Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-01-08
UNITED STATES SENATE.


Dignities and Courtesies OF that Body.
The United States Senate represents
the conservatism and the dignity of the
American people, and to be member
of that body is an honor second only to
that of being President of the United
States. The Senate is frequently criti-
cised by fiippant writers because OF its
heavy dignity" but instead of being a
subject of criticism this feature ought
to be-and is with thanking people
one of congratulation. The Senate is
the permanent legislative body of our
! government and partisanship is not per-
mitted there that it exercises in the
House. There exists what is known
| as the &c courtesy of the Senate" and
though no rule requires it, it is always
| strictly Observed This g courtesy 'is
! largely non-partisan in its nature and
no Senator would think of violating it.
In regard to nominations, it requires
that the Senators from the State to
which the appointment is made shall be
consulted upon the question of confirma-
tion or rejection, and their decision in
all ordinary cases determines the result
When the administration-the appoint
ing power-is opposed in politics to the
majority, as now, the custom is to sub
nit the matter to the Senator or Sena-
tors, if there are any, from the State
affected by the appointment. This
courtesy governs the promotions of COM
mittees, too, and no Senator would ever
think of prescribing any other rule in
this respect. When a Senator is as
signed to committee his name is en-
rolled at the foot of the majority or
minority-according to his politics
and as those above him retire he goes
up. For instance, when the Democrats
got control of the Senate it was easy for
anybody to determine what Senators
would become chairmen of the respec-
tive committees. The highest name
among the Democrats on each COM
mittee was promoted to the chairman
| ship in all cases except those where the
same Senator occupied that position on
more than one committee. This cour-
| tesy" contributes largely to the we'll
ordered dignity which the Senate main
tains, because it prevents any scramble
for preferment-andn nothing is more
undignified in a statesman than that
| Again, in the Senate, the minority are
always allowed three committee chair
manships, with the same privileges that
attach to the majority. Each chairman
of the minority has the right to appoint
his own clerk and messenger, and these
cOmmittee-rooms are entirely in the
control of the minority. Then in the
distribution of patronage the minority
are always allowed Il share. The dig
nifty of the Senate always contributes to
| the maintenance of order in that body.
| There is never the loud conversation on
the floor that is permitted in the House.
The courtesy is observed in all the
relations between the Senators. There
is never any clamoring for recognition,
as in the House. There is, in fact, never
any competition between Senators for
the right to the floor. On the contrary,
| a willingness to yield to another is
always observed, and foreign ministers
and diplomats, after noting the aecorum
that marks the United States Senate,
have invariably pronounced it the most
dignified and courteous legislative body
in the world. But few alterations or
violence have ever occurred in the Sen
ate or on the floor of that chamber.
One of the most notable was the
attack of Brooks, of South Carolina,
upon Senator Sumner, and in this case
the assaulting party belonged to the
House. While speaking of this as
sault it may be as well to correct. an
error in regard to it that has been gen
orally circulated. 1t was stated some
time ago. and the paragraph was pub
llshed throughout the country, that n
Judge Orr, of Mississippi, had posses
sion of the cane which Brooks used in
his assault upon Mr.. Sumner; that he
had obtained it from ex-senator Orr, of
South Carolina, who got it from Brooks
himself, and the cane was described as
being of hickory with a heavy silver
head. Captain Bassett, the venerable
doorkeeper of the Senate, says the cane
used was made of gutta- -percha; that it
broke into pieces at the first blow. and
he (Bassett) picked up and still has one
OF the pieces.
In the Senate the method of obtaining
the more eligible seats is of the same
quiet and dignified order that prevails
in regulating other matters. In Il book
kept for the purpose the Senator has his
name entered as choosing a certain seat
whenever the incumbent shall retir
from the Senate or in any other manne
vacate it. The Senator may have to
wait years for the seat of his choice to
become vacant; but there is no other
way for him to get it, unless the pos
SCISSOR voluntarily makes an exchange
with him. And such thing as yolun-
tarily vacating a choice seat never
occurs.
The firm friendship existing between
| Senators Edmunds and Thurman, the
leaders of their respective parties in the
Senate, has often been spoken Of They
frequently clock horns " in political de-
bate on the floor, but it never disturbs
their friendly relations. If one of th EN-
is detained by any cause, after the SEN
ate adjourns, the other waits for him
and they go home together This friend
ship has existed for years, and no doubt,
though his party gains Senator by it,
Mr.. Edmunds would have been glad to
have had Thurman returned from Ohio.
During the heated political debate OF
the extra session, one day Mr.. Edmunds
said something unusually sharp to Mr..
Thurman. 1t was apparent in an in
stant that the Ohio Senator felt the
sting. He sat down. Mr.. Edmunds
cut short his remarks. and Immediately
walked over to Mr. Thurman's seat, and
it was then plain to be seen that he was
making an ''exp planation. y Washington
Star.