, 1881-07-17
SpEAKE1& SHARPE.

I 1EAi or his SFEEC}t-
ALBANY, n. Y, July l6.-'rhe Joint Con
vention met at noon. The Chair announced
| that the Convention would proceed to VOTE
fur United &tates Senator in place Of RIOS
coe Conkling. resigned.
Speaker Sharpe-Mr. President, there att
| number OF gentlemen here in joint conven
| ton who are aware Of the fact that when my
| name is reached upon the roll call l shall
have something to say in explanation of MY
vote. By courtesy my name is at the foot Ol
the roll, and it has been suggested to me,
both Dy those who approve everything / a,n
to say and by those wil0 do not, thai it would
be luanly TO make Il statement at the be.ill-
ming Ut the roll-call. Ii there be no objection
Oh Tie part OF any member OF the JOins Con-
yenliOn, l will proceed to do SO now. Air.
States Senators was brought before The
legislature Of the State Of New YORK, there
was one cUurse that was pursued TO preserve
the unity ct the party aud 10 preserve har-
mony. and that was thlt
THE CONSULTATION NAMED a CAUCUS
should be called by the persons authorized
to rall that caucus in the regular way. We
which | ain sure all g"6d Republicans must
regret The gentlemen with whom have
acted during seven weeks past could do
nothing more than make the strongest torci-
olt PltltSt d@a1llst t!1t aGt!oA VI q uaJo'tty
for United States Senator WHO
had resigned, against whom tie action ut
the Caucus ComiElltee was said to be par
ticularly directed Mr.. President, that con-
ditlon OF things, for which we were i'll Ito
called 1T the close OF last Week.. That CALI
Gus was called by a majority Of the RepuD-
liraus of this Legislature. l had, and so
had those who We're acting with lslt, tile ap-
ffG1-
one. The terms Of the call We're unobjec-
tiuuabte-
THERE WAS A SINGLE CIRCUMSTANCES
attending it which was objectionable. ! have
always believed III tile right Ut the majority
Ut TIL: body to control its action, AID II q
caucus committee fails to perform its duty
know Ut no other way il4 the world than, fur
4 majority OF that body to call themselves,
and those who cnoos.' to act with them, for
the performance OF that duty. aM obliged,
Mr.. President, and have s'' stated from the
time That me caucus isa' reaellsd hresu't, to
not BE- interrupted III the few words | have
tn say. There is a single objectlon tQ that
caucus; it is one, sir, that do
not consider broad enough 70 effect
the. great question OF tue rght OF Tue
denied by its officers. 1t Is i technical obiec-
ton, and III the condition Of the Republican
party | will not allow it to overtalanc.' other
Considerations. | need scarcely allAde to
them. Mr.. President, there is no feel.nE Of
MY heart that does moi bound with gratltica-
tim at
EVERY FLASH THAT COMES OVER THE WIRES
that tells us uf the improved condition OF the
President, and Wllile he lies there. upnn tile
bed ot suffering. wnich, thank Cod, We have
now reason to uelieve will i'll the emu be con-
5mS Question broad va s' enougii 1A'e 10
it'd u,e. 1 have daily information that
at my hume the cloud falls i1nd rises as dues
the one over the sick chamber at Washing
ton. and, t!lank God, there ;lre ll'lllion SUCH
holes. You may very well say then. sir.
why was this aciion ol mint. not taken last
week, and it is. for that that anl here to ask
to bt excused from voting; When the caucus
MET at the end Of last week, the views that
present now we're well KNOWN 10 my asso-
ciateS.
THE RESULTS OF THE CAUCUS
were, however, the nomination Of two men,
bers Of the present Congress. That pre-
,ented question Which, II seemed TO
nc and to others, was traught
xth s z gEeat II, ;, danEsr: ond haYe s;9nix xo,1v
;ay that, i'll voting for one weil-qllallhed Tor
he position, in all other respects, the one
Question had not come before us. when !
wo were nominated, it was presented To US.
|, therefore, believed it would oe proper 10
leIay action until we had called ne atten-
ion Of tie gentlemen who had put these
nominees in the field. and ask
hem whether they were willing to incur the
isks. 4 strong paper has been presented.
We have asked tor caucus call oy Ille ivy
Committees No result has been obtained:
those who ciaim to be especial friends OF
lle Administration say they are wiling to
AXE the responsibility. It is grave one.
Lr. President, ! warn you
IT IS rEArGIIr WITH GREAT DANGER
10 not think because the Democratic party
u the floor Of this House have p,, by 2I thelr
curse commanded our admiration ana fe,
,,ect, do not fail to remember that they will
T. fertile in expcdients to take advantage ot
his dangerous position. !, with othets. laia
ufore those WHO have right to take tile
esponsibility the reasons for avoiding il,
nd they stand where they did a week @ aso:
lie delay in my action for day or two IS
imply due 10 QUE Of those questions arising
Ut Of the conradesliip Of weeks hsn pt,a %as Me
resident, the question comes down WIN
to whether Sall l,ofv not s%Ppott Jul 1so'a
rnunds. Sir, there are none. IhaVe served
ith them in The ranks Of the party; yal Know