Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-05
THE SENATE TO-DAY.
Roth Sides Maintain Their Stubborn
Attitude.

Htttthucs
The Vice President laid before the Senate 4
communication from the Secretary OF State,
transmitting copy OF the response Of the Rus
sian government TO the communication made
to 1t by the United States minister OF the Senate
resolution on the death OF the late emperor of
Russia Ordered printed.
The pending business, being the resolution
for the election of the officers OF the Senate,
was then taken up.
The usual motion, made by Mr.. Harris to go
into executive session, was, as usual, voted
down-yeaS GO, nays 80.
Mr.. saunders stated that he had transferred
to MIR. Malone, who was temporarily absent
from the chamber. the pair which mad pre-
v'eHsly existed between himself and Mr. VIII
hams; and that he (Mr. SaunderS) would there
fore vote "No."
Mr.. Beck desired to say that the transfer was
who had referred to him all matters Of tais
kind and he protested against the transfer In
that way.
The appearance Of Mr.. Malone in the cham
Der at this moment put an end to further dis.
cussion. and the roll call was concluded.
Mr.. MCPHERSON asked leave to present pc.
tition OF certain citizens of New Jersey and
New York
Mr. Hoar objected.
Mp. MCPHERSON thought 1t strange proceed
Ing TO deny the right Of petition. He had a
petition petition reciting the fact that Michael Boyton,
ed and thrown into prison by the British gov
ernment on vague charges OF melting crime
and violence, and had been denied the right to
trial before o jury of his peers and calling
upon Congress TO demand that the United
states government should int terfere for his pro-
lection. The petition was signed by the mem
bers OF certain land leagues In New Jersey and
New oIk. Did the senator still OBJECT?
MT. Hoar.-The Senate desires to elect an
oIhcer 10 record all business, and as soon as
that is SSops the petition can ne received
senator whether we have not recording off,
Ger? is there any lack OF officers In the
MT. hoar:-I think that Is a thing to be de-
termined by the Senate. The senator thinks
that the thing Is to be determined in viola
ton OF the Constitution of the United States
by minority Of the Senate.
Mr.. McPherSon.-IdO not believe it Is done In
Violation OF the Constitution. / believe That
the constitution protects the rights OF the mi
noflty. believe that the rules OF the Senate
were agreed to for the purpose OF protecting
legislation. / submit a petition signed by Ger
tain citizens Of New iork and New Jersey call
Ing attention to the fact that citizen Of the
United states is held in prison, contrary to law
and justice. The Senator refuses to have the
petition considered and referred to the commit
tee on foreign relations. The Senator rises In
his place and declares that even the case OF this
the majority on that side TO first dIsorgan1ze the
Senate and then reorgantze 1t. T6is is the
strangest proceeding / have seen In this most
singular OF all proceedings.
The vice President ruled that, there having
ceived.
Mr.. Mcpherson gave notice that Tomorrow
morning he would call up this petition, in order
that the Senator from Massachusetts, might be
able to state to the country the reason which
actuated him in preventing Justice being done
vile In an English prison. The Senator said
that man must remain In prison until such time
as Gorham and Riddleberger were elected. He
hoped the Senator would be prepared Jo-mor-
ttV Ia IH-ff mt tF,nfr
ton and justify 1t II he could.
MI. Hoar suggested that the petition need not
go over even until tomorrow Il the democrats
would vote upon the pending resolution. This
pTetence that the delay was attributable to the
republican side was the mereSG and sheereSt
piece Of humbEs and demagogry.
Mr.. Salisbury declared that no vote would be
taken on the resolution to day.
Mr. Mcpherson retorted upon Mr. HOar that
his claim hat the petition could not DE received
because there was 10 recording officer OF the
Senate was an absurd proposition.
Mr. Hear stated that the subject-matter OF
the petition was already under consideration by
the State Department.
Several dilatory motions having been voted
doWH, ME-. Morgan took the floor. He pre-
dicted that II the same spirit. which now pre-
vailed, should continue for the next two years
the Senate would find itself in the presence
9I M, oidne1ilies @ OF tle most serious Character.
he could not see by What power these difficul.
ties were to be removed otherwise than by a
just and honorable consideration Of all subjects,
which involved the welfare OF the country.
Suppose that the Vice President should die or
resign, and i presiding officer was to be elect
ed, who would give way? Who would show a
disposition to serve the country by giving up
e 1s question snd asRngy Rary pIeS IN se in eRsuos sns ss
OF the constitutional purposes and powers
for which this body was ordained. The
dem9ega5s 1sn s,,G - IN this 49,, chamber had had
they had not seen proper to become assisting
parties 70 what they conceived to be gross
ana ne u,nnanly 1,lnn fraud. Whether that he SO or
and having 15at BELIEF hxed my Ii eir Minds E
they had been taunted with treason because
they had dared to undertake on this floor to
prevent its being carried into effect by their as.
sistance OF consent. This morning the right OF
retltlon had been denied TO an American cIti-
zen. II that were stalwartIsm or republicanisIn
II was not the sort found In the Constitution
l Before the right OF petition, guaranteed under
OF a citizen, it was necessary to elect
George Gorham. secretary, and Mr.. Riddle
berger. doorkeeper. The heart that burned
cheated OF his ballot, failed to throb with one
Impulse In favor OF an American citizen In
carceIated ln q foreign prison. Nothing could
De zone unill party organization had been COM
pleteo. TO say nothing OF party contracts. He
would not characterize such action. Let the
country characterize 1t, and let posterity spurn
IL IT, and SPIT II out. as 1t would. This denial Of
against the Constitutional crime which con-
sisted In absolutely trampling under foot the
positive and plain guarantees OF the Com
stituti0n. He proceeded 70 cite from the
constitution and from the rules OF the Senate
to show the rights which were accorded to mi
norltles. Suppose that this resolution. instead
OF being treaty between members of different
political organizations, was treaty with some
foreign power, and minority of little more
than one-third should say, sit Is a fraud and a
bargain, would the Senator from Massachusetts,
arise and demand that the majority should rule,
and that there should be either free ballot.
"a priceless ballot or a ballot paid for by
some dirty c0nnivance? he alluded to the
electoral commission, asserting that the very
men who had engineered that comprehensive
and immortal fraud were now calling out
submit to the majority" No: the democrats
would protect he sacred right given TO
mlloritles by the Constitution.