Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-07-23
SENATORIAL. HoNoUR.

> III tHe oeudte OF Lne Ouiteu fotates, OF
: the 9Th Df July. Mr. ANTHONY offereC
the following resolution, in conformity
: to the determination come to at a oaueul
Of the Republican Senators:
ReSolUed, That the business Of thil
session should be confined to removing
the obstructions which have been, or srs
likely to be, placed iu the way Of the fail
execution Of the acts Of reconstruction
I heretofore adopted by congress; 70 Civ,
Ling 10 said acts the scope intended by
congress when the same were passed
and that further legislation at this ses
sion on the subject of reconstruction, OI
on other subjects, is not expedieui.
Mr.. Wade said the passage Of this res
olutiOn would make a dangerous prece-
dent for the future. 1t proposed a dan.
geroEs limitation Of the prerOgatives OF
the senate. He hoped the senate would
pass no such resolution. AS a matter oil
economy OF time, it would effect nothing,
for it would take longer TO discuss the
question whether particular bill
related to reconstruction, than to
discuss the merits Of the bill ITSELF
u Mr.. Fessenden said what he objected
to most was, that senators should go into
a consultation and agree to be bound by
its results, and then falling to accom-
plish what they wanted there, come into
the senate and say that their conscience
would not let them be bound by the de-
cisiOn of that consultation.
Mr.. Sumner, interrupting Mr.. Fessen-
den, said that when he went into the
caucus he did not know what subject
was to be discussed there.
Mr.. Fessenden replying, said that il
Mr.. Sumner did not know before the eau
Gus met what it was to be held for, he
knew before it adjourned, and he knew
1 while he was voting for and against
/ propositions brought before that caucus.
| Mr.. Sumner said that in the caucus,
| after the result had been reached, he de-
! clared that he would not be bound by it,
and that Mr.. Fessenden then made s
remark which he Mr.. Sumnerl would
not quote now.
| Mr.. Frssenden-I said you should not
] have voted at all if you were not willing
/ TO be bouBd by the result Of the vote.
Mr.. Sumner-And my reply was '' l
am a senator Of the United States
Mr.. Fessenden-I did not hear that.
Mr.. Sumner-I said it, nevertheless; I;
and what did / mean by it? I meant
| that could not be bound by any such
| decision; that my duty as senator
/
! Mr.. Fessenden said what he complained
| of was, that Mr.. Sumner not only took
/ part in debate in the caucus, but voted,
and then when he found himself in the
minority declared that he was not bound
/ by the majority.
I Mr.. Sumner--Vote or no vote, it makes
| no difference. j felt it my duty TO resist
the proposition as long as 1 could, and
| then, when / could do no more, to wash
my hands Of it altogether, and let others
carry it into the senate chamber if they
would.
Mr.. Sumner was addressing tile senate
on the subject Of the caucus, and the ez-
tent to which senators were bound by its
results, when Mr. Edmunds inquired if
the reconstruction bill was not made the
subject Of q caucus.
AIr. Sumner said he believed he intro
duced into that caucus the proposition
for universal suffrage, which received
thirteen votes.
Mr. Edmunds--W What would you have
thought if these thirteen bad repudiAted ?
Mr.. Sumuer-Oh, there is a great diff
ference between regulating in favor Of
human rights and repudiating against
them. Great laughter.
Mr.. Sumner said il was time to adopt
AalttAS SAAA1 III lLAG ~ q AAAcAAt VI SUM
meetings, and to determine what amount
Of dishOnoT shall be visited upon those
who do not feel bound d rs results.
Mr.. Fessenden said there Go1id Le nc
written code of honor in such matters
Every man must decide for himself how
mucl his agreement binds him. He could
easily decide it, so far as he was con-
cerued.
Mr.. Sumner interrupted 1lr. Eesseu-
den to say that he had given notice 10
the caucus that he would not be bound
by it results.
Mr.. Fessenden-But the senator did
not give that notice until be had voted
and been defeated In the caucus. He
Mr.. Fessendenl never, when . boy, had
sgreed to the heads l win, tails you lose
way Of throwing a copper, which seemed
70 be in favor with some senators now.
When Is vent into a caucus he abided
its results. - ..-..
Mr.. Wilson had no douot ths ssnators
were all men of honor, but this DEBATE
would DO honor to none Of them. -