Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-04-07
KILL CONGRESS EXTRA SESSION
WAsHINGToN. April 6.
SENATE.

The President laid before the Senate as I'M
finished business resolution for the election
of Senate officers.
Mr.. Mcpherson inquired why the Vice
President had not, in compliance with the
rules, called for the presentation of petitions
and memorials.
The Vice President replied, this being an
executive session of the Senate there was no
morning hour.
Mr.. Ferry sustained the chair, declaring
the rule 20 which the Senator referred was
applicable only to legislative sessions.
Mr.. dcPherson then offered, as his right
under the rules, the petition offered yester
day, respecting the case of Michael Boyton,
and asked that it be referred to the commit
tee on foreign relations.
The petition was received, read and refer
red as indicated.
motion made by Mr.. Mcpherson for an
executive session received yeas 80, nays 81.
Mr. Bayard took the floor. He believed
there was justification for the thirty eight
democratic Senators in maintaining the atti,
tudc before the country which has been
maintained the past ten days.
He wished to try the justice of their posi-
ton by the light that when they were
called before the bar of public opinion they
should be willing to submit it to the case
winch tney are making now.
After recountng various matters such as
the nominations, its allowance by reason OF
the present action of the Senate, Mr.. Bayard
said The senator from Pennsylvania Cam
eron), had stated that this question had in
view the coming fall election in Virginia,
that he (Bayard), asserted it to be danger
Gus step in favor OF Capitalization. 1t
would be an attempt on the part of the Sen
ate sitting as a part of the executive branch of
government to interfere with and control the
election in Virginia. 1t was an usurpation.
1t was an invasion. 1t was in the strongest
sense of the word, revolutionary attempt
by unlawfu and ilegitimate methods to con-
troll free elections of State in regard to mat
tiers solely submitted to its own cognzance
and how controlled. The senator strongly
reiterated the democratic views already ex-
pressed. lie declared that the issue was re-
pudiation. 1t was on the regulating side
That was the issue that the republican party
in the Senate proposed to identify itself
with by choosing Riddeberger as one of its
officers 1t was to benefit his doctrines that
the republicans stood committed and he be-
lieved he was right in preventing the con-
summation of this act.
Mr.. Sherman said the senator from Della
ware, (Bayard) and he agreed upon the prin-
ciple, that the majority must rule. When
he dictates that minority went beyond a
reasonable delay it became treason. Fifteen
senators could prevent the United States SEN
ate from doing a single act and could break
up the government. Under the rules of the
Senate, this government might be absolutely
destroyed as the Southern confederates would
have destroyed it if they had succeeded
The rules were intended TO be construed with
reason and Judgment. The doctrine of the
right of the majority to rule must prevail
The mnorities had certain rights to inter-
pose dilatory motions in order to DELAY and
weary out the will of the majority, but when
they passed those rights they entered upon
dangerous ground. He informed the other Side.
that the republicans of the Senate would
cover Malone with their strong arm If the
democrats attacked him they attacked the re-
publicans. If the election of Ridleberper
would strengthen the republican party then
the republican senators were justified in
electing him. There was not democratic
senator who would not be governed bv no.
litical master like that. To call ii corrupt
or dishonorable was To use term that was
totally unworthy. He said we buy no man.
We have made promises TO no man,
there had been no promise made no hope or
expectation of reward, we have held out
nothing that is corrupt, our motives for en-
teflng INTO tue movement are as patent As
day, as light as the sun, and can be pro-
claimed from every house top and every
stump. We give our hand to the senator
from Virginia because we believe that we
will thus advance public interests and break
down that bitter spirit in the South which
had prevailed since the war. We believe
that while extending our help and aid to
these men expressing thei opinion. even if we
do not agree with that opinion; while aiding
their defending themselves against ostracism
of great and powerful sectional party, we
are doing good to our country, and we pro-
pose to carry out tina, policy. In carrying
out that policy we do more good to the South
than we do TO ourselves. Referring to the
debt of Virginia, Mr.. Sherman asserted that
all the movements looking to reputation had
come from democratic governments. The
outcry against Riddleberger as being
tainted with reputation could not come viii,
good grace from the democratic party, which
had been the author and promoter of every