Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-02-16
Abbott-s Case.

The Washington correspondent ot tlic
baltimore CH."tir, writing under dat" of
the Jth instant, SAYS:
The Committee on Privileges and Flee
tions have not yet voted upon the case OF
Abbott, who wants a scat IS Senator from
North Carolina, notwithstanding the re-
ports TO the contrary. \ report viii be made
by Senator Carpenter, when action is taken
by the committee, which will bear tho sig
nature of Morton, Carpenter, Anthony and
Rice, a ma iOrity going over tlic WhUlc case
and citing numerous prCCedcntS i'll EngllSh
parliamentary law Tor the admission OF Alb
I,ott, but it is said they have been unable
10 find Il single precedent i'll the history OF
the American Congress.
\ minority report viii be made by Sena-
lor Thurman, signed by himself, Logan
and Hill, which. however, unlike that Ut
The majority Ofthc committee, has not been
prepared. This case will open up a very
lengthy debate i'll the Senate, perhaps more
than that OF AlneS, from Mississippi, whose
case was argued several weeks.
The Abbott case, it is claimed, will pre-
sent Il number OF novel, debatable points.
There are, however, American cases di-
rectly opposite 10 the pretensions which
Abbott sets up Mr.. Thomas, Of Maryland
legged sympathy with the South. His sue
cessor, elected by the Legislature, was seat
ell, and not the candidate receiving mi
nolity of the votes.
John oun9 Brown, OF Kentucky, was
refused a seat in the House Of Representa-
lives for this same cause. HIS opponent
claimed The seat. The matter was thor
oughly investigated and Mr.. Dawes. OF
Massachusetts. made Il report adverse 10
The admission OF the minority candidate,
which was adopted by the House.
In AbbOtt's case 4 claim is set up, based
anon a vote which could not have effected
.lny legislation. Indeed, with The vote re-
ceived by him, nothing could have been
adopted but a motion TO adjourn, which is
rhe only action a nHmbcr less than q
quorum can take in any legislative body.
The Washington P"'ri0t, of Tuesday,
speaking OF Mondays proceedings in the
Senate, says:
The credentials OF General Itanson rs
senator from North Carolina, III place ot
Governor Vance, were received i'll the SEN
ate to-day, and referred, al the instance Oi
Ar. Morton, to the Committee on Elections.
Notwithstanding the statement which has
been repeatedly made, there has been no
formal a1rGcmGIlL of the COmmittceiu favor
II the cdrpet-bagg"r Abbott. That worthy
has been untl1in@ IN personal and partisan
appeals 10 the committee, and there seems
10 be some ground for the belief that he
has secured 4 majority in his favor. But
the credentials which were to-day referred
10 the committee put u somewhat different
aspect Oh the ease. Even should the COM
nittee report in favor Of Abbott it clu
hardly DC believed thar the Senate will
commit SO fla1TLIt Il wrong upon the pco-
pie of North Carolina as to PIT in d man
who did NOT receive more thau Il third oi
the votes Of the Legislature.
j'"r copi,u, Hon. 9. II. Dockcry, VIII"
visited tine Virginia House of Delegates on
Monday, and who WAS just from Washing
lou, which he must have left on Saturday
"r Sunday. gave il as his opinion that .tb-
itott would be- seated.
As the New ! orIl T,jL"nc says, the Sen-
ate can declare. ii it SO chooses, that the
Grand Duke Alexis is the Senator elect
from North Carolina, with rs much pro-
priety and regard Ton law DIS it c;n give the
seat To Abbott. The seating ol AmcS, as
the Senator FROM Mississippi, warrants one
10 believe that the Senate is capable of COM
mitting ANY outrage. The time has been
when tho head o, the Hing of England,
with his crown, rolled from the block for
refusing TO issue wits OF election. But that
Was many years ago, and under a lnonarchi-
cal form of government. Ina modern Repub-
iictlnce hundred tyrants c''n,With impuhty
not only IIsuTp the powers OF the people, but
seize their property, abridge their liberties
and take their lives under the rrctcncc OF
guaranteeing Republican form OF govern
luent to the States. Thus We 20.