Nebraska advertiser., 1868-02-13
Sneech Of Senator TLntOn

On the question of admitting Phillip
F. Thomas, recently elected U. S. Sen
ator from Maryland, to a seat in the Sen
ate delivered Wednesday. January 22d.
Mr.. TIPTON. I regret shat there is so little in this
case in the report to guide Us in our decision upon
it. As understand it, however, the COMMITTEES
on the Judiciary have reported that there is nOtin
all the voluminOuS testimony Of the Judiciary com
uittee taken in the case Of Sir. Thomas Of Mary
land enough to justify bis exclusion from The Sen
ate, unless it should be found in the facts with le-
gard 20 the circumstance Of his contributing money
70 his son, who subsequently, entered the rebel ser
vice. l take it for granted, then, that the cues
tion is narrowed down to that one point, and I do
not desire TO wander very far from that point but
as reference has been made 20 the circumstances
under which be left the Cabinet Of M. Buchan-
an, Imay as we'll sllEde for a moment to bis letter
Of resignation.
All that can be proven By The letter he transmit
ted TO Mr.. Buchanan at the time be lett his Cabin
et is simply that be did not agree with Buchanan
in regard to what was probably to b his policy on
the subject stated IN the letter. Now I care not how
much be differed with Nr. Buchanan on that sub
jeet if his action stopped there. If be never went
any further, Il he never backed I'd any opinions
whioh be entertained at the time and were referred
to or cOuched in that letter, it matters no. az al,
so far as this case is concerned, what was the char
acter Of that original letter and it is tie opinion
Of the Judiciary COnmiBtes that there is not
enough in the letter 70 convict him Of any crime
sufficient to exclude hin from his seat in t1e Us.
Senate.
The next circumstance aI'eigsd against Mr Tho
mas is his speech made to the Legislature at the
time Of his election. What was the first impression
made on the RepubE can side Of tie Senate when
10 was announced to Us that a Senator from Mary
land was about to claim a seat ou this foor, via
had, on a previous occasion, at the time when be
received his election, declared that be vas about
to meet here, AID 10 confront men who were trAi-
tors 70 the Union We felt sentative. I know I
felt sensitive on the subject. Still, so far as that
is concerned, If he made that remark, il was an in
temperate remark and every Repu biican senator
on this door knows for himself thar public men are
apt to make remarks in the heat Of discussion which
they ought not TO be held TO a very str let account
ability Tor. l know for myself, that in the heat Of
public discussion | have characterized men wa o
have not been acting with my party during the
war aud since, as eOpperheads, as traitors, or rebels
IN disguise and If we are met with the charge Of
being ourselves diSuniOnistS We cannot avoid that
Il comes back on US, and the question 70 be decided
is between our charges and the charges Of the OF. er
side. Certainly, for this reason, this gentlemen is
not to be excluded from q seat on the auOr Of the
Senate.
80 far as the cases Of the Senator and Represen-
tatives from Tennessee have been referred to they
prove only this; that we arc occasionally embar-
Iassed when We would Introduce one Of our friends
from the South % the floor OF the Senate CT House
OF Representative. There were times when many
Of them held views such as Mr.. Thomas Of MARYLAND
held but if they never carried out those views, if
they repented Of those opinions, If they ceased IN
follow IN their wake, we havs received them here
and allowed them the privilege Of recantAsion. and
they are Senator's ana Representatives today
Consequently OF that sc1re the committee doinot
think that there is enough to justify the exclusion !
Of lr. Thomas.
The Senator who has Just preceded me, the SEN
from Missouri, Mr.. Drke,l has well made he
pOiut that the spirit in which tho act was performed
Ia this. criterion BY which we are TO Judge Of the
eligibility Of the Senator to bis position here
nat Undoubtedly IS true, and ! propose for a few
noueuts 70 call the attention of the Senate To the /
evidence Ia this case. The mere act Of giving Is
nothing here or there. He had a right by eyerv
OF Humanity to take into his own household. |
to meet At his own table, the furnishing soldier
either Of the Union or rebel army and if be saved
D life by furnishing food il was his privilege to do |
If the charge was explicitly made here
10 day and 10 was true thatthe rebel army invaded 4
the Stateot Maryland, and Senator Thomas received
his own rebel son home after an unfortunate battle
lnd when he vas wounded, that ne cared for him
athOme, that be fed himat home, it would not causs
us exclusion from this body, for it would not be
that under these circumstances be should be
as doing a criminal act. If after HAVING
demonstrated with the young man, after haviny
everything TO prevent EIs going excenk To re
train his liberty BY q positive Arrest. be had "a.
;eiYed hln back wounded, and cared for him, fam
s"lhS' ana had ted hin, the mere act of having
lone u would weigh nothing with the Senate and
lo'nins Win the country 10 regard 60 his being q
man an nnqt to cecuPy a place in the Senate.
me spirit, the intent Of The act is that with which
have to do. On the ~ page Of the report. in
ne eXaplnatiOn Of young Mr. Thomas, the oues-
Ion was directly pet 70 him what was sad bV bis
ather, and the susWer Is this
'One expression be used / tell Vou. When The
eSel army madea raid into Maryland. after ths
attic OF Getty burg, he said / had no right as
itlzen OF the State Of Maryland, to Iease nv STATE
2 me Union and join the raaks Of the rebel armv .
! presume there is 10 question in regard 10 that
nd 1 want 70 know whether there IS spvtbiBg in
nat declaration to BE- condemned gym nave no
git as aeltizen Of the Stale Of Maryland to leave
our state, which is in the Union, and 70 ioin the
Anks Of toe rebel army If every father in The
tate OF hentucky, If svery father 10 the State Of
.ennesee, if every father in evsry border state.
ad said to his son, "You have no rieht to leave
our state, which IS in the Uai0u, and to jein the
,oel array, and If that advice had been taken,
.nat would have been tie csnsequsneeq Il would
ave beer thai no son Of any parent giTing such
lElce would have entered The rebel army along J
u tne border. That advice would have been loyal I
lVhce. That advice would have been advice that
on ard 4 would have commended and would have
ictated 70 any man 10 say to his son. The must :
man in the country might have given that |
ATlce. The man Who felt his misgi7ings in REGARD
the power Of the Government 70 c0eree rebels