National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-06-16
The New Hampshire Senatorship.
Section IA of the Revised Statutes O


The Legislature of each State which is chosen
next preceding the expiration of the time for
which any Senator was elected TO represent such
State in Congress shall, on the second Tuesday
after the meeting and organization thereof, pro-
ceed TO elect Senator in Congress
The Legislature of New Hampshire now
scribed. Next year, long before "the ex-
piration of the time" for which Senator
Rollins was elected, another Legislature
will be chosen" From the fact that this
last named body does not assemble until
three months after the expiration of
Senator Rollins's term, it is contended by
some that New Hampshire will be de-
prived of her equal representation in the
Senate for three months if she obeys the
Federal statute above cited. The major
ity of the Republican members of the
Legislature are of this opinion. A mi
nority of the Republicans and the Demo-
Gratis are of contrary opinion. The mi
nority of the Republicans, under the lead
of William E. Chandler, declined to sub
NIT the decision of this question of law
to party caucus. The senate on Tuesday
voted that the present Legislature
ought to elect. The assembly voted
the opposite way. And so the SEN
atorial question in New Hampshire is dis
posed of so far as the present Legislature
is concerned. The next Legislature will
be chosen long before the expiration of
Senator Rollins's term, March 4, 1888. 1t
will not meet in regular. session until
June of that year, and until then it will
not be the Legislature. A call for spe-
cial session would simply convene the
present body, which would, as now, be in
competent to act. Would the State there
fore be deprived of representation?
Section of Article l. of the Constitu-
ton provides as follows:
fvacancies happen, by resignation or
otherwise during the recess of the Legislature of
any State, the executive thereof may make tenn
porary appointments until thenex meeting of the
Legislature, which shall then fill such vacancies
If then, on the 4th of March, 1883, a
vacancy happens in the senatorial repre-
sentation of New Hampshire by reason Of
the expiration Of Senator Rollinss term
and the non-election of his successor, for
reasons above stated the Governor of
the State will fill that vacancy as author
lied by the Constitution.
This is not new question in the SEN
ate, having been decided in favor of
the Governors power to appoint in the
case of Senator Bell.
The Light of Experience.
No doubt we are the people, and wis
dom will die with you," says the Good
Book and it also says: Consider the
former time, for that which has been will
be again." In view of the sweeping re-
forms (?) now being attempted by Mr..
James we venture to recall, for his edifi- !
cation, scrap or two of our recent his
tory. The Forty-fourth Congress was
Democratic in its lower
branch, and after it met and organized in |
December, 1873, by electing Mr.. Kerr to |
the chair, it turned its attention to the |
business of legislation. 1t was the first
time for many years that the Democratic
party had control of either branch of |
Congress, and the leaders, very naturally
first considered the question: How
shall We so proceed as to tighten
the hold of our party upon the es-
TEEN of the people of the Union?''
After much discussion pro and con the
following conclusions were arrived at:
% The Northern and Western people are
a close-fisted, economical, and thrifty
people; with them the dollar is al
mighty. They will readily condone
every fault but that of extravaganza.
One reduction of taxes will cover a
multitude Of rascalities. Therefore we,
the Democracy, will go in for economy
and reform. We will cut down and shave
every dollar of appropriation that we can.
We will inaugurate movement looking
10 return to the ideas and practices of
.he earlier and better days of the Repub-
ic, and rehabilitate the stern virtues of
he fathers of the revolutionary period.
We will capture the hearts of the Yankees
oy a close-fsted miserliness that will
Danish forever all idea of increased taxa
ion, and enable US to make big show
ng in the way of huge balance in the
Treasury. By so doing we will kill two
birds with one stone, namely: Make a
huge saving in dollars and choke off
many a Republican who is now employed
1y the Government" These ideas origi-
1ated with the Southern Bourbon leaders,
Who, with their old-time insolent con-
empt for "the Yanks," imagined and (
insisted that the true way to secure the
support of the Northern and Western
people was to guard we'll their pocket I
books and prevent the tax-gatherer from {
making raid on them.
In pursuance of the policy thus deliber-
Ltely adopted, the Democratic House !
applied the knife to the appro-
lriation bills for the next ensuing fiscal :
,ear, and remorselessly cut down the ap- {
looping off the millions till '
he appropriation bills became a bur- -,
esque upon the very idea of legitimate
md necessary appropriations. In vain
lid the heads of Departments assure that
House that they could not carry on their
Departments on such beggarly allow l
nces; that the salary lists allowed them ]
would not begin to hire employees
nough to perform the necessary work.
hey were brusquely told that they must !
axe what was given them and get along c
With it or shutup shop. Everywhere the !
,nife was ruthlessly applied, and then !
Congress adjourned, leaving the executive
fficers to do the best they could, while
he reformers went home to proclaim be- t
ore the people their great feats of eco
lomical craftsmanship, and to invoke 9
rom them commendation of their con- {
uct. Well, we all know what the result t
fas. The economic statesmen were