Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-03-08

Lhe country. Inc DOuy would not allow
any man except myself to go on the com
mittee from New England, and suppose
the reason was 10 order to preserve the
balance of power.
Now, the Senator from Pennsylvania
sees, looking at that that New England
does not control the formation Of the
committees. 1t may have been unfortu-
nate for the country that several Of us
have been here so long that we succeed
by sort of natural order to these
places but it is very easy for the SEN
ate to correct that injustice and impro.
priety, If it be such, at any time and
certainly nobody will submit to it with
better grace than will.
Mr., Buckalew-The Senator will oh.
serve, from what said, that am rather
ia favor of gentlemen continuing here
for long periods Of time. only think
that equality and justice would be con-
suited by a distribution which would
bring some of these veteran members
from other sections.
Mr.. Fessenden.-The Senator cannot
have it otherwise, for he is aware that
the Constitution has provided for that
provided for it that it cannot be changed.
1t is unchangable without the consent of
the States themselves. He is also aware
that when equality of representation was
secured 10 the States in the Senate, it
was with perfect knowledge that it
must be unequal in its very nature. 1t
was so arranged that the Senate
should represent the States and not the
people. and TO prevent the great States
like Pennsylvania and New York from
OverpOweriug the little ones like Maine
and others,
MIR. Wilsou.-The Senator from Penn
sylvana Mr. Buckalewl commenced
his carefully prepared speech by assur-
lug the Senate that he had remained 81
lent during the past three years Of eX-
elements because reason was power
less when addressed to passion. The
Senator gave US to understand that he
had not wasted reason, thought, Cul-
ture, upon the stormy passions eugen-
dered by the war. but now when reason
n&i Resumed her empire he had come
forth to instruct his country. I listen
cd to the Senator's speech, thus rather
vauntjngly introduced, and regretted
to hear Il studied effort to excite passions
aud arOus. sectional prcjudices. The
Senator has aimed his shafts at New
England and at her representatives in
the Senate. There is nothing original
in what the Senator says. This is not
the first time New England has been as
sailod for her representation in the Sen
ate and for her influence in the toun.
Cis Of the nation, Rebels and rebel
sympathizers have hurled their shafts
at New England even in these later days
of stormy passions il which the Senator
has refused to mingle.
When the Constitution was formed
New England had eight of the twenty
six SenatOrs-uearly one third of the
body, now she has twelve OF the seven
ty-twO SenatOrs-onc sixth OF the body
Her power is diminishing in this body
and will continue to diminish. When
the Constitution was adopted quite as
great inequalities existed among the
States as now. The illustriOus states
men who framed the Constitution knew
and recognized that fact they based
the Senate upon the States, and upon
the equality of States. They were SO
determined in that policy OF equal State
representation in the Senate that they
provided that the Constitution should
never be amended in that respect with
out the consent OF every State. The
trainers Of the Constitution placed thiS
provision beyond the power OF the peO-
ple ever to change it while one State
should object, and every State entered
the Union upon the distinct assurance
that State equality in this body should
remain forever unChangeable. The Sen
ator from Pennsylvania now tells US
that a change will be proposed and will
vet come. Does not the Senator remem-
ber that five years ago it was proposed
to add six amendments to the COnstitu-
ton in favor of slavery and make them
irrepealable without the consent OF all
the States, and to make the provision al
! lowing slavery to be represented, and
the precision requiring the surrender
| of escaped fugitives from labor to bt
made irrepealable, as is this equal State
representation in the Senate ? No one
then sn@":ScstsccCI @:SsscC, that this provisieG, ina
in express language can never ne re
ElCdiSu NIbuOub VIC SOuSSuE VI al Wv
States, could be changed by the actor
of three fourths of the States
The Senator suggests that the Sena
tors from New England are actuated by
local interests aud love of power in thei
action regarding the admission of tn
representatives from the rebel States
Nothing can be more unjust to thGS
Senators 1t is without the shadow o
fairness or justice, or the semblance o
truth. Does the Senator from Pennsyl
vania believe that the eastern Senators
are aCtuatCd by such motives of interes
and love of power? I do not believe
that Senator, on reflection, will say tina
he thinks the Senators from New Eng
land are governed by such motives.
can say before God that 1 am actuatet
by no local interests, no love of powel
in opposing the immediate and uncoudi
tional admission of the rebel States int
these chambers and l know my asso
ciates from New England too well to be
lieve for moment that they are actua
ted by interest or the love of power
Thousands of millions of money have
ioan oy ponSaI oud hundrpdG Of thou