The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-05-03

~ ~, IN y In VN,
OF OHIO,
In THE UNITED STATES SENATE,
APRIL 13, 1881.
Il is for the acquisition of political power
by the Republican party in the State Of Vir.
ginia at the next State election; and the in
strumentalities to be- used are the offices and
salaries and patronage of the Senate.
The Senate having under cousidera-
ton the resolution submitted by Mr..
Dawes in relation to the election of Off.
icers OF the Senate sF
Mr.. PENDLEroN said:
Mr.. President: Ny acknowledge
ments are fret due this morning to the
1.-TWO Senators from Massachusetts first
and largely to the junior Senator Mr.
Hoarl whose polite impatience to hear
me yesterday suggested that l should
make last evening the few remarks that
/ intend to submit to the Senate; and
and more largely to the senior Senator
from Massachusetts Mr.. Dawes who
curbed his impatience and moved that
the Senate adjourn. I shall take care
while in the Senate to repay such obliga-
tions In kind and with full measure.
They add to the pleasure OF our inter-
course upon the door. Z 4 sise 7eg
This extraordinary course Of insisting
upon change Of the officers Of the Sem
ate at an executive session; this course
which is without single precedent in
all our history OF insisting that the bnsi-
ness Of the Senate and helbusiness OF
the country and the business Of the Pres
ident, which so considerably andepa-
tientlys in obedience to the provisions Of
the Constitution he submits to US from
day to day, shall be delayed and post
poned until the Senate shall be disor-
gauized in order that it may be organ
ICED again, has been defended upon vsri-
ous grounds by its various apologists
upon the floor. go aa8 ass
| In the very outset of the discussion
the Senator from Pennsylvania Mr.,
Cameron told US that the incumbents Of
these offices are worthy and excellent
men; that they are faithful Industrious,
intelligent, obliging public officers; that
the service of the Senate cannot be found
fault with and yet he said sour repub-
lican candidates for these same Offices
are worthy men also, and inasmuch as
we have the power we intend to elect
them. The Senator from Massachusetts
told.us that the possession OF the offices
of the Senate naturally follows upon the
possession of the committees of the Sem
ate, and that inasmuch rs we had SUBJ
mitted to have the committees appointed
by the vote ofthe Vice Presidents pro-
ceeding which We found to be necessary
to enable the Senate fairly to discharge
the duties for which it was convened, we
ought With equal alacrity submit that
the officers OF the Senate should be
changed by the same vote, proceeding
which We humblv conceive will retard
rather than expedite the fair and proper
discharge of our duties.
The Senator from Illinois, Mr.. Lo-
gan, I think, stated that the full power
Of the Senate in the Organization of Its
committees and the appointment of its o :
ficers belongs to the shifting political ma
jority which happens to be found here,
and that We ought meekly and kindly
Ito use the words OF one Senator If not
the Senator from Illinois) TO submit to
the inevitable. Many Senators have told
us, notably my colleague. Mr., Sher;
man, that the rule of majority1is the
law Of legislative bodies, and resistance
to that rule beyond the point to which
the conscience Of the majority can jus
tify is irregular, improper aud even rev.
olntionary. / think we were told by a
Senator. from Massachusetts that it con,
tanned IN itself the very essence OF trea-
son. LIDO not care to quote that remark
upon the Senator from Massac chusetts,
because when he was pressed by the ar
gument OF the Senator from Georgis,
FMr. Brown with agood deal Of un.
Willingness, and | cannot say with entire
grace, he backed out OF D position into
which he had rather ostentatioualY en-
tered. ,s4sss ss.s ,saa5 5,5ls .t.o ssll
Mr.. HoAR--Will the Senator allowime
to say q word to him3 9@ Efam
Mr.. PENDLEroN-Certainly.
Mr.. .HoAR-The Senator will fiud on
hooking 81 the Record that the qualif.
cation Of the remark which ! made, tina,
he now speaks OF as backing out,accorl'
panied the original remark; and thai
when the honorable Senator from Geor,
gia aaverted to 1t, before be had entered
upon his argument, called bis tentior
to the fact that / accompanied the re-
mark which / had made with distinc
statemen. that only referred to the con
sequence Of his doctrine, and that dit
not impute to him or to his assoriate
q determination to carry out that doc
trine to that consequence. 1t was al
original qualification However, If th
Senator will permit me, l wish TO sa
J the statements which have been mad
upon. this floor and the condact.of th
gentlemen on that side warrant me no,
in imputing what / then declined to i'm
pute, aud l do now 50 impute it. I pre-
pose to take coming time to state. .th
reason. OF that imputation,, mw
Mr.. PENDLEroN-l am sorry to se
that the Senator from Massachusetts
having, as think, made the statemer
from which he was compelled to reced'
though he ssys, and accept the fac
that he made it with qualification, moi
comes up to the position which l sal
: he occupied and makes it without an
qualification whatever. After we sha
have heard his reasons shall ask N
honorable friend from Georgia | NJ
Browp] to repeat with emphasis the al
gument that he made upon that poin
and feel very certain that the Senate
from Massachusetts will retreat again.
Mr.. President, 1t would be very eas
to chow that all these various statement
made by Senators on the othor side (
the Chamber so far as they are true al
utterly inspplicable to thelpresent cor
EDITION of this discussion, as 30 far as the
, are applicable to the condition Of affair
! before the Senate they lose all the
jtruthfuIness and pertinency.
i Ny honorable colleague in speec
! (which be made the latter part OF 1a
] week and of which can say in his al