Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-04-28
The Democratic Position.
THIRTEEN SUFFICIENT REASONS F)R THEIR
STAND IN THE SENATE.

THIRTEEN SUFFICIENT REASONS FoR THEIR
STAND IN THE SENATE.
The New York Herald, of a recent
date, contained an interview with n
very prominent Democrat, who has
given close attention to the dead lock
in the United States Senate. This
gentleman lays down the following
thirteen propositions as, in his judg-
ment, governing the case. He studied
the grounds Of the dispute carefully
and intelIigently, and the thirteen
points which he presents deserve at
tention, not only for the strength with
which they are presented, but also be-
cause they represent, in a forcible
way, the grounds upon which the
Democratic Senators justify their
course. The following are the thirteen
propositions
to have majority in a legislative body
when it is unable to take a single step
or adopt single motion unless some
one Of the alleged minority will aid It
by voting and thus making the desired
and necessary quorum.
SCcouI-The Republicans in the Sen.
ate, without Malone added, have iust
one half the Senate. Unless some mem.
Der OF the Democratic half lends his
aid the Republican Senators, plus Ma.
hone, cannot command a quorum. and
can do no business OF any name or IA.
ture except adjourn.
Thrd-Ghe vote OF the Vice Prcsi.
dent cannot be made available until the
Democrats shall be obligins enough to
create the tie, which he will then be
able to unloose. OF original power the
Vice President has not one particle,
and the Republicans are euraged be-
cause the Democrats will not so vote AS
to give the Vice President the opportu.
nifty 10 turn out Democratic Office hold.
ers who are faithfully dischargng their
duty.
F6irh-The Vice President has never
in the history OF the Government, save
in a siggle instance, voted in the e,ec
ton OF Senate officers, aud that was in
q case where vacancy was to be filed.
II vacancy were To be filed TO-DAY
every Democratic Senator would be
perfectly willing 10 have the Vice Pres.
idcnt vote If tie should occur, but the
Democrats affirm and will to~the end
maintain that the Vice Presidents vote
shall not be used to create a vacancy
whore no accusation is made ogainst the
incumbent and where the change Is TO
be made for political purpose only.
FUh-The "rule Of the majority"
about which the Republican Senators
talk so loudly, is the rule which they
will inforce II one or more Democratic
Senators will help them TO do it.
S.rih-The Republicans are irritated
because the Democrats will not lend
their aid to the contamination Of the
Malone bargain by the election Of
Gorham and Riddleberger.
Scrcnh-At the opening Of this ses
sion and for seventeen days after, the
Democrats had a clear aud absolute ms.
iority in the Senate. but the Republi
cans interposod dilatory motions every
time the appointment Of committees
was proposed, and they held the Senate
in totally unorganized II not disorga.
nized condition until the vacant seats
were filed and the trade with Malone
completed.
Eghh--Wbcn the Republicans got
ready to appoint committees the Demo
cratic Senators interposcd no objections.
because committees were essential to a
proper organization OF the body, and
they submitted quietly to having all the
chairmanships taken from them and
transferred to the Republicans, although
they never ought to have done this, and
they set an evil precedent in allowing
il. which must be corrected at the very
first opportunity.
NinM-But when il is proposed TO
take another and needless aggressive
step, one entirely needless, except 10
give Malone his pay and turn out two
excellent and acceptable officers simply
because they are Democrats. the Demo.
cratic Senators say mo you shall not
do il, and We will stop you by precisely
the same means which you employed
for seventeen days to stop Us from organ
izing the committees"
Tsnh-Wheneve the Republican,
shall have a majority. even OF one, il
the Senate, no Democrat will interpos'
n single djlatory motion against th'
election of new officers but 40 long a
tho Republican Senators united will
Malone have only ono-half the Senat'