The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-03-31
FORTY. SEVENTH CONGRESS.
THE SENATE DEBATE.
A Spicy spat Between Brown and HoAr.

DSuhtet
Mr.. Davis (Of Illinois) said: On a recent Occas
ion stated the reasons that determined my votC
on the organization OF the Senate, not expecting
TO satisfy the class Of politicians accustomed L
party discipline, and unable TO appreciate fret
thought and an independent action. Fair critl
cism is always entitled to respect, and a public
man who shrinka from It, even when harsh, doe
not deserve foibearAnce.
An attempt has been made to have 1t appear
that the Legislature which elected me to the Sen
ate contained g Republican majority, and tha
the State Of Illinois, on a popular vote, was also
largely Republican Both Of these assumptions
are unfOunded. The Legislature at that time
stood as follows Republicans-senate, 2l House
70; Democrats-seDate, 25 House 81; Independ
ents--senate 8; House, O. 1t 10 thus seen that the
Republicans and the Democrats were almost
equally divided, and that few independents
turned the scale. For President Hayes received
27S 232, Tilden, 25S,6O1, and Cooper 1928 votes
HsyeSs clear majority, 239s, In a poll Of over
half million. These figures prove how closely
balanced the two parties were in 1876 N. More
than ninety per cent. Of the votes voluntarily
cast for me as Senator, were from Democrats
without pledges, conditions or correspondence Of
any kind whatever. They know my political
anteeedents, and they also know that neither the
honor, which was freely conferred upon me, nor
any other diRtincton that could be offered, would
alter any conviction had formed or defect me
from the course Of duty as 1t appeared to my
best judgment.
Having accepted this generous trust under
these circumstances, good faith required me to
sustain the organization Of the Senate, as It had
existed in the last Congress. No principle was
involved, but merely the control ofthe committees
and OF the officers. Ihsve voted steadily against
q change and shall continue in that way until
the end is reached, being ansWerable only to my
conscience and to my constituents for this act
What nay friend, the distinguished Senator from
New York, properly calls "a constitutional ma.
jOrity," was disclosed when the Vice President
not member Of this body, gave the casting voice
for the committee However aeetiDg or fraction
al that majority may be, we are commanded to
accept 1t and obey 1t. The majority that chose
the committees is fairly entitled to choose the Of
fceIs Of the Senate: one naturally goes with the
other in order to perfect the organization.
This conclusion will neither be delayed or OBJ
stTucted by any vote OF mine, and II cannot be
reached any too soon for public interest. do
not regret at ell that the new Administration
which has to confront the country with policy
should have control Of both branches OF Congress.
The responsibility for measures to be proposed
cannot be avoided with power to initiate all legis
latlon. The majority is not large enough to In
dulge In rash experiments, and the minority is
sufficiently strong to check an excess Between
these two elements the great voice OF independ-
ent opinion can always be heard with effect, and
the country has every prospect Of peace and
prosperity
Mr Dawes having refused to let his resolution
90 over for the present. though requested to do so
by Mr.. PendletOn, the Democrats proceeded to
offer dilatory motions and the call OF yeas and
nays thereon, now and then taking occasion to
tWit the Republicans upon taking into the party
fold Democratic Confederate Brigadier.
Mr., Garland opposed the present election of Of
fcers on the ground that 1t would wOlk great in.
Justice to the present incumbents.
Mr. Cameron OF Pennsylvania, asserted the de.
termination of the Republican side to sit the
question out.
Mr., Brown accepted the issue and stated his in.
tentlon 10 sit here until December before con.
senting TO a change Of officers.
Mr. Brown said the recent action OF the Repub,
lican party and the Senator from Virginia had
shown the period had been reached when no
more would be said about Confederate Brigadiers.
That period had been reached that was spoken Of
by very old book when II said: "The wolf shall
also dwell with the lamb and the leopard shall
lie down with the kid and calf and the young
lion and failing together, and little child shall
lead them." That period had been reached when
the lion OF debt-paylDg Republicanism and lamb
OF Teadjustment and partial repudiation had lain
down in loving embrace to gether In the green
pastures Of luXuriRnt richness. He would not
say little child or little General would lead
them. TLRughter.l He hoped the day had come
when the bloddy chasm had been Dridged and
when that old bloody shirt Of which 80 much had
been heard, would be folded up and buried be-
yond the hope Of resurrection.
