Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-03-25
pailp asnnebrt Journal
Augusta, Tuesday Morning, Mar 25' 1879
Arbitrary Course Of the Democrat
L. Majority in the Senate.

The democratic majority in the senate
begin business with the true air OF South
ern ariStocrats. They have already given
the minority 10 understand that they have
no rights which the majority are bound e.
respect. They assume control Is though
there were no possible check to their will
Evidently they feel their importance. Thi-
was manifested very strongly the other
day in debate in which senator Saul,-
bury made the following extraordinary r.
marks:
should be very glad to see our brethren
on the other side take their present situation
little more checrfully. could congrtu-
late them from the experience Of number
of years in the minority on the fact that It !,
much pleasanter position than apprchcnd
they found as members of the majority. They
can aid in giving proper information at the
proper time and in proper way: but on th.
side of the House when We strike a line on
our own action il is duty to cursclYc, not
to permit the other idle Of the House t. shape
our course of policy in reference to any par
ticular measure. 1t had better he understood
at once that the democratic party in posses
sion have responsibilities now upon thcm and
intend 10 pursue their own line OF policy un-
controlled and uninflucncod by what may be-
the wishes of the other side in reference Ia
questions. especially of Il political character.
| hope our friends on the other side viii rec
oncile themselves To their present position.
and, like Christian statesmen, bear it manful-
ly. Laughter.
To this declaration Of unlimited power
in the majority, insulting both in manner
and matter, Senator Edmund~ made the
following reply. sharply criticisin% the
new despotic method of legislation pro-
posed, contrasting it with the course pur-
sued by the republicans when they were
in the majority, and closing with re-
minder that this insolence and arbitrary
use of power are not above correction by
the people Mr.. Edmund, said
Mr.. President had always laborcd under
the impression that even where there were
two parties in the Senate. members of both
parties were still Senators, and until this mo-
ment had supposed Il am informed other
wise now that Senators in minority even
had an opportunity and a righl ~ offer
amendments to pending measures | had not
supposed before (becausc such was never the
practice to my knowledge that a minority
was to be assaied for proposing 10 improve
legislation at all. Unless wc correct the yea
and nay list We must vote one way or the
other. ! do not know but that some conclayc
of the democracy somewhere because it i,
said there are frequent conclavus of that kind
now will bring in resolution to correct the
yea and nay list, and strike "A All The rcpub-
lican names. 1t would leave the rr~ponsi-
bility still with the democratic party. where
il belongs as they say.
Mr. President. that SOFT OF thing am sorry
TO hear in this chamber. believe that when
the Senator from Delaware was in the minori-
ty-and expect to live to see the day when
he will again assume that graceful position
that he was constant in season and out Of
season in proposing improvements. -, thdy
appeared 10 him. to measures that were pro-
posed by gentlemen who did not happen to
agree with him about the universal state Of
the Union, and they were frequently adopted.
| am glad to say. because il had not occurred
TO any Senator that know q. of dill; rent
political opinion. that il wa, not equally hi,
right and his dutY, men measure, were pro-
posed in this body. to move to amend them
Until the present time had supposed there
was an equal right. if anybody should pro-
pose proposition gcrnain ana tit that
even a Senator in the majority might vote f,r
it. and the proprcty of agreeing to il depend
ed upon its merit and not upon the particular
Senator that had the honor to offer it, | can
not say that am glad To know that the rul,
has been so recently changed and the minori-
~ In this body may be dismissed from all ~
sponsibility, or the right to vote upon or cN-
press an opinion upon ANYTHING that the re-
sponsible majority have determined t. do.
am sorry to hear that. am afraid that tin.
people. if there be any who are still interest
ed in this Congress. will be sorry also. but it
will be corrected by and by