New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-19
The Debate in the Senate.

MOn0ay taSt-tne nrSt day OF the discus
sion on the Louisiana question:
MIR. Carpenter-Mr President, at tn
| suggestion of one or two Senators who ar
interested in the question, the Senator from
New Jersey Mr.. Frslinghuysenl being en-
titled to the floor on the bill to which / re
terred this morning, ask unanimous con
order for tomorrow at one o'clock. speal
OF course of the bill Is. No. 446) to restor,
| the rights of the State of Louisiana.
MIR. Sherman-I desire to give notice tina
| l should like to have the sense of the Sen
ate on the question of taking up that bill
| because l desire myself to assist the TAX
| ing up OF the Louisiana case. At the same
time | am perfectly willing to give way a:
matter OF courtesy to any Senator who
desires to speak upon the subject. l there
fore would prefer that the Senator should
| IN the morning when it is convenient. move
| to take it up, and let the Senate BY full
| vote decide whether they will proceed to
| its consideration or not.
Mr.. Carpenter-I do not see how we are
any of US to make much of speech on the
subject unless the subject be before the
Senate.
Mr. Sherman-If any Senator desires to
make a. speech on the general subject, l
have no objection to his doing so. l 10 not
wish to lnterpose against that; but desire
the sense of the Senate to be taken, when.
ever 1t is proposed to take up the bill to be
acted upon, as to whether We shall consider
the Louisiana case this session or not.
Mr.. Carpenter-l presume the bill can not
pass until the Senate has chance to settle
that question. At the same time, it can not
be debated, as understand, unless the Sen
ate take it up.
Mr.. Sherman-The question of taking it
up will give the Senate an opportunity of
limited debate; but l will state frankly that
| am opposed to taking up the Louisiana
bill. and l desire to test the sense of the
Senate as to whether they wish to consume
time IN debating the question. Undoubtedly
if the bill is taken up, four or five days will
he spent upon it, and think We ought to
devote our time to other matters that prob
ably will result in some active legislation.
Mr.. Carpenter-Well. Mr.. President, the
Senator from New Jersey is entitled to the
floor upon the bill, ana lie, l understand,
prepared to deliver speech on the subject
take it for granted the Senate is willing to
proceed to the consideration of the bill.
after which it can be laid aside of course. if
that be the pleasure OF the Senate NY
own opinion Of the question is that if a
majority OF this Senate are determined to
stand by the Kellogg government, right or
wrong, elected or not elected, it is very bad
policy to have any debate, because do not
think debate would strengthen that view of
the case; and as matter of policy, # that
is to be done, think it should be done in
sullen silence: but l submit to nv honor
able friend from Ohio, that on subject of
such Importance it would be remarkable if
the Senate should refuse to have it debated
and disposed of on is merits. For the Sen
ate to say in advance that they will decide
upon this subject without hearing it, that
they will dispose of the bill without its
being debated, has but one precedent.
recOllect in mock session of the Legislature
in the State of Vermont, a great many
years ago, held the evening before the
adjournment, some wag introduced res
OiutiOn to this effect
WHEREAS, Much of the valuable time of
this body, is taken up in useless debate;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That no subject shall hereafter
be debated until the evening after it has
passed. Laughter
Probably the Senator from Ohio has in
mind that precedent; there shall be no de-
bate until the Senate dispOses of the uues-
ton on the motion to take it up. The Sem
ator has come here this session with several
financial conundrums, and the Senate has
spent three or four months in debating
them. think he would have been aston.
ished if the enemies of his plan had BRO
poSCu W NOIC OOWu WlJuOuV d nearing.
l think any Senator would be astOnished
when he produced in good faith bill upon
an important subject, to have another Sen
ator contend that the Senate ought to dis
pose OF the question on the motion to pro-
coed to its consideration. That is to de.
eide it without hearing.
Mr.. Sherman-We have a thousand bills
upon our calendar, and the question
whether we shall take up particular bills
or not Is always question to be decided by
the Senate. l need not reply to the OBJ
serva.ions made by my honorable friend.
he has already debated for two or three
days this identical question, and has ex-
pressed his views to the Senate. Now, if
he has not been able to convince the Sen
ate that it is important for US to lay aside
all the practical legislation of Congress in
order to take up this question-that can re-
suit according to my judgment in no prac-
tlcal good even to the people of Louisiana,
IN no good even to a section or faction in
Louisiana, but in any event in any form in
which 1t may pass will be an injury to the
people OF Louisiana-certainly we ought to
have the right to say whether we will con.
slider 1t, especially as the Senator can not
get the bill before the Senate except by the
Will OF majority of the Senate. We
ought to say whether or not we will take
up the time of the Senate in considering
this particular subject rather than in CON
slderlng other matters Of legislation which
must have action.
will not make this point against any
senator who desires to express his views
upon the question; but when the subject is
taken uptOr formal action, then must in
slst that there are other matters which
ought to be acted upon rather than the
Louisiana bill, and then the Senate will
decide whether we shall proceed with it or
not.
Mr.. Carpenter-Will my friend allow me
out one words | understand him to say
hat he has no objection whatever to debate |
IN thts Dill, but he does not want the vote
aiken on it.
MIR. Shenandoah is not it precisely. l |
Iay will never deny the courtesy to any |
senator who desires to make speech on |
my subject on anything from the origin of |
nan to the last revolution
Mr.. Edmunds-TO the origin of the last |
government.
MIR. Sherman-Yes, sir, if any Senator de, !
Tres TO make speech | would give him |
nat privilege by common courtesy on what |
yer subject, whether it was pending before |
is in the form of bill or whether it was a |
question OF ancient history. l would give |
Senator the right to make speech at any
lme.
Mr.: Carpenter-Then my friend is not |
landing on the point of time that will be
onsumed in considering this bill, if we can
onslder the bill in debate to take it up
8 well as by discussion in its regular con-
Iteration.
Mr. Sherman-My point is: Whenever the
enate have determined by vote that we
III not take action on the Louisiana matter,
peeches Will not be very abundant.
MT. Carpenter-ls not that denying the
cry courtesy the Senator says he is always
illing to grant!
Mr.. Sherman-I think not.
Mr.. Carpenter-1n other words. the SEN
tor says he will invite Senators to enioy