Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-04-07
THE OLD, OLD STORY.
DAY DEVOTED TO HARM
LESS 0RAT0RY,
Senator Bayard Discourses at Length on
Various Points-Sherman and DAVIS
Tyto Settle Upon West Vir-
ginia's 0ebt-Mahone
Receives Due At
tenton.
ANOTHER UNsXClTING DAY PASSED.
SENATE.
The Day Was Devoted Exclusively 70
Speeches.


President laid before the Senate the un'
finished business, which was the reso'
luton for the election OF Senate officers.
Mr.. Mcpherson inquired why the
Vice President had not, in compliance
with the rules, called for the presentation
OF petitions and memorials.
The Vice President replied that this
being an executive session OF the Sem
ate, there was no morning hour.
Mr.. Ferry sustained the position OF
the chair, declaring that the rule to
which the Senator referred was applica-
bic only to the legislative session OF the
Senate.
Mr.. Mcpherson then offered, as his
right under the rules, petition from
certain citizens OF the State OF New Jer-
sew, respecting the case OF one NJ. Boyn-
ton, alleged to be confined in an English
dungeon arbitrarily and unjustly, and
asked that it be referred to the Commit
tee on Foreign Relations.
There being no objection, the petition
was received, read and referred as indi-
Gated.
A motion by Mr.. Pendleton to go into
executive session; rejected, yeas ~,
nays 81.
Mr. Baysrd took the floor. He be-
lieved, he said. there was justification
for the thirty-eight Democrats in main
tanning the attitude before the country
which they had maintained for the past
ten days. He wished to try the justice
of their position by the light OF law and
reason, 80 that when they were called
in that court OF last appeal, the bar OF
public opinion, they should be willing
TO submit to it the case which they were
making now.
He dwelt at some length on the rights
conferred on minorities by the Constltu-
ton and the laws made in accordance
with il Instances had occurred when
he felt it his duty, when he thought the
question was fatal to the welfare OF the
country, TO interpose everything ne was
allowed to interpose in order that the
question might stand over for the sober
second thought and action OF the people.
There was no precedent for the pres
ent election OF Senate officers. The ac-
ton OF the Democrats two years ago in
no respect presented a parallel case.
The
Chinese Treaty was Before the Senate,
and it ought to be considered, but what
were the million people that lined the
Pacific coast compared with the matter
of whether the present secretary OF the
Senate should give place Instantly TO
another man. That was but one feature.
The United States Supreme Court stood
to-day enfeebled in numbers until the
Senate should displace four officials and
put four others in their places. The
United States Circuit and District Courts
were waiting, unable to proceed with
the public business till the Senate should
displace four officials. Postmasters
by the score were waiting conhrma.
ton. Collectors OF Customs, AMI
especially Collector for the port OF New
York, a position second only in intlu-
ence and Importance to the Secretary
ship of the Treasury, were awaiting ac-
ton on their nominations. Now, as TO
the nominations for officers, as he had
stated before, there were
Thirty mine Senators who had Voted for
Hancock.
One of them had in this chamber vo.
ted with the Republicans. Then had
come the list OF committees, and
then the Senator from Virginia MA
hone) had figured as chairman OF and
member OF three other committees,
while four Republican Senators
were lett without chairman
ships. Then had come the list
of appointments, and Ri1dlebsrger had
been brought forward as a candida'e for
the office OF Sergeant-at-A Arms at the in
stance Of the Senator from Virginia.
Those were the facts OF the case, and
from these facts an ordinary deduction
of mankind must be formed, and would
be formed. He Bayardl now put into
the scale Of the balance which induced
him TO vote for the transaction OF busi-
ness, the addition that, in view OF such
facts as those, his views and education
of political morality and duty made him
lend his opposition to the consumnla-
ton OF the
Reward to Riddleberger
or to the Senator who had nomina' ed
him. The Senator from Pennsylvania
rCameronl had stated that this question
had in view the coming fall elec.
ton in Virginia. That he Bayard
asserted TO be a dangerous step in cen.
tralization. 1t would be an attempt on
the part of the Senate, sitting as part OF
the executive branch Of the government,
to interfere with and control the election
in Virginia. 1t was usurpation; 1t was
invasion; il was in the strongest sense
of the word a revolutionary attempt, by
unlawful and Legitimate methods, to
control the free election OF the State In
regard to matters solely submitted to its
own cognizance; and how controlled
Indirectly and without law. To usurpa'
nation was added the terrible
danger Of corruption, because il
This man Riddleberger was TO
be chosen an officer of the Senate in or.
der 10 influence the election in Virginia.
How could he do il in the line OF his
public dutyI Put that also in the scale.
There WAS another feature 10 this trans
action. What was the contest in Nlr.
GINA which the Republicans expected TO
decide by appointing Riddleberger?
The Issue was Reputation"
and il was on the repudlating side that
the Republican party in the Senate pro-
posed identifying itself, by choosing
Riddleberger as one OF its officers. 1t
was TO him and to his doctrines that the
Republicans stood committed. 1t
seemed to him Bayardl that if the Re
publican party assisted in sowing the
seeds Of the reputation OF admitted
and honorable obligations, 1t
was sowing a crop worse
than that OF Csdmus, and one which
would bear dangerous fruit to posterity.
What was credit? 1t was the honest
poor mans capital. 1t was because he
was trusted that the poor man could
outlive his period OF poverty and dis-
tress, and await the time OF the fruition
of his labors. Virginia was poor and
she needed credit today more than IN
her time OF opulence and plenty. Leave
TO her people the right ts be believed
and trusted; leave them the senseot