The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-10-30
I'll. Arrest of Senators.
A VIGOROUS PROTEST ENTERED AGAINST THE
PROCEEDING or FRIDAY NIGHT.


PROCEEDING or FRIDAY NIGHT.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., October 29.-Imme-
diat.ly after the Senate went into execu-
tive session this afternoon the Sergeant-at-
Arms made his return OF the order by
which last night he was directed to
'sbring in" senator's named therein
N being absent without leave. An
animated debate ensued forthwith in
regard TO the power OF the minority
OF the Senate under the Constitution
and Rules 10 " compel" the attendance OF
absent senators, the purpose OF those queS-
tioning the validity OF the order being UNI
derstood to be to prevent action upon the
Lynchburg pOst-oflice nomination.
After speeches OF considerable length by
Messrs. Brown, Hill, and BSySrd, and
bIiefer remarks by many other senators,
the following "protest" was presented
and entered upon the Journal, together
with the scrgeant-at-Arms' return;
11Thc undersigned, members OF the SEN
ale Of the United States, hereby formally
and earnestly protest against the execution
Of the resolutions offered and adopted
YESTERDAY under the rule prohibiting debate
! in the absence OF n guorum.of the Senate,
by 4 vote OF 10 to IL, directing the Ser
| geant-at-AIms to compel the attendance
| OF the senators named in said resolutions
"1st. Because the said resolution is III
violation Of the 9th section OF the lot arti-
Gle OF the Constitution, which authorizes
a smaller number than quorum OF
each house TO compel attendance Oh
absent members only when the man
ner OF such cOmpulsion and penalty
for refusal to attend have been provided
no provision having ever been maze by
this Senate OF the manner OF competing
attendance OF it, absent members, nor any
penalty sfixed for their refusal to attend.
"2d. Because said resolution snd order
violates the freedom from arrest guaranteed
TO each member and senator under Article
l., section 6, OF the Constitution
..3d. Because said resolution and order
violates an unbroken, unquestioned, ana
honorable usage and custom OF me senate,
under which members now absent nave
haired and absented themselves only uiluer
such understanding.
cath. Because said resolution was SUD
denly and without any PR Yious notlce IN
t-oduced and adopted after midnight, with
no onnortunitv for debate, and is an unwsr-
ranted and dangerous departure from the
line Of precedent and constitutional govern
ment OF this body"
signed DN ctnatVlS b". hN3 'N-y N'l
ton. slater, Jonas, Farley, Voorhees,,
Davis West Virginia), Hill (Georgial
Brown, Williams, Groomc, Johnston,
Pugb. Pendlcton, Coke, Call, Morgan,
Ransom, George, Maxey, Walker, ana
Jones (Florida).
concur in the protest, with the under.
standing that il does not deny the power OF
tho senate under a constitutional quorum
I 10 prescribe arrest as the manner OF COM
mailing the attendance OF absentecs.
P0'''o j. G.. GEORGE.
The protest was next discussed at great
,cncih. and In reply It was vigorously con-
tended by Mr. Edmunds and other lie.
nnblican senators TINT the warrant
did not direct the arrest OF any
body. and that nobody had been ar
rested. IL having been executed, lhey
said. by reading il in the Senate chamber Z
IN the hearing Of the senator's VINO iiao
spneared TODAY without compuisioD. hr:
Fdmunds also referred to the Journal OF
the senate TO show that many senators VINO
stoned the protest in question had on tne
9th Of February, 1879, voted for the issu-
anee Of. much more stringcn. orueI,
which ordered the sergcant-at-Afins 70
com,,el the attendance Of absent members
without warrant and without designating