Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-05-06
THE SPOFFORD.KELLOGG CASE.



The senate had long discussion, Mon
day, on the resolution declaring Spofford
entitled to the seat now held by kellogg.
Senator Blaine was the principal speaker
IN opposition to the resolution. and he
said: The present resolution seems likely
to go into the political history of the
country and as one of most astounding
propositions ever submitted for the con-
slderatlon of this body--astounding in
violating all precedents and principles of
the organization of the body from the
first senate that assembled under George
Washingtons presidency; that underlies
it; astounding from the fearful, and I
was almost about to say shameless asser-
ton of sectional government in this
country. All hear the Republican party
accused of sectional legislation, but
there we sixteen states either in rebel
lion or in greater or less degree
supposed to have sympathized with
the rebellion. They have to-
day on this floor thirty senators
out Of a possible thrty-two. For the
thirty-frst my honorable friend from
Mississippi Bruce, Democratic sue
cessor closely identified With the rebel
lion has been chosen. For the thirty
second, the honorable senator from
Louisiana, successor has likewise been
chosen. 1t is but a fraction and remnant
of single term of the thirty terms of
senatorship to which the states in rebel
lion or sympatbizing with the rebellion
are entitled, IN regard to which the in
tolerance of those seeking to sway the
destinies of the government is so great
that they cannot permit an honorable
understanding made on the floor of the
senate to be carried out. Such is the de-
mand of the power that yields the po-
htical destinies of this body to-day and
seeks in the interest of the same
political, sectional power to WELD the
destinies of the republic. When 1 say
an honorable agreement do not state it
of my own authority. 1 do not state it
on Republican authority. l state it on
the authority of leading Democratic
papers at the south, and there is not
senator within hearing of my voice who
does not know that the honorable sena-
tor from South Carolina (Butler) could
not have been seated in the chair he now
occupies except at the same time the
honorable senator from Louisiana (Kel-
logg) had been seated in the chair he
now occupies. The honorable senator
from South Carolina was seated only on
a prinaa .facie claim to the seat. Where
as the resolution seating the senator from
Louisiana was upon the special declar-
alton that he was entitled to the seat on
the merits of the case. There is not the
first symptom of sign Of further investi
cation into the claim of the honorable
senator from South Carolina. lido nothear
suggestion that the prinao .tacie case,
pronounced so in the resolution that
seated him, is even to have the dignity
of an investigation. But senator, the
offensive senator, the last possible flag of
Republicanism over sixteen states he,
although seated on his merits, with a
successor elected with fraction only of
his term left, shall not be allowed to
serve out his term. | hope the country
will understand it. hope the country
will take note of the intolerant spirit that
directs it. / hope the country will OBJ