Mr. HOar said he regarded the declaration OF
the Senator from Georgia that It was his purpose
to occupy the time Of the Senate from now until
the first Of December In preventing the express
ion OF will of the constitutional majority OF this
body in regard to the election OF Its officers as
containing the very essence Of revolution and re-
bellion to the institutionsof this country.
Mr.. Brown said he was sorry he would have to
prLye he Senator a traitor. Does the Senator de.
ny he sat here and refused to vote iL the Forty
sixth C0ngress2
Mr. HOar-I do.
Mr.. Brown You deny you sat in your seat just
before the termination OF the Forly'slxth Con
gress and refused TO voter
Mr.. Hoar-On the occasion to which the Senator
refers l refused TO vote once or TWICE ana tnen
to do 80, .
MIR. BroWn-Then suppose we ought to term
It petty treason because the Senator only did 1t
once or twice but his party did II great many
times.
Mr. Beck said he had found among the caucus
the name Of Harrison ID. ktddleDerger
for SeTgeant-at. Arms, and he had hesrd II WINS
Ironically Il could not be this man, who had In
In the Virginia Legislature what was
considered a Repudiating bill and from
the inhiciOn Of which the people had only Deen
saved by the veto Of q Democratic Governor; He
(Beck) would like to see why the kepupllcan
party had become so much attached to Conieder.
ate BrigadlerB and Hancock electOr as well, end
he would therefore move an adjournment ke
lected--yeas 81, nays 50.
Several other dilalory motions having been yot'
IA occurred De-
tween Logan and Brown as TO tner previous po'
litical records.
MI. Logan contended the Constitution gave the
MAORI y the right to elect Its otheers. IL old not
FIX the time when they should De eleCteu' anu
therefore, the majority should fix It,
Mr.. Br0Wh--If II can. A..
Mr.. Logsn-ThOse who prevent, pseVent In the
face Of the Constitution which they arc unaer
oath to obey. NJ,
Logan had controversy upon the constitutional
question whether the Senate had rignt 70 eIec1
officers at this session. ,-, -,
Mf. Logan said he had heard Of "arttul dodg'
es," but none so artful as the Senator from
Georgia. ,-.
Mr.. Brown made some sarcartic reply and
number Of ironically complimentary remarks
were exchanged by the two gentlemen ana tneh
Mr.. Logan concluded his speech with the usOla'
rati0n that the proposition OF the Senator from
Georgia was revolution against the power OF
The Senate under the Constitution, ana was only
] atep thai might 20 further and be revolution
against the Government
A motion to 90 into executive session was LOST
Yeas 2S, nays %. ,,
Mr. Pendletun then moved to adjourn.
The motion was Unexpectedly agreed to-yess
.S nayB2T. -. - d,a
M Mitchell was temporarily absent and dlo |
not vote, nor did Davis Of Illinois.
Mr. Hale voted "No" In tone 100 low 70 % |
heard by the Clerk and was not recorded, Jay, IaCt
which he did not discover until siter tne vice
President had declared the Senate adlourneu
until to morrow. . .......
Of the Debate on Changing Officers
Washington. March 25.-Mr. Dawes called up
he resolution for tie election Of Senate officers
he pending motion being that TO postpone Its
consideration until the first Monday In Decem'
yer.
Mr.. Johnston, alludiug to remark MADE yes
eiday by Mr. Hoar, to the effect that the propo'
itIon Of the Democrats to alibuster against the
esolution waSE1essonable and revolutionary
uggested that somr Eastern college should con-
or on that gentleman the degrees Of which Dr.
'anglosa was 10 proud, ILL., D. and A. 8. s.
Laughterl The Republican party had kept the
forth solid by declarations that the South was in
a.. a NI..kNn Nn.aI