Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-07-21

Ilo senate o. the Oulbed states uAs
very little respect for itself Of late, and
~tolerates or rather favours q style Of dis
cussion that did not obtain there in its
better days, when WEBSTER lOftily re-
buked BENTON for speaking OF matches
and overmatches, and w later still,
when CRTTTENDEN annihilated ALLEN
Of Ohio. The body has fallen grievously
from its high estate since those days, and
its decadence has been sigually rapid
during the last fifteen years. Yet, fallen
as it is, never perhaps to rise again, it is
astonishing that it tolerstes the swag-
gering ~insolence of that wordy Thersites,
SUMNER, and especially that it permits
him, and others who are his interiors, to
libel and defame the President, in such
language, as is not considered tolerable
in assemblies that do not pretend to dig
nifty, but only to responsibility and de-
ceney.
The following scene, for example, &C.
Cured in the Senate, when it convened
the other day
Mr.. Sumner inquired if ii was in order
TO offer petitions.
The chair said it was.
Mr.. Sumner asked leave to offer GER
tain petitions of southern citizens, asking
relief from political disabilities under the
constitutional amendment, and that they
be referred to the judiciary CON
mittee.
Mr.. Fessenden, (rep. from Maine), de-
sired 10 interpose objections to the refer
ence Of the petitions. / do it, said he,
for this reason, that in my judgment it
is not eXpedient at this session to act on
general BUSINESS. As we all know, we
come together under very peculiar cir
cumstances-prObably in the minds of
most gentlemen with reference to a par
ticuiaF question. l remember that 1t a
called session of the twenty-seventh
congress there were several propositions
made with reference 70 the disposition
Of the business. l was looking at the
record this morning to see what was done.
l had an imperfect recollection with re-
gard TO it, but remembered being on a
committee. ] believe it was an informal
COMMITTEES Of one from each state to ad-
wise the house with reference to the bus
mess 10 be done at that session. In con-
EEQuEUEE OF the uE~lADEEhAAODB Od TIE COIL
mittee 8 change of rules Fl the session
was adopted. / have been looking at il
this morning, and find it substantially
this: "That objection should be made
to the introduction Of all business not re-
ferred to in the presidents message, with
the single exception of a national bank
rupt law law that an objection to this
introduction should be made, and laid
upon the table" That rule was adopted.
He [ Mr.. Fessenden could not be mis-
taken be presumed in saying that when
the resolution for this session was
adopted, it was understood that, unless
something wa done to render the assem-
bling Of congress necessary in the judg-
meBt OF she two hogsesi there would De
no quorum to-day. Something bias &C.
CURED which has caused a general feel
ing that there ought to be q session.
That Is the single matter which calls US
together. For myself | am not prepared
to say that there is anything else which
requires our attention especially do /
deem it not advisable TO proceed to gene
raj business, and introduce bills and refer
them TO q committee, but that all these
matters be laid upon the table for the
present, until the two houses have had
time to deliberate and better question
whether OF not they will 90 into the con-
siderstion Of business they will take up.
!, therefore, object to the reference of the
petition.
Mr.. Sumner said this was the congress
of the United States assembled under the
constitution OF the United States, with
all the powers belonging to the body
under the constitution aye, sir, and al
the responsibilities belonging to congress
under the constitution. We cannot by
sgreemept or understanding among our
selves, divest ourselves Of that RESPONSE
bility. What is it? To transact the pub
lie business; not simply one matter or
twO,matteTs, but all that concerns the
public business. The senaJsr rom Maine
limits to one matter which he has
only alluded TO, and has not at
tempted to characterize. He mugt
know that the matter has many fami-
fcations aud why are we to be re-
strained to that one matter ? ! see no
reason. There is nothing in the past
usage Of that body that should control US
in that regard nor is there anything
in he present necessity looking at the
past usage OF congress. l need not re-
mind YOU that we have habitua;lv set
throughout tbB summer into the month
of August, and on d occasion into the
month Of September. It is not a new
thing that congress should be here in
July. IL is an exception that congress is
not here in July during the long session.
Therefore, ii considering the public bust
even in these heats, we are only .
doing what our predecessors have done I
before Us. Do you forget whom you have !
as Fresident-a constant diSturber and [
mischief-maker2 So long as his admin
.istratiOn continues, it is the duty OF con
gress to be on guard, ~perpetually 20 watch
him-agsinst this disturber Of
the public peace and public security.
Mr.. Fessenden said he was not pre-
pared to dispute that this was a body
with all the power and responsibility Of
the congress of the United States. This.
v hich was the starting point of the
speech Of thelsenstor from Massachusetts,,
was tOlefably well understood. TIE
question simply was, what each senaror
would consider to be his duty, or rather,
how The sense of his responsibility will
influence his Judgment, and what he viii !
deem It necessary that he shall act upon.
This was for each senator to determine
Tor himself. All senators had not those
high powers of prophecy with which the
senator irom Massachusetts, was endowed
70 tell them what ought to be done. and
what IS the best way 70 do it, but each
his individual opinions, and was not onIv
ready, but able to act upon them. He
believed il to be the sentiment of lie
country that q short session ought to be
held, and that nothing ought to be done
absolutely necessary to be done.
What that may include has not been
agreed upon. 1t may include all that
the senator from Massachusetts desires.
but no opinion had yet been expressed
BY either house on the subject.
SEVERE BUT TRUE.
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