The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-01-26
Senator Conkling's Speech.


|
The special correspondent of the Herdls
says: ..l.
When Mr.. Sherman closed Mr.. Conkling
rose. II is known that he has, within few
days, suffered a relapse Of the malarial dis
ease from which he has been severe suffer
er since last summer, and that it was doubt
ful whether he could muster strength enough
to speak Soon after he rose, members OF
the other House began to pour into the Sen
ate chamber, which was presently crowded,
and so remained until he sat down. Most
of the prominent members of the House, of
| both parties, were present. aud with the gal
leries, which rapidly filled up, listened ca
gerly and with unhagging interest to the
speaker. The space in the rear of the circle
was so darkened by an a,senblage of distin-
gulshed men that at various stages in his adj
dress, the speaker turned involuntarily to-
ward them as if appealing through them to
what he called the 'patriotic virtue and the
Overwhelming common sense" of the coun.
try. William NJ. Eyarts. David Dudley
Field, Gepoial Sherman Senator, elect l.a.
mar nnd il1ar, and the novri nf thc Hpn.e
of Repre- utitivo- wtr, present and Senator
Thurman took up his position at he right
of the Clerks desk selection not only con.
venient hut especially complimentary to a
Senator who was addressing the body. In.
disposed rs he evidently WAS, Mr. Cnnkling
did not lack vigor lie spoke extempnranr
on-lv, not having hal he strength necessary
f'r careful preparation, aud the few note,
which lay on his de-k, beside u fragrant cup
of tea, were hardly used
lie attacked the assumption that the Vice
President had or was intended by the trainers
of the Constitution to have any power what
ever in regard to the electoral vote, except
to open the certificates, and his argument
was that of a great lawyer as well as of a
sta'esma,. II was full of information. His
statements were exact, his Language spark
ling with epigram, his abundant illustrations
pertinent and luminous, and he demolished
first the front and then the fanks of the for.
tress on which the opponents of the bill had
intrenched themselves until nothing was left
and when the Senate broke up everybody
felt that the question, at least, was fully and
finally settled beyond the necessity or posi-.
bility of further argument.
Many passages in the speech were very
striking, and struck home indeed. Abiding
to the language Of the Constitution which
says that "the President of the Senate shall
open the electoral certificates and they shall
| then be counted" he turned aside, and with
one hand outstretched to the Senators, the
other stretched toward the Presidents chair.
exclaimed "By him!' in tone which set
the galleries huttering.
"1f it had been intended that the vote
should be counted by him, those two little
words" h, said, "as two Senators have said
before me. would have expressed that inten.
ton.
Mr. Morton had, unluckily for himself
asserted that the Vice President must not
only count, but he must count all the votes
good, bad or Indifferent.
us President, then, to be chosen, asked
Mr.. Conkling, "by counting forged votes ;
votes for man condemned to lasting dis
grace and inability by the Senate on i'm
peachment; votes for a dead man? Was it
intended by those who framed the Constitu-
tion that votes for dead man should fill
with an aching void the Presidential office
To count my fingers" he said, that is
purely ministerial Office; to count a pile of
paper is the same; to count bank notes
among which may be counterfeits, and to
sort the true from the false, that requires the
exercise of judgment. If New York should
send here forty.fve electoral votes. they
would not be counted; they would have to
be sorted"
He showed the pueriity of the argument
that if the Houses were to scrutinze the
vote the action of one House might bring
the country to ruin, saying that one House
might ruin the country by refusing appro-
priations and in multitude of other ways
which he recited. "Government," said he
"rests on the consent of the governed" Is a
majority of Congress less to be trusted than
one man? A bare majority of this House
might select presiding officer for the ex-
press purpose of counting in candidate. Is
such creature of an hour of more force or
more trustworthy than the wisdom of the
two houses2
The audience caught eagerly at any words
which seemed by implication to reveal Mr.
Conkling's opinions ON the merits OF the
Presidential question, and there was some
sensation among the Republicans when, al
luding to former Senator (Howard), he
spoke OF him rs one who, like himself, be-
lieved in glorious achievements and the glo.
rious destiny of the Republican party.
He had not finished when he sat down;
indeed, he bad touched but one of several
points which he meant to cover, and the re-
mainder Of his speech will be heard to-mor-
row, the Senate meeting at eleven. But
what he said this afternoon had great effect
upon his listeners.
1t is believed that the bill will pass the
Senate by a three iourths vote. Mr.. Ed
munds gave notice that he would insist upon
vote tomorrow. The opponents of the
bill are discouraged, but very bitter, and
they are prepPring to concentrate their ef-
forts upon the House.
II President Hayes becomes President by
the vraaa nf 4 kallnu,,ia D,osl l.