The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-04-03
From the st. Louis Republican.
Senator StocktOn's Case.

If anything could have deepened the dis
grace with which the present congress had
already covered itself it would have been the
action of the senate in depriying Mr.. Stock
ton, of New Jersey, of his seat, after its own
judiciary committed composed of large ma
jority of his political opponents, and mbrac-
ing its best legal talentl had felt constrained
to report with only minority of one, tina the
was Justly entitled to it. To accomplish the
shameful deed, advantage was taken of the
absence and sickness of several members, and
another Mr., Morrill, of Maine) was persuad-
ed to violate his own plighted word to secure
a party triumph. The course of this senator
deserves and must receive the condemnation
of every honorable man and, In the former
and better days of that once pure and digni-
fed body, would have subj ected him to imma-
diase expulsion from his own seat. He had
paired of with Senator Wright, of New Jer
sey, who, with reliance on his honor, was sb-
sent on visit to his family. On the resolu-
tion to reject Mr.. Stockton, he abstained from
voting-a confession that he was obliged to
do 80 by personal grod faith to his absent col
league; but on motion to admit the.senator
from New Jersey he was dragooned into vot-
ing against it by Mr.. Sumner, thus making o
tie. It took even the senate by surprise, and
he felt obliged to make some kind of excuse
for thus adjuring the obligation of honor. 1t
was the poor one that "suoh q length of time
had elapsed since he paired with Mr.. Wright
that he did not feel himself bound by it, "and
that he had told Mr.. Stockton, not Mr.. Wright
that che would feel constrained to vote ON
this question" Mr.. Stockton stated to the
senate, and Mr.. Morrill, did not deny it, that
the intention of the latter to vote was not
communicated to him until it was too late for
Mr.. Wright to arrive and vote. Under such
ciroumstanoes-to prevent the contamination
of gross wrong to his state-Senator Stock
ton, without hesitation, and with high moral
courage, deserving all praise, determined to
vote for himself, and thus secured his seat
tor the time. The brave act tack the radicals
by surprise, and Mr.. Sumner, among others,
was heard in the galleries to say very exoit
eddy. SIT is q part of the law of nations that
q man shall not vote in his own case"
They subsequently succeeded in their ne
furious purpose, and Mr.Stookton, with much
dignity, Immediately retired from the senate
as private cltizen-a far higher post of hon
or than the station occupied by those he left
behind. Mr.. Sumner hopes by such means
to subordinate the executive to the congress
sional majority, by securing the necessary
two-thirds of the senate. when he and his
party shall reign supreme. We shall see
Commenting on the infamous conducts of
Mr.. Morrill,, the New York Journal of Com.
merce says:
He appears still to have hssitated, and when
the time came he allowed two calls of the votes to
pass in silence. Then Mr.. Sumner shouts across
the senate chamber, and pressure 10 brought to
bear on him. He rises and requests to be permit
ted to record his vote. The very hesitation and
delay are fatal to his honor. 1t not clear
even to his own mind that he could vote consist
emily with his promise to Mr.. Wright. But radi-
cal pressure knows no honor, no pledge, no idea
of moral right, when a radical object il to be &C.
complished. eLet us expel Stockton and we can
override the presidents vetoes,'' was the argu-
ment, aud Senator Morrill, voted. Mr.. Stockton
proved equal to the occasion. He had pledges
to break but he had to face the notion that it was
indecorous for man to vote in his own favor. -
He is a gentleman, we well know, of the finest
and most cultivated feelings. We can understand
that he would under other circumstances refuse to
do what Summers and Morrills would never hest