Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-10-11

th;s snecial session. The democratic side Is
TAINTED With seeking to do indecent things
because it did not give unanimous consent to
the propositions made in the contravesition
of the law of the land.
MIR. Edmunds desired to- know on what
arouni s three Senators elect. whose creden-
tials were unassailed, should not be sworn in.
He merely wished that the law aud proceed
ent be followed, the fruit of which. the dem
ocratic party might gain by their present
course, would turn to ashes by the bitterest
description. But that was for the future,
not for the present. 1t was his mission to
appeal to the democrats by the 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
sister States in the choice of the presiding
officer. There used to be a saying, '.Oh
shame, where is thy blush,'' but he believed
that modern shame had lost its
blush, and that it had come to be fixed
purpose of any temporary or accidental
power in this body to exclude their equals
until they could grasp something, which, if
their equals were admitted, they could not
grasp.
Mr.. Morgan congratulated the Senate upon
this exhibition this morning. The fact that
the Senator from Vermont, after having by
us WIZ Aie4uChtiy
score of States from voice in the Senate.
had at last came to the conclusion that Sena-
tors be admitted whenever their credentials
were read. without an opportunity being
given for investigation or enquiry. He
argued in favor of the right of the democrats
to elect the presiding officer, and said that it
seemed to him an intrusion on freedom for
the senators on the other side to demand that
the democrats should yield from what had
been placed in their hands. Besides the
constitutional questions here urged in regard
to the lawful election of Senators-elect to
this body, were the democrats to be blamed
if they lent an ear to the complaints of the
republican party in New York?
Mr.. Beck referred to the fact that on the
9th of July, 1850, President TAYLOR died, and
Fillmore succeeded to his Office. and that on
the 18th of July, VIM. r. King had been
elected President pro tenn by the democratic
senators.
Mr. Edmunds inquired whether the party
which happened to have a technical majority
had excluded tire senators in order to elect
King.
Mr.. Beck denied that the majority which
the democrats had today was by accident 1t
had been brought about by the wrongful con-
duct of the Vice President and the foolish
conduct of the two senators from the
State of NY. in throwing up their credentials.
laughter and applause in the galleries
which was promptly checked by the presiding
officer.
Edmunds expressed himself as not sur
prised at the manifestations in the galleries.
1t was in graceful keeping with the drama
going on. 1t was contrary to the rules of the
Senate, but if, the senator said, two states of
the Union were now to be excluded from rep
ba Via Drncil,,nf n
the opinion of the senotor, had failed to do
something he should have done, or because
some former senator from New York had re-
signed when they ought not, in the senator's
opinion, to have resigned it was not strange
to him that the populace should add their
constitutional views to such argument.
Morgan then continued his argument in
favor of the right and duty of the democratic
side to elect president pro tenn before ad-
hitting the senators-elect Vest criticised
language used by Edmunds intimating that
the democrats were attempting to grasp the
prize made possible to them by assassination.
He charges no one but insinuates that the
democrats of the country had anything but a
tear for the dead President, sorrow for his
family and execration for the miserable
assassin, he declared to be absolutely
false. lie continued in the course of further
remarks: 1t was dirty of the democratic
Senators TO elect president pro TEN, and
recalled the phrase so often quoted at the las t
session of the Senate, "That the voice of the
constitutional majority is the voice of God, ="
The constitutional majority today, happened
to be on the democratic side, and of course,
in the opinion of our republican friends, its
voice was scarcely divine utterance.
Edmunds then said: fear that these two
states shall go unrepresented this morning,
and that the Senate, by its present majority,
will proceed to elect a President pro TEN. !
now offer another amendment. to substitute
the name of Anthony for that of Bayard
as President pro TEN.
The amendment was defeated, yeas 81
nays 81. Malone voted with the republicans,
and Davis did not vote.
The original resolution introduced by Pen
deton then adopted, 81 to 32. Davis of
Illinois, did not vote, and Malone voted with
the republicans.
The Chair appointed Anthony and Pendle-
ton to escort President pro ten Bavard to
the chair
On taking the chair Bayard said Senators.
fully appreciate the honors put upon me
by this expression of your confidence and in
assuming the duties of President pro TEN of
the Senate, III obedience to law and in accor-
dance with the rules of this body and of the
vote of the majority,I should have greater mis-
givings to fulfil acceptably the requirements
of the post, were it not tor the assurance that
so long as shall continue to exercise its
duties, | shall have your cooperation and
friendly aid, which I now earnestly and con-
hdently invoke at your hands.
At the conclusion of Bayards speech
Edmunds moved to admit the Senator-elect
from Rhode Island, Aldrich; and Pendleton
moved to adjourn. The motion prevailed,
and the Senate adjourned until II tnmnrrnw