The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-05-20
Senator Hampton ca Kellogg.

| ~ ~ p'ra.
On IastThursday Senator Hampton, @
this Stafe, made an able speech in oppo
sitlon 70 the effort which Is now being
mada to unseat Kellogg as Senator fron
Louaiana, OF, which the following outline
has been published:
Mr. Hampton said he was not lawyer
but he proposed TO discuss the matter on
generally recognized principles of justice
and right, endeayoriDg to free himself
from partisan feeling. There were cases
and this was one, where Senators should
lay aside sectional prejudices and party
allegiance. He did not impute TO BIZ
| spotord 0, his friends any improper mo.
tives, and, therefore, he was panied to
differ from them, and from his party as.
sociates with whom he held so many
views in common. They would at least
credit him with sincerity in this differ.
ence. Mr: Kellogg's credentials were
presented in January, 1877, and referred
to the committee in March. Mr.. Spof-
fords were presented in October. Both
parties consented to consideration OF
certain evidence taken by other investi-
eating committees. The Senate also
passed q resolution authorizing the COM
| mitteoto take full original evidence taken
by other investigating committees
There was no doubt that the committee
had full authority TO investigate all the
merits Of the case. Mr.. Spofford at one
time fled request for moro evidence,
which was denied by the committee on
the ground that sufficient testimony had
been taken. This ruling, Mr. Hamp.
ton fought, unjust, but it was undoubt-
ed'u fully competent for tie committee
to decide. when to stop taking testimony.
II committee abuses It's, power in this
respect, an appeal can be taken to the
Senate. The Secate at that time an
nounced its deliberate judgment that Mr..
Kellogg wal entitled to his seat, yet it is
now claimed that that action had no
binding effect. MIR. Hampton could not ad.
nit the principle that the settlement of a
contested case on its merits could be
overthrown at will upon the accession of
q majority Of o different party. If this
case can be reheard now, what is TO pre-
vent its being heard again and again
In all litigation there must be some end
OF strife, and, in the spirit of law, this
case should rest where it is. Mr.. Hampton
then cited q number Of authorities and
precedents in this country and England
to show that it was well established
PAAdNiPiOJ SHIb nnGu u CtleO WIS OuC6 BEL
tied upon its merits it could not be re-
opened. The consequences ofleavipg the
title to seats forever to question were
more disastrous than TO have an OCCASION
al case wrongly settled. The whole
weight of authority seemed to Mr..
Hampton to show that the Sena.e ected
judielally and that its action was final.
He had carefully avoided the prlitical
aspect of the case. He dared not trust
himself to enter too deeply into that
question, All his sympathies were with
the contestant, and with the State of
Louisiana which had suffered 80 great a
wrong, but the Senate had no power I'd
redress that wrong. Time, the great
healer, could alone assuage her wounds.
He hoped the people of that State, with
whom his own people had &C much in
common, would not misconstrue this ac-
tion. The Senator from Georgia INF.
HilD had expressed the hope that the
Southern Senators would not ignore the
right in this case. That great Senator
would hardly refuse to admit the hon.
esty of motive in those differing from
the committee, when, as in MIR. Hamp.
toms case, their sense of duty led them
to sacrifice their personal feeling. The
tlag above them was that Of all the States
and all were equal there. Southern Sena-
tors were not hero, as might be inferred
from the report of the minority ofthe COM
mittee, on probation or temporarily, but
as equal representatives of sovereign
States. They had no need to excuse or
explain their conduct. They would be
judged rather, by their acts than their
professions. Let them do their duty and
disregard the consequences. He thanked
the Senator from Georg. Mr.. Rill) for
denying the rumor iishonorable to his
State. He was jealous of her honor
He had fought on bloody fields with her
gallant troops, side by side with those OF
her sister State of Georgia, led by the
Senator's colleague (Gen. Gordon) -
They went whore honor could be gained,
but where personal safety could not be
found. If in those dark days, when it
was not my good fortune to enjoy what
/ now do, the benefit of the precepts and
example of the Senator from Ge9fgia, /
upheld as best could the honor Of my
State, TRUST that ] shall not psove re-
creant to it now. The people of SSnth
Carolina can best judge how their honor
is guarded here, and should it ever be-
my misfortune to misrepresens' o. diaap-
point them IN any way by having the
courage to follow my convictions, they
will at least say: .'i
sHe brayed the shaft of censure and Of shame;
And on the field Of honor pledged q soldiers
Iii fame. itle 17li - = g., = - n
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