Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-04-07
THE SENATE.
Report Of Proceedings Of the sen
ate in Extraordinary Session.

| the deoate in the Senate Tuesday, MI.
Morgan having the fl 'or:
He alluded to the electoral COM
mission, asserting that the very
men who had engineered
that comprehensive and immor-
tai fraud were now calling out, "sub-
NIT to majority" No; the Democrats
would protect the sacred rights
given to minorities by the Constitu-
ton, and in a constitutional way,
until they were satisfied that the
motives of the Senators on
the other side were better than
they had been when they
fixed up the fraud Of s to Z. He
proceeded to argue against the
Constitutional right of the Vice
President to vote upon the question
of reorganizing the Senate and pass
ING over the question of the contract
between the ''treaty making powers,
for he did not know the circumstan-
ces. said the gentlemen who had &C,
customed themselves to the acquires
ment of political power, no matter
by what means, might be able to
Justify means by the result, bnt he
could not wear the honorable char
acter of a United States Senator
and for a moment have it supposed
that he had been concerned in a
villainous bargain about the offices
of the Senate. In the course of his
remarks he alluded to Riddleberger
as 8: Riddlebargain," and in correct-
ing his mistake stated he knew there
was riddle" in it and thought
there bargain too. In conclus-
ion he said when the Republicans
command the Democrats to yield
when they believed the Republican
contract derogatory to the honorsof
the Senate, they might cry and
demand and charge treason upon
the Democrats until dooms day,
and still the Democrats would be
found upon the floor.
Several roll calls were then ordered
upon ve1ious motions, all Of which
| were NOUGu uOWu.
Mr.. Burnside said precedent had
been established two years ago, and
insisted upon the right of the ma
iority to rule.
Mr.. Hill remarked that the Demo-
Gratis submitted to the appointment
of committees because they were
indispensable to the transaction of
business but the appointment of
officers was unr necessary, and if the
Democrats yielded to that appoint
ment, they wo I'D become parties to
whatever bargain exisJs.
MIR. Burnside asked Mr.. Hill
whether he believed there was sin
gle Senator on the Republican side
who would accept committee OBJ.
tanned through fraud, Or who would
engage in any f1aId or transaction
of that kind. Mr.. Hill replied, Il
will give notan improper answer to an
improper question, but say to the
Senator, that [ do in my conscience
believe that majority on that side
has been procured by illegitimate
means
Mr. Bayard thought it in his power
to show our impartial tribunal that
the Democrats were right in standing
where they stood. He would notspeak
now. When he did he would not
speak to the prejudice of either
side of the chamber.
Mr.. Sherman said the back con-
test involving the few offices was q
principle which was recognized in
every deliberative body in the
world, that was that. the ma
iority would decide every question
which came before it. He argued
at some length in opposition to the
right of the minority to fiIlbuster by
Withholding their votes, and critis
cized the action of his own party
associates in having at various times
resorted to that practice. He was
glad to cooperate with the Senator
from Virginia (Mr. Mahone), and
believed the movement would be the
, dawning of a new day for the South
> The solid South would be broken
and American politics cease to bt
sectional and become national.
! Considerable discussion followed
participated in by Messrs. Bayard
Logan, Beck and Hawley, and a
5.45, on motion of Mr.. Dawes, the
Senate adjourned.
WASHINGTON, April 6.-The Vice
President laid before the Senate the
unfinished business, the resolution
, fer the election of the Senate
, officers
} Mr.. Mcpherson inquired why the
l Vice-President had not, in compli
ance with the rules, called for th'
: presentation of petitions and me-
$ +morials.
:. The Vice.President replied tha
= this being the executive session O
e the Senate there was no mornins
t hour.
S Mr.. Ferry sustained the position
3 of the Chair, declaring that the rul
: to which the Senator referred wa
8 applicable only to the Legislative
session of the Senate.
Mr.. Mcpherson then offered, a
! his right, under the rules, petitior
from certain citizens of New Jersey
respecting the case of one Michae
BOynton. who was alleged to be cor