The weekly Louisianian., 1874-03-07
THE SUMNER RESOLUTIONS
tFrom tho Salem Register.1

|
questions First, does the resoluti<
virtually censure Nh. Summer ? viii.
the committee answer in the affirm
!, tive, quoting the language of the re
. olution of the extra session to suppo
3 their state ements.. The second questic
, is, 'tIs it within the rightful provin<
OF the L ,gislature to annul expres.io,
OF sensure embodied in the form of
resolution adopted by a previor
Legislature 2"
Tho committee find numerous prt
cedents in the action of Congress, IN
our own Legislature, where resolution
implying censure have been expunSed
thus admitting the power of the Legis
lature to annul such record. Upol
grounda Of common sense and wisdan
it would seem to be an essential pre-
rogatiye of the Legislature to correc
the errors of its predecessor, not onl,
by repeating laws enacted without du,
consideration but to rescind and annu
resolutions that were ill-advised ani
which fail to meet the just approval O.
the people. The remaining question
"Ought the resolution to be resoinded
and annuled, has received from thu
committee more attention. Ifjustice
to Mr.. Sumner requires that the reso'
lutions Of censure be annulled, it 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 sesolut;ons Of censure, the COM
mittee found to have been publicly
announced in the Senate SO early as
1862 by O resolution offered by him in
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 ques-
tion. The resolution of 1862 is as
follows:
Resolved, That in the efforts now
making for the sestoration of Union
and the establishment of peace
throughout the country, it is inexpedi-
ent that the names of victories attained
over our fellow citizens should be
placed upon the regimental colors of
the United States.
The committee are unable to find
that any change Of opinion had been
suggested by Mr.. Sumner prior to his
reelected in 1868 or any other time,
nor do they find that any public dis
sent from the opinion thus expressed
had been manifested by the people Of
Massachusetts. His successive re-
elections after the annunclaion of
suck sentiments would seem to signify
IN Endorsement of his views by the
people. The committee therefore ask
Mr.. Sumner may not have
that such was tho fact, and
that his action was in full accord with !
The wishes of his constituency. The
further states that the ses-
,ion at which the resolutions of GEN.
'nre were passed was, called for q
special purpose, and was necessarily
and the discussions of the
shown that the act of Mr..
Sumner was not rightly understood.
The illusions to State regimental flags
we're conspicuous throughout the
lebatc. and with thc'e the 1ail of 1872
lad nothing to do. The committee
SIX, Is it true that the legislation Of
sIr. Summers bill is an insult to the
oyal soldiery? They say that the inn
nense value of the services of that
oldiery will only be appreciated when
he fruits Of their struggle shall have
'een fully secured in a reunited and
'erfected nationality. In this view Is
|ot the bill calculated to appreciate
ather than depreciate their achieve
aents? Is it necessary that the
government should perpetuate the
humiliation of the men of the South
tho are hereafter to gather under the
'ational colors in the standing army
y continuing the names of battles
hereon in which they or their kindred
'ere vanquished ::
Resolved, Tqat the resolution pass
d December IS, 1874, at tho extra
ession of the Legislature OF that year,
elating to a bill introduced in the
enate of the United States concern
,g the army registers and regimental
olors Of the United States. be, and
ereby is, rescinded and annulled:
On Friday afternoon the report came
p in the Senate, when Hon. George
Loring, the President, took the (
oor and delivered an eloquent and
owerful speech il, advocacy Of the re-
'mmendation Of the committee. He
llogized MIR. Simmer, and showed
lat his motives were very different |,