Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-04-03
THE NEW JERSEY sENAPoRsH1p..

ue"ce VI IiSc determination OF the radical
party to- accomplish their destructive ends,
without regard to justice or the dishonesty of
the means resorted to- The Baltimore Ga.
,zette in referring to the action of the Senate
In this matter, says that Senator Stockton.
who has just been turned out of the Senate. in
order that the hands of the majority might be
thereby strengthened, had, a few days previous
dedicated thescheme by himself, giving the
casting vote against it. Sundry Senators who
have, Tor long years, led the lives of profess
sional politicians, and whose sensitive natures
have. OF course, been softcned to more than
feminine refinement and delcacy, were vastly
shocked at the idea of seeing man vote for
himself So atrociors did the proceeding APP
pear In the eyes of the vapid and oracular
Senator from Massachusetts,, that that worthy
Was almost at loss for words in which to
express his establishment and dismay. He
managed, however, to grasp out protest, in
the shape of an announcement that sit was
against the law of nature for man to vote for
himself. Where he acquired his wonderfully
accurate knowledge Of the law of nature it is
scarcely worth while to inquire, as we have
only quoted Mr.. Summers language to show
how Mortified he was at Mr. Stocktou's un-
blushing wickedness. The latter gentleman,
himself, seemed to imagine that he had, per-
haps done something of which he ought to
be ashamed, and began, gravcly to explain
his position and to defend himself lie did
not attempt to refutc that uuauswerable prop
Osition which had been deduced from the law
of nature, but fell back upon a precedent.
He knewo a case in which Republican had
treated the law Of nature with as much con-
tempt as if it had been part of the Coustitu-
ton, and he cited it. He informed the Senate
that the President of the Senate of New Jer-
sey had elected himself to his present position.
This frightful charge was soon repeated in
Trenton. and the President of the Senate.
which was then in session, descended from his
perch and "rose to question Of privilege"
and explained the circumstances under which
he was elected. lie said ''Therc are eleven
Republican Senators and ten Democrats in
the New Jersey Senate, but the President of
the Senate did not vote for himself. The
Senator from Monmouth, Mr. Little Demo
crat,) cast his vote for Mr.. Scovill (Republi,
CAM who then voted for Mr.. Little, which
was in accordance with parliamentary usage"
In other words, Mr.. Scovill did not actually
vote for himself, but he played part in
little Pickwickian and parliamentary farce in
which his vote was just as effectual to secure
his election as it could have been in any other
way. Mr.. Stockton, as soon as he heard that
the law of nature had been complied with in
New Jersey, retracted in the Senate the grave
accusation he had brought against Mr. SEQ
viii But there is q graver side to this case.
There are some other laws, besides those Of
nature, which seem to have been shamclessly
violated, and they are the laws which prohibit
men from deceiving or tIicking one another.
1t will be remembered that Mr.. Morrill,. in
order to let sick Senator, Mr.. Wright. 90
to his home, had pledged himself not to vote
on the identical question of unseating Mr..
Stockton. On Wednesday evening he noti-
fed the latter that he revoked his promise
Mr. Wright was then nearly two hundred
miles from Washington, and too sick at TIE
time to undertake so long journey without
endangering his life. But for the belief that
Mr.. Morrill, would religiously keep faith with
him, he would have remained in WASHINGTON
and would have been in his seat when MI.
Stockton was put out Of the Senate. Mr.
Stewart tried another dodge. He had COM
mittcd himself to the proposition that Mr..
Stockton was legally elected, but seems to
have determined to do his best to forward the
project for Ousting that gentleman 1t is said
that before the vote was taken, he deliberately
left the Senate Chamber, in order to deprive
MIR. Stockton of u vote and insure the triumph
OF men who, in Mr.. Stewards own judgment,
were acting wrongfully. If this statement be
true, aud the New York Times saws it is gen
orally asserted and is denied by none" in
Washington, Mr.. Stewart has, indeed, re-
sorted to as pititul and scurvy device to
evade the discharge of duty as can we'll be
conceived. And these are among the men
who think it dreadful thing that any one
should break the law Of nature and vote for
himself. hese are the immaculate, stainless,
sensitive gentlemen who would prescribe the
laws Of honor for other people
The expulsion of Mr.. Stockton sends the
matter back to the Legislature of New Jersey,
and here the Speaker of the Senate proves
refractory, and refuses to go into an election.
From the following report of speech made
by him, 1t would seem probable that the rad
lcals had been beaten at their own game:
Mr. Scovel said that, although he had been
elected on the Republican ticket, still ne
cOuld not IN justice to the whole interests OF
tne country as an American citizen, loving
inc ias'lls UNITY OF these States aud good
with men whose whole course was ,,,,iOSt