National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-09-22


they are admitted the Senate shall
choose a President pro TEN, who would,
in the event of a vacancy, become Presi-
dent of the United States. This is urged
upon the supposed temporary majority
because of the fact that after the admis-
sion of the new Senators that majority
would not continue. Democrats are
urged to act heroically in this matter
and to follow the Rob Roy principle that
violent capture and forcible retention
constitute good title. The Senate in
acting on the subject of admitting new
members is, as before stated, governed
only by its own judgment. 1t may arbi-
trarily lock its doors against Senators,
bearing the commissions of States not in
political accord with its temporary ma
jority, and may assign political heresy as
the reason. This would be plainly revo-
lutionary, but only the bloody hand of
counter-revolution could open the doors
so closed. There would be no peaceful
remedy.
What better than revolution or mere
arbitrary power would IL be for majority
of Senate not full-a majority which
exists only because all the Senators are
not seated-to perpetuate itself by refus-
ing duly-commissioned Senators who are
present the seats which belong to them,
on the shallow and absurd pretext that
Congress has marked out q course of pro-
cedure for the Senate as TO the swear
ing in of new members, and that the
Senate must submit. Does any man be-
lieve that the Democratic lawyers of that
body will ever hold that Congress can
regulate the mode of admission of new
members? To this complexion must IL
come. To exclude the new Senators dur
ing the choice of q presiding officer would
be an outrage and an indgnity
upon New York and Rhode Island if
the Senate has power to admit them.
Bayard, Beck, Harris, Lamar, Garland,
Pendleton, Cockrell, and others who
could be named on the Democratic side
will never contend or even admit that
Congress can guard the door of the Sem
ate and dictate who shall administer the
oath before the Senate can receive the
accredited representatives of States. The
oath of Senator on the back of his COM
mission, administered by notary public
or justice of the peace, would give that
Senator so clear right to his seat that
the Senate would never think of turning
him away to wait until Wittom his Uote it
could choose q presiding officer and q
possible President. Does anybody be-
lieve that if the Democratic caucus should
unexpectedly take different view David
Davis, of Illinois, would sustain them?
1t is because of these questions that we
have ventured the opinion that there may
be conferences, not partisan. i0f fepha!!f.
make up, to determine, ngee,d seryi, IN their
mental in th station Of - questions funda-
them n gucn6lr character, and having in
Tor tahirelements which may at some day,
far in the future to be sure, bear upon the
peace and integrity of the Nation.
1t is entirely possible that upon the
mere question of the admission of new
members there may be full understand
ing before the Senate meets, and an
angry, disturbing, and Improbable con-
troversy be thereby avoided. 1t is also
possible that party lines may be ignored
in the one matter of q presiding officer,
and that the senior Senator may be
unanimously chosen upon the single
ground of his seniority.
AS to the committees and minoroflicers
of the Senate, the choice may be settled
fayorab ablt, t, fba PanuLlinapc b,y tba con
sent ofthe Independents, fair concessions
being made to the opposition, or the two
parties may feel impelled to settle the
whole business in advance of the session
by the same desire to contine party action
within patriotic limits which led to the
formation of the Electoral Commission
by mutual consent. The officers (other
than the President pro tem.) and the
committees are of much less consequence
to either party than that ii should not be
responsible for another long and angry
wrangle and deadlock, obstructing all
other business. These are not times for
the protection of individual interest. No
party will be sustained in any conten-
ton which can affect the large interests
in which the whole people are alike in
terested. We hope and expect to see
Republican organization of the Senate.
If that is not possible, we hope to see
speedy organization.
These are our own views, and whether
or not they are entertained by any who
will have to deal with the question we
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