National Republican., 1881-08-24
Organization of the Senate.

oN7NlVlli NhtAllNl AN-'AANA ~ 'NNNltNt hiiA
itself without either President, a Presi-
dent pro he,a., or q Secretary to call it to
order. The situation would not, how
ever be one requiring any innovation
upon the usagcs so cherished by the body.
OF course, were there no precedent for
such a case, some Senator would request
the Senate to come to order, would enter
tain motion for a temporary presiding
officer, and would put the same to vote.
But there are preccdcnts covering the
case. Never has il occurred that the
Senate had not a presiding officer or
Secretary in existence; but it has hap
pened that both have been absent. In
such cases the Chief Clerk lan officer
himselfappointed by the senate, although
u subordinate in the Office ofsthe Sccre-
tary) has called the Senate to order and
has acted as the temporary presiding
officer until President pro tenn. was
chosen. At any time, therefore, that the
Senate should meet under the circum-
stances named as would be the case in
the event of the Presidents death, Chief
Clerk Shoher would, under the uslCes,
call the body to order, and would tenn
porarily entertain such motions and per-
form such duties as pertain to u presiding
officer. As the question Of the right of a
Senator to scat is one of the highest
privilege, the presentation of crcdcn-
tials would be in order ut any stage of
the proceedings. The credentials of
AIcssrs. laphnm and Miller, Senator'S
elect from the Stale of New York.
would of course he presented and
read. The oath of Office would then be
administered to the Senators, unless him
dercd by q motion that the credentials lie
on the table until Committee on Priyi-
lcgcs and Elections should be appointed,
and that they be then referred to such
committee. Already Democratic Senators
and newspapers have been heard from in
opposition to any delay in the admission
Of the New York Senators to their seats.
1t is morally certain, therefore, that there
would be no obstruction at this point
Should it be decided, however, in a caucus
Of Democratic Senators to attempt the
exclusion of the two Senators until u
standing committee could pass upon their
right to seats, the opinions Of the
two Independent Senators, Mcssrs.
Davis, of Illinois, and Malone, of
Virginia, would become important. The
Republicans, without Lapham and Miller,
would have thirty-iiye votes. The Demo-
Gratis, without Davis or Malone, would
have thirty.scvcn votes. The two Indc-
pcndents could defeat the Democratic
motion for reference, because by voting
with the Republicans they could make
tie, which is negative. In that event
the Senators would then be sworn in,
unless other dilntory motions should be
intcrposed. 1t is not likely that any dead
lock would occur on the mere question
of admitting the New York Senators. If
the Democrats could not command q ma
iority to table their credentials for sub
scquent reference the Senators would
doubtless be sworn in.
If Senator Davis, of Illinois, should
side with the Democrats against the i'm
mediate admission of Lapham and Miller,
which we do not admit to be Il supposa-
bic case, then would follow one of those
interminable debates for which the SEN
ate is ever ready. There would probably
| be, in that case, on one side of the cham
Der thirty-eight votes and on the other
| thirty-siX. The Republicans would then
| have to determine whether the organiza-
ton of the Senate should proceed before
they had exhausted all proper efforts for
the admission of the representatives
from New York. In the case we have
supposed the President pro TEN. to be
chosen would be the acting Nice-Presi-
dent. Uponh him would devolvc the duties
of the President, in the event of death or
other constitutional vacancy in the latter
Office. The five millions of people of the
great Empire State would not look on
with complacency while their State was
disfranchised in the choice of Il possible
President AS before remarked, how
ever, it is not ut all probable that the
! Democratic Senators will raise any ques-
ton upon the admission of Messrs. lap
ham and Miller.
Assuming, then, that scvcnty-sx SEN
ators will be in their seats within u half
an hour from the meeting Of the Senate,
how will they be divided on tire question
of President pro tenn. and Secretary
the two offices which are vacant and
must be filed? The situation under con.
sidcration is the one which would exist
in the event of the Presidents death and
the absence of the casting vote of the
| Nice-President. If Judge Davis should
vote with the Republicans or refrain from
voting, they would prevail. III he voted
with the Democrats there would be q
deadlock. We mention him thus be-
cause he is in an entirely independent
position, and he may be expected
to do whatever his sense of duty
impels him to do. So with Gen.
eral Malone. lie, too, is an Independ,
ent. If he should vote with the Demo
Gratis or refrain from voting, they would
prevail. He voted with the Republicans
last spring, and Judge Davis voted gem
orally, though not always, with the Dem
orrats. If occasion shall arise-would that
it were less probable than it is-for the
Senate to choose Nice-President of the
United States, so wise man as Judge
Davis may decide that there are strong
reasons why the President and Nice-Presi
dent should both be of the same political
party. If he so believes, he is not q man
to shrink from acting accordingly.
|
WHEREVER there are no schools an over
whelming majority for the Bourbons car
alwavs be found. Establish free school!