The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-04-20
The Blair Resolutions in the Senate.

Senator Dennis, of Maryland, on
the 18th inst, in the United States
Senate, presented the Blair resolu-
tons in relation to the Electoral
Commission, and moved their refer
ence to the Judiciary Committee.
In presenting the resolution Mr..
Dennis said: Mr.. President-If the
Senate will bear with me moment
l will explain my relation to this
resolution. There are no instructions
coming to me from the Legislature
of my State in regard to it, and l am
opposed to it. | voted for the APP
pointment of the Electoral Commits
sion, and l will stand by the decision
of that Commission. | feel in honor
bound to sustain it. | feel that if /
We're to do otherwise [ should be I'M
worthy as a member of the Senate to
a seat upon this floor. Moreover, /
am sure that while reason holds her
sway over the minds of our people,
any attempt to reverse the decision
of that Commission will not succeed.
| do not consider this Senate suita-
BILE arena for the exercise of such
power as the joint resolution which
has been read would propose. Our
people desire peace. We have had
enough disturbance throughout this
land. No man within the confines
of my State desires to witness re.
newal of such scenes as have been
enacted within the last fourteen or
fifteen years. No one can desire to
see brothers weltering in brothers
gore. We want unity, peace and
concord ; and meyer while | hold
position on this floor shall there be
any act of mine the effect of which
would be otherwise than to contribute
and aid in bringing about fraternal
accord between every section Of our
country. Sir, we are one people,
luSlltlllGu anu DOuhu tOSCtiSi W On
the ties of relationship and by every
tie that can bind man to his fellow
man. Let those who died in that
sanguinary strife rest in pesce. Let
those who were baptized by the blood
of that strife, and slumber among
the dead, sleep in peace until the day
of final resurrection, when the arch
angel shall assemble the uncounted
millions by the sound of his trumpet
and call upon the sea and all the earth
to give up their dead. Sir, we are
united as a people in all and in every
respect. We are bound by bands of
iron and, l may say, by a network of
nerves in telegraph so arranged
that when you touch one point you
touch the whole. Sir, to the Pacific
ocean have sent one of my children,
who is as dear to me as my own
hearts blood. His destiny is fixed
with those people in that growing,
rich and populous section. While he
sleeps by the gentle murmur of the
placid Pacific, l, in the monday sun
shine almost, am here, and shall la
Dor to do whatever l can to promote
the interest of that section in which
his future destiny is fixed, and of
every section of our common country.
In the presentation Of these resolu-
tions l have performed duty which
respect for the Legislature Of my
State demands. But believing that
the interests of every section of our
Union calls for acquiescence in the
decision made by the Electoral Com
mission, L feel constrained to state
that / shall deem it incumbent upon
me to oppose any action by this body
in furtherance of the intent of the
resolutions. / ask that the joint res
olution he referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary.