The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-10-11

ply with both the letter ana the spirit Of
the law, and would allow the States OF New
York and Rhode Island 10 have voice IN
ten.
in moving bis amendment that the oath
be ut once administered 10 the new sem
ators, Mr.. Edmunds aaid no reason had
been given for this attempt to exclude two
States from any voice In the organization
oil the Senate; so he would take the liberty
to state the reason himself. The Senate
had met under extraordinary circum-
stances, occasioned by events the com
sequence OF which might have put
1t within the legal, technical power
OF bare majority OF the States
eonditlonally TO provide for a presi-
dental succession, and to provide for
1t when II their sister States were consult
cd different provision might I've made.
To provide for Il now was TO exclude the
chosen representatives Of two States who
stood here ready TO do their duty. lie be-
lieved II there was not some question ulte-
ri0r to this mere one OF electing pre-
siding officer. there was not a single sem
ator who would vote "No" upon his
proposition.
Mr.. Garland declined to make reply to
the intimation that the Democratic senators
had some Interior object In view. They
believed that they were acting lawfully, and
had no apologies 10 make to the Senator
from Vermont, or any other person or body
OF persons. II they made mistake, IL was
mistake which they would regret. The
only object OF calling the Senate together,
so far as the country knew, was TO place
some one between this Government and
possible anarchy in case Of the death or
taking away by any means OF the present
President OF the United States. Hence,
it was q high duty and great
duty, which preceded all others in
Importance, to elect ut once Pre-
sident pro ten. II ranked the ques-
ton Of swearing in q senator and all
other questions. The Democratic side pro-
posed to proceed dccently and in order,
and according to law, to fill possible gap
at the earliest possible moment. OF course
he did not deny that by unanimous consent
! the law Of 1889, to which the Senator from
Vermont had referred, could lie set aside,
but he asserted that the Democratic side
preferred TO stand upon the statute in per-
forming their important duties.
After some further debate Mr.. Edmunds's
amendment was lost-ycaS, SO; nays, 81.
/ Mr.. Edmunds then moved an amendment
that Mr.. Bayard be elected President pro
tenn. for this day only.
Mr.. Beck confessed his inability 20 I'M
derstand why President pro ten. should
be elected for this day and another election
held tomorrow. IL the recent Vice
/ President had followed preccdents and
allowed the President pro ten. to he elect
cd 1T the last session OF the Senate there
would have been no necessity For converting
this special session. The Democratic side
=. was now tainted with seeking to do an
indecent thing because it did not give
unanimous consent TO propositions made IN
contraVentiOn Of the law Of the land.
Mr.. Edmunds said the fruit which the
Democratic party might gain by their pres
ent course would turn 10 ashes OF the bit
terest description. But that was for the
future. For the present it was his
mission TO appeal 10 the Democrats by
precedents OF their party, by the spirit and
letter OF the Constitution, to give New
York and Rhode Island the right to raise
their voices with their sister States in the
choice OF a presiding officer. There used
TO be a saying, sob, shame, where Il thy
blushf" but he believed that modern
shame had lost her blush, and that it had
come to be the fixed purpose OF any tempo
rary or accidental power in this BODY TO
exclude their fellows and their equals when
they could grasp something which II thcr
equals were admitted they could not grasp.
Mr.. Morgan congratulated the Senate
upon the fact that the Senator from YER
mont, after having by his vote frequently
participated in excluding sovereign States
from voice in the Senate, had at last come
TO the conclusion that senators must De ad-
mitted whenever their credentials were
read without an opportunity being gwen
for Investigation or inquiry. lie argued in
fnyor of the right Of the Democrats to
elect presiding officer, and said that 1t
seemed to him an intrusion on the freedom
OF will for senators on the other side 10 de-
mand that the Democrats should yield the
power which had been placed III thclr
hands. Besides. constitutional questions
had been urged in regard to the laWlul
election OF senators-elect to this BODY.
Were Democrats TO be blamed il they lent
a err to complaints OF the Republican party
AGAINST The Legislature OF New York;
Mr.. Becl, denied that the majority which
fhe Democrats had to-day was accidental.
II had been brought about by the wrongful
conduct OF the Vice-Prcsidcnt and the fool
York i'm throwing up their credentials.
daughter and applause in the galleries,
which was promptly checked by the pre-
siding officer.
Mr.. Morgan continued: The credentials
OF the three senatorS-elect llad ohly Deen
road thi, morning. II had been intimated
that fraud prevailed IN The Legislature o.
New York, and il had also been urged that
- Ia, hu1
under the Constitution 20 elect senator's al
the timo they were elected.
Mr.. Vest criticised the language used by
/, Mr.. Edmunds in minimizing that the Demo
Graf. were attempting TO grasp the prize
made possible to them by IN assassination
The foul liDs OF the assassin who had
struck down the President had had upon
them no invocation for Democratic success
Int invocation he'd been for faction OF
the Rep,lblican party. II there was re-
snonsiility for the crime directly or indi'
. rectly. il rested upon his political opponents
, and not with the Democratic party. HC
. charged none; but the insinuations that
, the democracy OF the country had any
. thing lut tears for the dead President,
sorrow for his family, and cXecrations fol
, the miserable assassin, he said, were abso-
/ lutely false. lie contcnded, in the course
OF further remarks, that it was the duly OF
. Democratic senators TO elect 4 President
bro tenn, and recalled the phrase quoted at
The last session OF the Senate that "th(
voice OF constitutional majority Is Tho
, voice OF God" The constitutional ma
! iority to-day happened to be on the Demo
cratic side. and OF course, m the opinion OF
: his Republican friends, its voice wa
/ scarcely divine ulterance.
: Mr.. Edmunds's amendment was then re-
, jectcd-yeaS, SO; nays, 81.
Mr.. Edmunds then moved TO strike on
. L. 1870 ~ Thonlns L RnXnrl and lnseT1