The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-03-25
CONGRESSIONAL.
Senate.


TO March 4, 1881.
Mr.. Dawes called up the resolution for the
election of officers of the senate.
MIR. Davis, of Illinois, said; On recent
occasion ! stated the reasons that deter
mined my vote on the organization oil inc
senate, not expecting to satisfy class oil
politicians accustomed to party di'cipi'he
and unable to appreciate free thought ana
independent action. Fair criticism is always
entitled to respect, and public man who
shripks from it even when harsh does not de-
serve forhearance. An attempt has been
made to have it appear that the legislature
which elected me to the senate contained
republican majority, and that tho stale OF
Illinois, on popular vote, was largely re-
publican. Both these assumptions are uh'
founded. The legislature at that time stood
as follows, according to tho compilation OF
the secretary of state; Kepuo'
licans, senate-2l; house-79; dem'
ocrats, senste-26; house--OH
independents, senste-5; house--6. 1t Is
thus seen that the republicans and democrats
were almost equally divided, and that lew
independents turned the scale. For presi-
dent, Hay es received 278, 292; Tilden 25S, 6Ol;
Cooper 1928 votes. MIR. Hayes clear
msiolity was 1888 in a poll OF over half a
million. These figures prove how closely
balanced the two parties were in 1876 and
1877. More than 90 per cent. Of the votes
voluntarily cast for mo AS senator
were from democrats, without pledges,
conditions or correspondence of
any kind. They knew my political ante
csdents, and they also knew that neither
honor, which was freely conferred on me, nor
any other distinction that could be offered,
would alter any conviction had formed, or
defect me from the course Of duty MS it ap-
peared to my best judgment. Having &C.
cepted 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 of committees and of officers. |
have voted soldly against change, and
shall continue in that course. The question
shall not DO delayed nor obstructed by any
vote of mine, aud IL cannot be reached too
soon for public interest. | do not regret at
all that the new administration which has to
confront the country with its policy should
have control of both branches of congress.
The responsibility for the measures 10 be
proposed cannot DO avoided. With power to
incie i'll legislation, the majority ia not large
enough TO indulge in rash experiments, and
the minority ia sufficiently strong to check
any tendency to excess either way until the
end is reached, being answerable only to my
conscience and my constituents for this act
What nv friends and tho distinguished sena
tor from New York calls constitutional
majority WAS disclosed when the yice'presi-
dent was not member of this body, and
gave the casting vote tor the committees
However fleeing or fractional that majority
may be- we are commanded to accept 1t and
to obey the majority that chose the COM
mittees, and are fairly entitled TO the choice Of
the officers of the senate. One naturally goes
with the other. In order to perfect the
organization, this conclusion will lot be
between these two elements. The great voice
of independent opinion can always be heard
with effect, and the country has every pros
poet of peace and prosperity"
Mr.. Davis having refused to let HE reso-
luton 60 over for the present. though re-
ouested to do so by Mr.. Pendeton, the denl-
ocrats proceeded to offer dilstory motions,
and called for the yeas and nays thereon,
new and then taking occasion to twit the
republicans upon taking into the party fold
democratic confederate brigadier
During the discussion Mr.. Brown, Of
of Georgia, argued that the two parties in the
country were so evenly divided that some of
the offices of the government should be filed
by democrats, and referred to
the fact that the democratic
senate for ten years had retained one-half OF
the officers then 10 Office
He was then interrupted by Mr.. Logan
with the question as to what his aspiration
had been on civil service reform, when he
had been the republican governor OF
Georgia.
Mr. Brown replied that he hsd never bceu
tho republican governor, though admitting
that no had once been republican, and
retorted by question as to why Mr. Logan
since he had once been n democrat, did no,
come back and act with the democratic
party.
Several amusing passages occurred
between the two senators rs to their previous
positions, after which Mr. Brown continued
with his speech. Referring to the action o;
Malone in voting with the republican party
he said that every body knew that the air wa.
fall of ramors of bargains and contracts and
all that. He did not know whether the,
were true or not but the very fact that the 70.
publicans were so impatient TO put in their
officers and other facts taken together in
connection with the senator who
now controlled the senate, should cause the
gentleman to pause. Tho country would
ask why this haste WAS made. A great many
people thought that there wal
an understanding between the republican.
and the senator from Virginia, By which he
WAS to have the patronage Of Virginia. II,
did not know anything sbou. that. IL woult
appear better under these circumstances tina
The matter be postponed for the present
Continuing he said that th,
recent actions of tho republican
party, and tho senator from Virginia hac
ahown that the period had beer
reached when no more would b,
said of confederate brigadiers. Tha
period had been reached. That wa
spoken of by very i book, whea il sale
the "wolf shall also .. II with tho lamb apc
the leopard shall H. IN with the kid snt
the young los est he failing toge,he
and little child lead them" Tha
period has been r,~ | when tho lion o
debt.paying republ IN and the lamb o
readjussncnt a. partial repudis