka Constitution. He said
he had Travelled the same road, with tht
delegates from Arkansas, and his symps.
thies were with the men who make State
organizations.
Mr.. Pomeroy believed that the present
government of Arkansas was no more il
rebellion than thst Of Michigan, and thai
the credentials should be referred.
Ar. Howard conceded that the present
government was loyal, but contended tha.
the mass ofpeople was not. He thought
the proper time for examining the creden
tials was when the Executive declared ths
Gstste Of war had ceased in Arkansas, ant
excluded It from the list of insurrectionary
Sttsa.
Further debate was arrested BY the mo
ton Of Mr.. Fessenden to go into Executive
AessioHi which waa agreed to.