The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-02-02
CBRIsTIANCY,s PLATFORM.

SCTlDcTb tkhh Or fOoIAoh,
CBRIsTIANCY,s PLATFORM.
Judge Christiancy, since his election to
the senate from Michigan, has written
private letter, now given to the public In
which he says "The manner of my cleo
ton leaves me at liberty to support or OPP
pose measures upon their merits, according
TO my convictions of right and with refer
ence to the interests of the whole country,
rather than for any partisan ends and l
propose to avail myself of that liberty on
all proper occasions" Very commendable
sentiments, surely, and an excellent plat
form to stand upon, but what has the
"manner OF his election" to do with it?
Judge Christiancy is a republican as old as
the party itself, and moreover, he protested
the principles of the party long before it
was organized and before Chandler gave in
his adherence thereto. He was elected to
the senate as republican, even If 1t was
with the aid of democratic votes. He is a
republican still, and had it been otherwise,
he might have remained judge but would
never have become an United States sena-
tor Knowing Judge Christiancy, as we
do, we venture to say that he would never
have become republican, nor would he be
one now, il he did not honestly believe
that the professed principles of the party,
when carried into practical action, would
a. e., ;rto nf tho xvhnlp n
try" When we say this we do not mean
to say that he has approved of or would
favor every measure proposed by republi-
can, because we do not believe he would,
no matter what might nc the ''manner OF his
election" Should such test of party
fealty be applied, ,he senate of the United
States would be without republican sena-
tor. Senators are presumed, and claim, to
act according to their convictions of right
and with reference to the interests of the
whole country, rather than for any parti-
san ends; and we venture to assert that If
the question was put to each senator, he
would reply substantially in Chr'stiancy's
language: II propose to avail myself OF
that liberty on all proper occasions" adding,
it may he, the words, 'as have always
done heretofore" Whether senators have
actually so done, "on all proper occasions,
1t is needless to enquire, and there might
be wide difference of opinion on the sub
ject. 1t is enough that they so profess to
act Although elected because of their pol
itics. they represent not one political party
alone, but the people of the whole state.
To properly represent the people OF the
state, and as part of the legisla.
tors of the whole country, they become
something more than mere republicans
or democrats-they are the representa-
tives of both. Although elected
because of their professed politica
opinions, they are elected to Support Oh
oppose measures upon their merits, accord
ing to their convictions of right, and will
reference to the interests of the who'll
country" Is not this so? Would an,
senator admit that he did not so act :? II
he does not SO act, would he be fit for
senator? Was the contrary doctrine eve
before announced in theory ?-no mat
ter how it may be carried out in prac
tice. We say sever before announced,
because Judge Christiancy, by implication
at least, suggests that only the "manner o
his election" admits of such course oil
his part. Does he mean to say, as hi
words imply, that had the 'manner of hi
election" been otherwise, his obligation
would have been different and he shoul
have felt impelled to vote for measure
which were not according to his prlnci
pies of right" and which would be detr
mental to the interests of the whole cour
try? Did the fact of his receiving demo
cratic votes add to or take from his obligi
tons to the whole country? Did the hant
full of republican votes, by which he secu
ed his election, have any effect on b
convictions of rights?" We do not b.
lieve In any such doctrine, even If he doe
Neither can we make ourself believe th'
Judge Christiancy intended to express an
such sentiment, although his languaG
necessarily implies it, Aside from the in
plication, he places himself upon the san
platform which every American senate
occupies or ought to occupy "Partist
ends" can no more release senator fro
his obligation to act upon measures "a
cording to his convictions of right" al
for the best interests of the country, thu
1t can any other man. If the senator ele
acts up to these sentiments, his republics
constituents, either of the state Or countr
will find no fault with him, for he will
doing just as 1t is expected that senate
will do. We trust that the day has go
by when senator's political affiliatio
are to be understood, even by his ov
party, as disquslifying him from acti
otherwise than as u partisan. When tn
day comes it will matter little whether I
senate is composed of Chambers or
Christiancys. of Summers or Flanagan
of Seizures or Cockrells.
LANNON'S CASE.
The house, ii seems, will not be able