The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-02-28
Rejection, Of Senator Thomas,

lHC cCIldlc VI lile lHltSu suites mas re-
fused to admit Mr. Thomas, the legally elect
ed Senator from the State of Maryland
This is high-handed outrage upon the SOW
ereignty Of a State and the rights ofthe peo-
pie. The Legislature chose this gentleman
as the representative of the Commonwealth
of Maryland All the constitutional forms
and requirements were complied with and
carried out The members of the Legisa-
turc were properly elected and qualified -
This point cannot be disputed They con-
vened at the place designated by law, at the
time specified, organized in the usual and
customary form, and on particular day de-
signated chose Mr.. Thomas as one Of the
Senators Of the State. In this manner all
the constitutional and legal ground was COW
cred, and yet the Senate of the United States,
by direct vote, refuses to allow Mr.. Thomas
to take his seat in that body.
| The color of excuse for this action is
sought in that clause of the Constitution
| which declares each house shall be the
| Judge OF the election returns and qualifica-
lions OF its own members" But give the
widest sensible Interpretation of this grant of
power, and it will not cover the case of Mr.
Thomas. The return of his election was
right and proper. No fraud or bargaining
was set forth among the reasons why he
should be rejected The Legislature had vio-
lated no law, no constitutional provision,
when they chose this citizen of Maryland to
speak for that Commonwealth in the Senate
of the nation. Thus the record was pure and
unspotted in this particular. AS to the quail
ifications which the Constitution gives the
Senate and House of Representatives, the
power and right TO question and traverse in
the case of members, they are undoubtedly
those which relate to the citizenship of the
CLAIMANT and those other points named in
that clause ofthe Constitution relating to the
election of Senator's The person elected
Senator from State must be thirty years of
age, nine years citizen of the United States,
and at the time of his election be an inhabi-
tant of the State for which he is chosen
These are the constitutional qualifications for
a Senator, and hence they are the only ones
the Senate has right to examine under the
clause we have quoted. In all these particu-
lars MI Thomas was qualified. AT that
point the investigation should have stopped
and at once admitted the claimant to seat in
that body.
But they went far beyond this point and
usurped the right to insult State, and pre-
vent its legally and constitutionally elected
representative from being heard in the high
er branch of the Federal Legislature because
as they alleged he was not loyal" Allow
this door to remain open, and what evils may
not come trooping in to upset the Consttu-
ton and undermine the Republic? If the
case OF Mr. Thomas is taken as a precedent,
any man who differs with the majority can
be rejected. The dominant party has only
to raise committee, take the testimony of
passion-blinded partsans as to the antece-
dents OF the claimants, draw party lines in
the Senate, and State is DISTINGUISHED -
This virtually gives the Senate the power to
nprDntIlntp tlp rpiun pf ,ortxr
ride the will of the people, no matter how
plainly expressed at the ballot box and car
red out by the Legislatures of the several
States. In fact, there is no way in which a
State can be heard in the Senate, if the per-
sons she elects Senators are opposed to the
ruling party in that body, and subjected to
the same principles of Senatorial action as
those laid down in the case of the rejected
Senator from Maryland, Mr. Thomas
This whole movement was "outside of the
Constitution" usurpation of power, dan
gerous innovation upon the rights of State
representation, and shows how far we have
already drifted from the old landmarks of our
fathers The broad seal of State is no lon
ger held sacred from the polluting touch of
party necessities. Those who have DESTROYED
ten States i'll the South have now assumed the
right to say when and by whom the States
now in proper relations with the Federal
govrrnment shall be represented. 1t is Mary
land that is insulted to-day. The same prin-
ciple may be applied to Pennsylvania New
York and Ohio tomorrow. Only let the ne
cessity be strong enough, and the same men
who voted against Mr.. Thomas will act in a
like manner with reference to Judge Thur
man, the Senator elect from Ohio In this
manner the poison of Radcalism is spread
ing in all departments of the government
State rights are trampled upon, individual
liberty crushed beneath the iron heel of mill
tary despotism, and yet the people slumber
viii nothing awake them Philadelphia