New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-02-19

The Committee Ga Federal Relations Of
the Massachusetts, Legislature, f, whom
were referred the petitions .,r resembling tie
resolutions Of 1872, in ccnsure 81 Nj. Sum
ner's proposition relating to The United
States battle flags, reported Oh Thursday
through Mr.. Nortross, Of Worcester.
The committee state that the consiicrl-
ton of the case presented three questions :
First, does the rcaolu.ion' virtually c"nsure
Mr.. Sumner: which the committee answer
in the Affirmative, qnot.ug tic language Of
the resolution Of the extra session to support
their statements. The second question Is,
SIS it within the rishtfAl province Of the
Legislature to annui expressions Of consure
embodied in the form Ola resolution adopted
by previous Legislature ~
The committee find numerous prctoGcuts
in the action q Congress, AMI OFT oWa Lee
gisature, where resolutions implying ccHsure
have been eXpuagei, thus admitting the
power Of the Legislature - anuUl such re-
cords. Upon grOun Is Of r3ainan sense and
wisdom it would. b be IN essential
prerogative Of the Legislature to correct the
errors of lis predecessor, not only by rcpclI-
ing laws enacted without due consideration,
but to rcsciGd and annul resolutions that
were lll-alvised and which fail to meet the
Just approval Of the people. The roma ming
question, sought the resolution to be re-
scnded and annulled,n has received from
the committee more attention. If Justice to
Mr.. Sumner requires that the resolutions OF
censure be annuled, ii will sooner or later
be accomplished. The principle that found
expression in the bill Introduced in the Senate
of the United States, and which gave rise to
the resolutions Of ccnsare, the committee
found to have been publicly announced in
the Senate 50 early as 1862 by resolution
offered by him i'll the United States Senate,
a copy OF which the committee submit: also
of the bill of 1872 introduced by him, with a
copy Of the resolution in question. The
resolution of 1862 is as follows:
Pesolced, That IN the efforts now mak;no
for the restoration of the Union and the es-
Enlistment of peace throughout the country.
it is meXpedient that the names of victories
attained over our fellow-citizens should be
placed upon the regimental colors Of the
United States.
The committee arc unable to find that any
change of opinion had been suggested by Mr..
Sumner prior to his reelection in 1863 or any
other time, nor do they find that any public
dissent from the opinion thus expressed had
been manifested by the people of Massachu-
sets. His successive reflections after the
annunciation of such sentiments would seem
to signify an Endorsement of his views by the
people. The committee therefore ask whe-
ther Mr. Sumner may not have understood
that such was the fact, and that bis action
was III full accord with the wishes of his con-
stituency. The committee further state that
the session at which the resolutions Of CEN
sure were passed was called for a special
purpose, and was necessarily hurried and
the discussions of the resolutions showed that
the act OF Mr.. Sumner was not rightly under
STOOD. The illusions to State reCimental
1lass were conspicuous throughout the debate.
and with these the bill OF 1872 had NOTHING
TO 90. The committee ask, Is it true that
the legislation of Mr.. Summers bill is an in
suit to the loyal soldierv? They say that
the immense value of the services OF that
soialefy VIII only be appreciated when the
fruits OF their struggle shall have been fully
secured IN reunited and perfected nation
atty. Iu this view is not the bill calculated
to appreciate rather than depreclate their
achlevements? Is it necessary that The
government should perpetuate the humiiia-
tloh OF the men OF the South who are here
hiter 10 gather under the national colors in |
tme Standing army by continuing the names |
OF battles thereon in which they or their kin |
dred were vanquished?
Inc committee have not the time to con.
sidered the larger question of individual in
pehdence OF action, and summarize their CON |
ciusions IN the following resolution:
Resofcsd, That the resolution passed De.
cember IL, 1872, at the extra session of the |
legislature OF that year, relating to a bill |
introduced IN the Senate of the United States |
concerning the army registers and psgimental
coiors OF the United States, be, ana hereby
IS; rescinded and annulled.