The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-05-25
THaE AMERICAN SENATE.

Alas for the rarity OF CHRISTIAN CnafltV
TEaE AMERICAN SENATE.
The American Senate, what is it? The
answer would quickly come from almost
every young man in the country: " II is
the most august the most dignified legisla-
tive body Of the world SO all American
children and young men have been taught
to believe, and SO they consider it. The
young man starting out in life, with high
and correct principles, with n patriotic de-
votion to his country, with desire to see
her constitution respected and her laws
obcycd, with proper ideas of what is due
to gentleman, and having heard from his
fathers of the dignity which attached to a
Webster Il Clay. Il Calhoun, Cass, a Van
Buren,, and a Sumner. thinks that the acme
of his political ambition will be reached
when his fellow citizens shall enable him
to wear the proud title of can American
"Scnator.' Oncc in this most august and
"digniiied legislative body in the world,
he will be the associate of statesmen, OF
gentlemen. of men of learning, Of scll-re-
speeding. dignined senators, so we are
taught, and SO many believe. Perhaps it
is as well, if deception is ever justiliabe.
that we should continue so to teach
and so to let our children believe.
1t makes them, perchancc, have greater
,,1 f,v tInir IL iN1ntrnc thpn
to study our constitution. our laws and the
history of our legislation and politics; it
awakcs in them an ambition 10 become not
only great, but good and dignified gentle
men and statesmen; and, it may be, that
they will look forward 10 the day when
they. too, can serve their country with the
ability and dignity Of n Webster or Sum-
ncr, a Phelps, Foot or Collnmer.
1t would be well if all could be impress
ed with the fact that only dignitied gentle
men and statesmen MouM BE- Senators but
it is questionable whether our youth should
be taught that only such are Senators An
awakening must come, and it is doubtful
whether, when it comes, it will disgust one
with his country or arouse an ambition &c
redeem it, If the latter, it would be well
Such an awakening would surely come or
reading the last debate in the Senate. Let
us suppose that child has been told of tho
AFFINITY of the Senate that only gentleme,
obtain seats therein and if Il Ncrmonter
has been referred TO the Robnsons, Tiche
nor, Phelps, Foot, Colamer and others
that he has been travelling abroad for seve
raj years without the opportunity of seeing
an American newspaper he returns home
Saturday, rejoicing to be once more OF
American soil, OVERLOOKING with love o
----~. .~~..'-, '''s,"'sJ "'''
gentlcmanly bearing of the American Sen
ator, only intensified by absence. He take
up newspaper and finds that the Senate j
considering one of the gravcst questions
of the day, one involving principles o
constitutional law ms well as the civi
rights of a whole race. He reads that
grdce, dgnifed Stdte@mah is addressing tn
! Senate, and, pausing says he "would yielt
the floor to a motion to adjourn where
upon the following grave, dignifed, gentle
manly debate takes place. We quote iron
the semi-ofllcial report, that of the associ
ated press:
Mr.. Ransom of N. c. moved to adjourn
which motion was put, and the chair Nh
Stewart OF New decided it lost. (Severa
voices on the democratic side, 1.-The yea
have it.
Mr.. Mcrrimon having taken his seat, MI
Conklng of N. Y. called for the questio
on the bill
Mr.. Mcwimon-Mr. President, think
have the floor, but, as | said before, | yer
much desire the senator should hear me
Mr.. Hamlin-Well, Mr.. President, whe
a senator gets through he sits down.
Mr.. Mcrrimon-Wcll, | don't want T.
speak to empty seats.
Mr.. llamlin-l am afraid you will nc
find much else to speak to, tonight.
Mr.. Merrim)n-I want to speak to tn
senator from Maine (Mr Hamlin)
Mr.. Conkling (who occupied a seat at tn
clerk desli)- suggest tOthe senator that
if he wants to speak to the senator fror
Maine, he retire to the cloak room, as tina
seantor has been spending the evenin
there Uaughtcr.)
Mr.. Merrimon-l equally desire to spea
to the senator from New York, and hay
no right to speak in the cloak room.
Mr. Conllling have been here all til
evening.
Mr. McrrimOn then resumed his argl
mcnt After speaking - minutes in regar
to the formation of the constitution, an
noticing but few senators present he sal
he believed the Senate had gone to slice
again.
We do not think this requires much con
ment but would not the awakening b
rude, sudden? Where, he would ask,
the dignity of the Senate about which S
much has been told me Is it all fabl
or a dream? We fear that il is all fable
and every senatorial election removes tn
Senate further and further from what
was designed to be.