The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-03-20
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. March l9.

! ioeDdtt ldhe up lOI SonoiuSio'A s
9 solution submitted by him, proposing
that the previous question may be de-
mauGed either by majority vote or 10
some modified form, etc.
Mr.. Thurman, OF Ohio, objected to the
consideration oil the resolution.
Mr.. Wright showed the necessity Of
adopting some such rule, for the pur-
pose OF facilitating the transaction oi
public business.
Mr.. Sherman, of Ohio, hoped the re-
solution would be taken up and refer
rel to the committee on Rules without
debate, and let them examine the whole
sutject and report at The next session.
Mr.. Bayard, OF Delaware, was oppos-
ed to any proposition which undertook
to limit debate against the just discus
sion of the Senate.
Mr.. Carpenter, of Wisconsin, con-
CURED 10 the remarks OF Mr. Bayard.
There ought to be one place at least
where there was free discussion, aud
therefore he should never vote for any
rule establishing the previous question.
Mr.. Casserly, of California, opposed
the part o. the resolution proposing the
previous question. He was not willing
TO leave it to any Committee to say
whether or not the previous question
should be called in this tody, as the estab
lishment OF sach rule would place 1t
in the power of the majority to destroy
tree discussion and thus prevent the
minority from being heard. He was.
however, in favor OF establishing the
rule proposed with respect to the order
of considering business.
Mr.. Thurman, OF OHIO, said the mo-
nent the Senate should adopt the pre-
yious question, that moment the power
sind Influence Of the Senate would begin
TO decline There was no necessity Tor
, it. The Senate like Courts could al
ways transact the most business With
the fewest rules The more you trust
to The character, reputation and respon-
| bllry OF Senators the more readily
public business will betransacted.
Mr.. Wright, of Indiana, said if the
debate had satisfied him OF anything 1t
was as to the propriety of making the
reference. he asked. The question was
whether the Senate would take up the
resolution, and yet. in face OF the rule,
The Senators had occupied much time
in discussing the merits Of the resolu-
ton itself, which showed that there
ought to be some rule by which legsla-
ton could be restrained within proper
limits. He confessed, with surprise,
that this WAS the first time that res-
oulion OF simple inquiry was debated
upon lts merits, although a report was
! OF TO be made until the next session.
When the report should come in 1t
could be discussed, when he had no
doubt just decision would be made.
Mr.. Stewart, OF Nevada, hoped the
resolution would be re erred, although
he did not know whether rules could
be 80 amended as TO avoid the difficulty.
1t was obvious that important measures
a single ooIeUsSs.be considered, because
ton. There should be some tuIe-o,
which bills Of public character could
be acted on deliberately, so that such
errors as making two appropriations IN
the same bill tor the salary OF the Pre-
sdent, might be avoided.
Mr.. Anthony, OF Rhode Island, was
not IN iavor Of limiting the debate. but
WAS in favor of referring the resolution
to the Committee on Rules
The Senate by vote of 35 against 80
refused to take up and thus refer the
resolution.
Ga motion of Mr. Anthony, the Conn
missioner Of Agriculture was requested
To communicate tolhe Senate his annual
rer ort with accompanying papers which
were ordered to be printed.
Mr. West, Of Louisiana, asked the
Senate to take up his resolution giving
committee on levees Of the Mississippi
river leave 10 sit turing the recess and
report on the condition OF the levees OF
the Mississippi river. Also on the
propriety OF the government controlling
aud maintaining the same. The char
dec ded the motion out OF order. The
Senate then proceeded to the consider
alton OF the case oil Senator Caldwell.
Mr.. Conking said The duty OF the
Senate is great, and solemn judicial
action in pc orming this duty should
steel their hearts against sympathies
and emotions on one side, just as much
A. TO close their ewes TO sensation and
clamor on the other. Knowing roth
ing, tearing nothing, seeing nothing but
law and evidence. They should hold with
untetrered hands the scales OF justice.
rhey were not to make law, on y TO ad
minister it II the resolution now be-
fore the Senate was one OF expulsion
the question would be essentially dit-
ferent from that now presented. The
proper decision would rest In the first
great right OF everybody. The law o.
seli.preservation. The report OF the
committee did not six Senators TO pro-
ceei under the constitutional power to
determine whether the case at tue bar
'ails within the limits OF the Constitu
,ionaI provisions. As necessity Of
following the resolution tney
must interpret the power as
it never was interpreted before
since the existence OF the Re-
public, either IN the House OF Repre-
, .eutatives oriauywbere else. Acting on
|, the responsibility OF his oath, and after
! giving his most careful attention to the
de bate he could not conscientiously give
. / is support to the resolution of the
f Commlttee. Mr.. Caldwell pos
: sessed every publication Of a Sen
D ator known to the Constitution
0 and therefore every qualification into
r which the Senate had right to inquire
1 He received q majority Of the votes
cast BY the legislature, and the election
was conducted at the time, place and
i, tho manner prescribed by law. Ey-