The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-03-25
FoRTY-s1xTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, March "a.
SENATE
BLAME AND EATON DISCUSS THE rREstDEST.
IALTlTLE,


appropriation for the pay OF letter carrier
and also from the Secretary OF III
Interior, enclosing request from Iii
Commissioner Of Education for On ap
preparation Of $25,640 for the payment {
Clerks. The communications were reiel
red.
Mr.. Beck introduced bill providin
for the settlement OF accounts with CeT
tain railroad companies.
Mr., Harris TO prevent the introduction
and spread OF infectious diseases int
the United States, he subsequently re
ported the bill on tho subject which wa
placed on the calendar
On motion Mr.. McDonald's resolution
was passed requiring the Secretary OF III,
Treasury to furnish the Senate with tht
amounts Of money drawn and paid thu
Supervisors Of Elections, general ant
special, in 1870 and 1873, as compensation
In excess OF fees, Us allowed by law fol
Circuit Court Commissioners, and state
the amounts expended in New York
Philadelphia and Cincinnati for the yeart
aforesaid.
Mr.. Wallace offered resolution thai
the Senate now proceed to the election o.
Secretary Of the Senate, Chief Clerk, Ex
ecuttve Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms.
A lengthy political discussion ensued
which was participated in by Anthony,
Hanlin, Wallace, Conkling, Bayard, Beck,
Voorhees,, Blaine and Eaton.
During the course OF the debate Mr.
Beck read a circular issued during the
campaign OF 1878, signed Sydney Austin,
by order Of Committee; George @. Cor.
ham, Secretary" The circular says that
1t Is almost certain that the next Senate
will be Democratic, and asserts that fore.
most among the schemes OF that party Is
an intention 10 attempt the revolutionary
expulsion from his office OF the President.
Mr.. Eaton referred to the circular read,
and asked il 1t was true that the Demo-
Gratis contemplated the ousting Of the
President, rs there stated. Now have
not, he said, any very high respect for the
man that occupies The Presidency. Think
he is there through fraud; that he has
no business there; that a majority Of
100000 freemen Of this country say he has
no business there, but when the Secretary
Of this committee says that foremost
among their schemes the opposition al
ready announce their intention 10 attempt
a revolutionary expulsion OF the President
from his Office" l as n Democrat deny It
rs false. No body Of men, respectable
either in numbers or intellect, ever an-
nounced such n policy. Therefore, even
were it not right and proper for other
reasons to make this change, would ad-
wise change in the Secretaryship OF the
Senate because Of this issue.
Mr.. Blaine said the pretext that the Sec
retary was to be removed because he is
sued this circular might go for what 1t was
worth, lie would have to go just the
same as II he had never issued a circular,
but the gentleman from the committee
(Eaton) had said that Gorham stated an
untruth in the circular when lie said it
was the design Of the Democratic party to
remove the President. Now, the struggle
in both branches Of the last Congress,
which eliminated In the Potter Commit
tee was evidence OF the sentiment in the
Democratic party which justified the
statement made in that circular. The
Potter Committee was organized for the
purpose OF obtaining, il possible, evidence
on which 10 base the proceedings to re-.
move tho President.
MIR. Wallace-Does not the Senator
know that in week from the issuance OF
that circular the Democratic Convention
Of Pennsylvania declared that it was un-
wise and impolitic to make an attack ON
the title OF the President?
Mr.. Blaine Why did they make that
resolve il there was not some danger in
the air.
Mr.. Wallace-Bccause that assertion was
made.
Mr.. BIaine-Tlat document had never
seen the light then. 1t did not come out
until some sneaking Federal oflice.holder
betrayed the secrets OF his party, anil Is
probably now waiting in the corridors for
some reward. The Senator cannot base
his action in Pennsylvania on that. He
went up to Harrisburg TO make It certain
that no such rash step should be taken
by the Democratic party.
Mr.. Wallace said that he would Concede
that there was some such agitation then,
but It was also true that the assertion OF
the circular was that OF man who declar.
cd what was untrue, and was unsustained
by any word or act OF men worthy to rem.
resent the Democratic party.
Mr.. Blaine thought there was an i'm.
mense exhibition OF virtue after the fact.
II anything was in the air at the time Of
the appointment Of the Potter committee
1t was conviction that it was organized
to fish for testimony on which to proceed
against tho title Of the President.
Mr., Kernan-My recollection is that
contemporaneously with the organization
Of that committee the Heucs passed reso.
luton that there was no intent 10 question
the title OF the President.
Mr.. B0inc-Somc weeks after there
came up from the country cry Of indig.
nation, after business communities eve.
rywhere disCountenanced such action,
then tho House, on motion OF a Republi.
can, did adopt such q resolution.
Mr.. Eaton reiterated his assertion that
the charge contained In tho circular was
haseless.
Mr.. Blaine said there were still echoina
in his ears tho words OF the Senator from
Connecticut iEatonl himself denonncing
the title Of The President to his office.
Mr., Eaton-I say so now.
Mr. Blaine-Then is not the Senator de
nouncing the Republican party that is an,
swerable for the rcsolution2
Mr.. Eaton-I do not doubt but grual
many Republicans feel us do about it
The best Of them agree with me that The
man at the White House lnls no legal titlt
to his place as President OF the United
States. ttJ.e
Mr.. Blaine-I will answer the gentle
man with my Wow Of tho case. It tia
the President Of the United States hold
the Office to which he was elected BY ~
fair and as honest 0 Yotp rs George Wash
ington did, hut It took n singular depar
turc from the Constitutional modes L
make that vote good, and that Ee was no
only entitled 10 the votes OF the three
Southern States which he got, but to thrc,
more Southern Suites, Of which he wa
deprived by the bull-loxing Democrats
tApplause.l
Thp ohair-The ssrgaantat:Arms viii
sec that the nOorReopefs take into custod
any person in the galleries violating th
| rules, llI fHH.Nt tUH4#..l. - H...