The Portland daily press., 1881-04-06


tor whether we have not a recording officer.
Is there any lack of officers in the Senate?
Hoar-I think that is thing to be de-
termined by the Senate. The senator thinks
that the thing is to be determined in violation
of the constitution of the United States, by a
minority of the Senate.
McPherson-I do not believe it is done in
violation of the constitution. submit petit
ton calling attention to the fact that citizen
of the United States is held in prison contrary
to law an practice The senator refuses to
have the petition considered and referred.
The Vice President ruled that there having
been objection, tie petition could not be re-
ceived.
Mr.. Mcpherson gave notice that to morrow
morning he would call up this petition that
the senator from Massachusetts might be able
to state to the country the reason which &C
tuated him in preventing Justice being done
to an Irish-American citizen in an English
prison.
Mr.. Hoar suggested that the petition need
not go over even until tomorrow, if the DEM
ocrats would vote upon the pending resolution.
This pretence that the delay was attributable
to the Republican side was the merest and
sheerest piece of humbug and demagoguery.
Mr.. Salisbury declared that no vote should
be taken on the resolution to-day.
Mr.. Mcpherson retorted upon Mr.. Hoar
that his claim that the petition could not be
received because there was no recording officer
Several dlatory motions having been voted
down, Mr.. Morgan took the floor.
Mr.. Morgan said the Democrats of this
chamber had had the stigma of treason put
upon them because they had not seen proper to
become assisting parties to what they conceiv.
ed to be an unmanly fraud. This morning the
right of petition had been denied to an Ameri.
can citizen. If that were Stalwartism or Re.
publicanism, it was not the sort found in the
constitution. Before the right of petition
guaranteed under the constitution, could be
exercised in favor of citizens, it was necessary
to elect George Gorham secretary and Mr.
Riddleberger door-keeper. The heart that
burned for the love of the negro, who it was
claimed was cheated of his ballot, failed tc
throb with one impulse in favor of an Ameri
Can citizen incarcerated in foreign prison
Nothing could be done until the party organiz
alton had been completed, to say nothing o.
party contracts. He would not characterize
such action. Let the country characterize it.
and let posterity spurn it and spit it out as il
would. This denial of the right of petition
was fragrant crime against the constitution
a crime which consisted in absolutely tramp
ling under foot the positive and plain guaran
tees of the constitution.
He proceeded to argue against the constitu-
tional right of the Vice President to vote upon
the question of re-organizng the Senate. In
comprising the majority which the senator
from Massachusetts, Dawes spoke so much
New York was given three senators on the
floor.
Dawes-If the minority is on this side
why not vote upon the resolution, and reiect
it?
Morgan-You have on that side majority
such as the senator is able to fix up through
his remarkable arts of persuasion and beautiful
tricks of trade. No man exceeds the senator
from Massachusetts in manipulating little
game He is a saint to look at, but whoever
undertakes to bet against him stakes money
against Heather Chinee"
Dawes-It represents Just that sort of a ma
jority that the senator leads
Mr.. Morgan said that sometimes fraud got
the upper hand, but that was not reason
that man should sit down simpering and put
his hands in his mouth. He alluded to the
cheerful countenance which Mr.. Dawes every
day turned to pleased galleries and likened
him to the Lacedemonian youth who had
stolen fox and hidden it beneath his shirt
bearing with smiling face the gnawing of the
beast at his vitals until he had fallen dead. In
conclusion he said that when the Republicans
presented resolution not founded apparent
ly on bargain, the Democrats would vote up
pom it, but he said when you command us te
yield to you when we believe your contract de-
rogatory to the honor of this BODY YOU NAV
cry and demand and charge treason upon vi
until doomsday and still you will find us on the
floor. applause in the galleries)
Several roll calls were then ordered upon
various motions, all of which were voted
down.
Mr.. Burnside said he had not been eager tc
60 into this fight. He did not want the scalps
of the Senate officers, but precedent had
been made two years ago which must be fol.
lowed. He insisted upon the right of the ma
jority to rule. When the committees had
been turned over to the Republicans they had
been turned over by the consent of Democrats
and if there had been any fraud they (the
Democrats) were parties to it. There was nc
getting behind that.
Mr.. Hill of Georgia-The Senator will re-.
member that we submitted to the appointment
of committees because they were indispensa-
BILE to the transaction of business. But the ap
pointment of officers is not necessary, and il
we yield to that appointment we shall become
party to whStever bargain exists
Mr.. Burnside-I would sit here for the re.
mainder of my term before would consent tc
any fraud. | will stay here to the end of my
term before consent >at the majority shall
be governed by the minority.
Mr.. Buck called attention to the fact that
resolution offered in the Pennsylvania legisla.
ture endorsing the action of the Republicans in
this chamber, had been laid upon the table,
Mr.. Cameron (Pa.) Before long it will en-.
dorse every action of the Republicans.
Mr.. Beck-It did not do it to-day.
Mr.. Cameron-It will in the future
Mr.. Beck--After you get there you may
Mr.. Bayard thought it was in his power tt
show to an impartial tribunal that the Demo
Gratis were justified in fevery way in standing
where they had stood. He would not detaf
the senate now. When he did speak he would
not speak to the prejudi e of either side of the
chamber He should try to place this case as
though he were standing where the Republi
cans now stand. He would submit nothing
but reason. He would not seek to raise pas
sion because this was a public business ant
private ambition, personal employment ant
party advantage ought to fade away before the
demands of the American people that theil
representatives should deal with public CUES
lions in spirit worthy of such questions
Mr. Sherman said the American people
would look upon a contest which involved
nothing but few offices with good deal Of
indifference. But back of this was principle
body in the world. That was that the major
ity of any body must decide every question
that came before it. The rights of the minor
ity were defined, but prescribed. Here ma
jority was in favor of change of officers.
was so shown by many votes and it was more
majority of senators without respect
to the vote of the Vice President
Did anybody question the right of the major.
ity to elect officers? The minority said 'No
you shall not do that" Perhaps the minority
was wise and right. That was matter of in
termine the order of business Any majort,
was majority. 1t was because southern Re
publicans had disregarded this law that they
had never been able to establish stable gov
ernments He made strong argument in op
position to the right Of minorities to filibustel
by withholding their votes, and criticised the
a5tion OF his own party associates in having a
various times resorted to that method. He
was glad cooperate with the senator from Vir
GINA (Mahone), and he believed that the
movement originated by that gentleman
would be tile dawning of new day for the
south. The solid south would be broken ant
American politics cease to be sectional and be
come national. He welcomed the senator a.
an dUant courier of the men who would follow
and break down sectionalism and procure
equal rights and privileges to all men.
Bayard was glad that one voice had beer
heard in reprobation of the custom of prevent
ing by silence the decision of measure which
had been proposed and debated, and which
only remained to be acted upon. But it was {
question of sound public discretion whether
the interposition of dilatory motions was OF
was not within the spirit of the law. The sen
ator from Ohio was in error when he STATED
that there was numerical majority in opposi
ton to the transaction of only the business TO
which the Senate had been convened. TIL,
vote of the senator from Illinois Davis hat
been steadily cast in favor of preferriug bust
ness for which the Senate had been called t.
that which had been dictated by the action O
a party caucus. This was an arrangement t.
control the election in VIRGINIA neYt ia II h,