The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-05-03

tj%s:I ss3,e,;e, Applause from the crowded
Senator Witherspoon:i "I move thai
the Senate reconsider its vote 10 swear N
Lieutenant Governor Simpson, and ]
think can make an explanation which
will appeal to the honest convictions Of
every Senator present" i.'[ u" .;'''
Nash said that, when the question for
reconsideration. came up, it would be time
enough for explanations. Swails then
put the motion toi reconsider, and, pend
ing the roll call, Mr.. Wifherspoon said :
II would like to ofersthe following 'ex-
planation.> On yesterday there was a
conference between the former -Lieuten-
ant Governor of the State. and the pres
ent Lieutenant Governor of the State
and the President pro tenn. of the Senate.
I was requested to be present, simply to
know what was going on, to provide
against this very species OF political
trickery. I was there, and it was agreed
that we should bridge over the change
between the new and the old administra-
tion with harmony. We asked if you
intended to 90 into this matter in good
faith, and it was distinctly understood
that everything was to be in good faith;
The, same question was raised then, and
to the credit of the Lieutenant Governor
he positively asserted that he would not
stuftify himself by taking that'oath again.
After the consultation upon the other side
this morning he again reiterated his pur-
pose of not taking the oath second time.
1t was agreed in so many words that this
body would not require thathe should be
put in such position. I hope that: you
will not continue to force Mr. Simp-
son to- do what you would not do if you
were in his position" ,.-..
Swails: "There have been two o'consul-
tations held, and all the matters stated
here are matters of fact, with one excep-
tion, and that is this: That while we met
in consultation, it was well understood
that our action could not, in any way,
bind the Senate as body on either side.
1 believe the Senator from York made
the remark himself that we went there
as men for the purpose of making some
arrangement for getting into corners. If
there is difference between the Senators
here, it is no more that there was in the
consultation. I hold that1 am only here
ras an officer at your bidding. I am here
to do what is right, and, pretend to do 50.
I hope that we may get this matter set
tied in some way harmoniously, for there
'is.not man on the floor of the! Senate
more anxious for a harmonious and
peaceful settlement than I am =! hope
that we will arrive at some conclusion, If
not to-day, at some early period, for this
now is the only bone of contention"
i Witherspoon '"The statement of the
President pro tem., that the agreement
arrived at in the consultation was not
binding upon the members of the Senate,
is correct, but he cannot deny that an ad-
journment was had from yesterday to this
morning to settle that very matter, and
to consult our respective friends" 10
Nash said that he was not aware that
any such arrangement had been made.
If the Senator from York speaks correct
ly, and do. not doubt that he does, if
such is the arrangement, consider my
self bound by it, and, if I had been
aware of it, I should have been the last
man to have made such a motion as l
did. I am not disposed to break faith
with any one" ~ II ...'-'''
Whittemore: 81. have not been aware
of any arrangement. being perfected by
any on No such thing was ever pre-
sented as this that we are NOW at variance
upon, that this Lieutenant Governor
Simpson should take possession without
being sworn in. understand from the
Ex-Lieutenant Governor that no under
standing of this kind existed between
these parties yesterday; or at any other
time. [ understand from him that the
matter was spoken of, but neither of the
parties could pledge the action of their
respective friends. I recognize that Mr..
Simpson must be the Lieutenant Cover
nor of the. State, and that as such we are
to obey his orders, but while the gentle
man has said there is no power upon
earth that can make him take the oath a
second time, it appears to me that while
he asks courtesy from US, there is some
courtesy due to us from him. When we
ask that he shall take the oath, we ask
no more than we would ask from Re-
publican officer. 1t is true that the SEN
ate was invited to witness his induction
into Office, but the majority which com.
prises the active energy of the Senate
was not there"
Maxwell, who generally runs on the
outrage line, said that there was no one
more willing and ready than he to bridge
over the bloody chasm, and no one more
willing to 81. Itch forth his hands for the
olive branch of peace. I am sent here
by constituency which stands right and
square and adheres to compromises, but
when look over the country and see
poverty staring us in the face, when !
see that the dearest rights of the people
have been trampled upon, and when l
see the dire wants around me, lam ready
to yield, not that have been convinced,
but yield in behalf of the poor down
trodden people. AS the honorable gen.
tleman has said, he has already taken the
oath and no power on earth can make
him take it again. Gentlemen, the Chief
Executive of the State, who has been in
stalled in Office, was sworn in in the same
manner and at the same time and place,
and am willing to reconsider the mo-
ton, knowing that in doing so it does not
alter our minds one iota from what we
conceive to be the letter and the spirit of
law. q ' ''.
At this stage in the debate a salute Of
100 guns in honor of the day began peal
ing forth which, while it called forth ap-
plause from the galleries, had a most
subduing effect upon the naughty Sena-
tors. The vote on the question of re-
consideration was then taken, and result
ted % to 4 in favor of reconsideration,
the four dissenting being Whittemore,
Swails, Duncan and Taft. This manifest
symptom of. weakness was hailed with
appliance from the galleries. Nash then
gracefully withdrew his amendment that
the Lieutenant Governor be sworn in,
ond tho ORIGINAL motion that's a committee