New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-27
TIE DEMOCRATS PR0GRAWNE.


81 papers can be depended on as indications of the
g at the called session, the programme is to pro-
q -eed with the election of President pro tenn
a pore before admitting the three Senators chosen
ITO I'LL vacancies. This is to be done on the
& plea that there is presiding officer to receive
n the credentials of the new Senators, and that
& one must be chosen before they can be sworn
M in. The President pro temp0ye Is in this case
lnot, as the title would indicate temporary pre-
3sldlng officer to occupy The chair only until the
Il body can be fully organized, but the regular
sand permanent presiding officer, to hold his
81 place Tor an indefinite period, and to stand first
- IN tle line OF succession to the Chief Magis
81 tracy. Ihe choice of this officer is, therefore, n
q matter OF great National Importance, and one
an which all the States OF the Union have an
Il cqual right to participate. Yet it is seriously
Jproposed 10y the Democratic organs that the
81 state OF New York be entirely dsfranchiscd in
Il this grave proceeding and that the State Of
q Rhode Island be deprived of one of the two
Il votes to which she is entitled This is to be
q done under cover of defect in the rules of the
I, senate, which do not contemplate II vacancy in
q both the Nicc-PrcSidency and the Presidency
siprO temD0re of the Senate, and consequently
y fail to specify method for receiving credcn-
q tlalN and swearing in new members when both
q such vacancies exist.
Inc programme thus proposed violates one Of
n Iie lifSt principles OF parliamentary law, a
81 Hn'ipic recognized IN every representative
4 body from county convention up to the House
GOT Representatives, of the United States
4 namely. that all members-elect whose seats are
Z mot contested have right to participate in the
Il organization Of the body. The members Of the
L,I,, a..
y clai oath on their pfima Jacic right to seats
4 shown in the credentials Alcd with the clerk.
! Ihis is the case in tie Legislatures of some
3 States IN others the oath il administered bv'
a the Secretary or 10y a judicial officer In al.
i; however, the right - vote for the presiding
8 "ud Other officers OF thc body BELONGS to all
y members whose cr, 'catal- are in due form
! Can 1t he seriously maintained that som,I
Z 'thcr law governs the senate. and that
Z he members who got i'm at n priov sr,-
3 son can keep ont aU their newly c,,todI
! coloaguco 0udl they have chosen a prt>id-
cling officer aud parcclad ont the clcrl,,hir~
1aui doorkccpcr>!ups among thcmsclycsl The
'cd~" only needs t. hc plainly stated fol
1 show how uutcu.hIc it is. The senator, from
Z \rW-l o-k derive their title 90 lal,iciratc in
4 .hc proceedings of Tire senate not from any
4 ceremony on thc Iart of au official o.. The body.
lb1t from The State they represent For tine
1 senators from other States 90 exclude thcrt
j unit, tIc Only important aori, Of az SESSION Is
4 g"nI lr;oj Woud bc an ac' of gross usupatiou
4 and u direct insult to the chief Htatc IN the
Z 'uiop.
! We d" not care 60 argue ahpu, thc meaning %
! Senate rules OF tie want Fl rules to meet the
I present contingency The principle which
a -hnuld govern J., 81 plain that there can Lc no
4 tHo honest opinions about it,. Every state is
entitled to". cp,.l voice with every other state
& m the organization OF the body. The arcidcnt
"' death or resignation cannot Justly operate to
= ,IsIianchi>c &c Stat" which Ills Tie yacaucic,
(! has occurring iu 81 legal manner aud sends her
representatives daily commissioned TO orcJ{,y
> the empty chairs. I'm the proceedings of
Ac"urtS, when statute is found 10 meet "A given
! ease aud secure ,hc cuds of Justice an appeal isl
J made to the common Law. There is a common
g iaw of legislative bodies known rs parliament
3dry iaw which time ont of mind has been
evoked in dchhcrativ" and legislative assem-
y bile, To supply the want oG definite rules. Let
! the Senate apply it 90 cure the defect now dc
4 Vclopcd IN its own regulations. There is no
Z real obstacle in the way of doing SO. The
! senate can call one of it's members To take the
'hait Tor the time being, a> Is often done duuug|
4 Ia" ahscnrc of the presiding officer, the ur,,
4 Senators can be duly admitted. and the business
gof clc,uug officers can be then proceeded with
Z IN proper and orderly way. Ii should be re-
3mcmbciod thnt the Senate is a ouinuous body
Z and, uulo The House, has not to ho organized
atrcsh once in two years. According to thr|
theory of the Constitution, il is never in a dis
i organized condition. When il meets next
4 moulh it will not bc rs an inchoatc assembly,
s having no powers until it has gone thrOughI
with certain formative processes. 1t will hc the
senate oi III" United States st rs much asI
ever, deprived of none of ITS poNcIS by the acct
dent OF Nacancic, IN It's Presidency and M it~I
I $cclc'ap's desk. Its right. then, TO originate
! ihc necessary forms for admitting it's ncylv|
detected members is undouhtcd. aud can mol
more bD questioned than its right to choose aI
presiding officer when its membership is com
1 plctc. 1t is not in "A chaotic condition; and lis
i function OF admitting the Senators from New
q \ Oll and Rhode Island, whose right to seats is
! not coniroVertcd, can bc exercised under
Z temporary form of organization lust a. lawfully
as If the Vice President had NOT been called ia
/ The Presidency and were present In his former
4 place to receive their credentials
1 We speak of thlS matter without any nnrtison
1 feeling. The principle that all duly elected
members OF II body have right to take part in
/. the choice Of its officers is important part
parliamentary ethics. No party can violate il
J for tie purpose of gaining an advantage with
out deserving the contempt Of all honest men
4 Our view ol the case now arising III Washing
ton would be the same if the attitude of partirs
n were changed and three Democrats y.,rn ,,.,;,