Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-04-05
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
WILMINGTON, N. c., MARCH 81, 1866.
Senatorial Morals.

Senatorial Morals.
The Senate Chamber on the 23d inst, was tn
scene of one of the most shameful occurrence
ever witnessed in deliberative assembly. Tn
spirit of faction and the determination to contro
the Legislative department of the Government
which appears to be the unblushing purpose Of TIT
Radical members of the Senate, seem about to dis
grace body which has been rendered sacred tt
the American people as the scene of the proves
of their mental giants, and hallowed by the asso
citation of that immortal triumvirate of genius
which, for nearly thirty years controlled the des
TIMES of the country and divided the homage OF
great people, into mere arena of party strl1es
and political jugglery, disgraceful to country
hustings.
The question before the Senate was or should
have been purely legal one, involving the right
of Senator Stockton, of New jersey, to his seat
It appears that both the Democratic and Repubh-
can parties of the New Jersey Legislature, dis
trustful of their ability to control majority OF the
votes, agreed in joint Convention of both Houses,
to elect an q. S. Senator, by plurality vote, and
in which election Mr.. Stockton received the lar
gest number. The question was whether the Leg
islature in absence of all law, had the right to
elect Senator by plurality vote. The mat
ter had not only undergone a two days debate In
the Senate but had been referred to the Judiciary
Committee, composed of seven Senators, ofiwhich
Mr.. Trumbull was Chairman, and Reverdy John
son and other eminent lawyers of that body were
members, all of whom Republicans except Mr..
johnson and Mr.. Hendricks. This committee,
with the exception of the dissenting voice of Sena
tor Clark of New Hampshire whose legal opinion
seems to have been warped by party drill and dis
cpline, reported favorably to Mr.. Stocktons right
to his seat and introduced resolution to that eff
feet
The yeas and nays being ordered upon the pas
sage of the resolution, Mr. Morrill,, of Maine, did
not answer upon the call of his name, as he had
not upon any of the previous votes in reference to
this matter, and had given no reason therefor
But before the result upon the direct vote was an
nounced, and when it was generally known
throughout the Chamber, that it stood yeas 81,
nays 20, Mr. Sumner called loudly for Mr.. Morrill,
to vote, and that Senator Immediately recorded
his name in the negative, which would have caused
tie and probably defeat the resolution.
The following proceedings were then had
Mr. Stockton then and said that he held in his hand
(Wrght had paired with Mr. Morrill,, and that he wonld
h day ne Ro
him Sockton and told him that he would be compelled
Wright to that effect He had notified Mr. Wright, but it
was late for him to arrive here vote Believing Mr.
rib and his colleague, he would ask the Clerk to call his
(Stocktons) name.
frmave This left the vote % yeas against q nays.
Several Senators-You can't vote in your own case.
Several other Senaors-He has good right to vote
Mr. Morrill, rose to make an explanation. He remarked
that what Mr. Stockton had said substantially
It true he had paired off with Mr. Wright. But on
Wednesday evening he informed Mr. Stockton that he
would feel this then
suggested to Mr. Stockton to notify Mr. Wright of this
that he did not feel bound by it.
The remark was again made in an under tone by sew
case" snA0i 'DAH '- '''' -'l 'l-i'''' -l SUM-
Mr. Sumner among Others heard in the galleries to
say, very excitedly part of the law of nations
that man shall not vote in his own case"
Mr.. Nye addressing the Chair, said proper for
him, being new member to enquire whether member
is entitled to vote in his as had just been done
subject Mr. Stockons name upon the roll and until
the Senate decided to it, must be called with
The Chair then announced the vote the adoption of
the resolution declaring that Mr. Stockton duly elected
and s entitled to his seat to be yeas a. 81 So the
resolution was adopted.
It will thus be seen that Mr.. Morrill, is so much
the partisan not to be controlled by the duty
imposed by his pair with Mr.. Wright, and that
party success weighed more with him than the OBJ
legations of honor.
The position occupied by Mr.. Stockton was deli
recreancy of Morrill,. We blush to witness the
length to which men, filling the highest civil sta
tions under our Government are led by fanaticism
and party zeal. It will indeed be sad day for
the Republic when our Senate Chamber becomes
the arena of unprincipled political gladiators,
whose sole aims the success of party and the
emoluments of Office, obtained at the sacrifice of
national and personal honor.
The talaorarh Announces tbot Mr. Morr;1Is ~,
iquity has been crowned with success. Mr.. Stock
ton returns home, and the same partisan corrup-
ton which has secured this result, will return
Radical successor, and thus at the expense of the
rights of the States the sacredness of elections the
Constitution of the United States, of truth and
honor, the Radicals will soon control the Senate,
over and above the veto of the President
Ilcaal -