Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-03-30

from that quarter, and need no coun-
eel as to her duty. / am here. he's aid,
in conclusion, to assert that Virainia,
the mother of the Unien. n.renews her old
time faith aud devotion to the Govern
ment that her proud sons aided o con-
struc', and in flrtherance thereof, I
propose to give my best abilitiee, and
exert my every energy. Applause
and bisses in the g alleries).
| AT the conclusion of his speech, Mr..
Malone was warmly congratulated by
Messrs COnkling, Sherman, Dawes
and other Republican, "a,
| A number OF dilstory motions were
voted down, but at p. m.. on me tion
until tomorrow.
! WASHINGTON. March 29.-Imme-
diately after the reading of the
journal the resolution was called up
for ), the election Of officers of the
Senate. @ oss's'a -.
Mr.. Johnston stated that be had
intended to reply to the speech of
his colleague, delivered yesterday,
but as it did not appear in the
Record this morning, and as he did
not wish to misrepresent his col-
league, he would postpone his reply
until he could have an opportunity
to:read that speech. -r~
Mr.. Hampton denied the statement
| made yesterday by Mr.. Malone, that
the Democratic party had repudiated
the debt of South Carolina, assert
ing that if there had been repudia~
ton, it had been when the State was
under the control of the party with
which the gentleman was now act
He then proceeded to recite the
action of the Democrats in this spe-
cial session of the Senate, their at
tempt to pilfer their duty in reor>
ganizing committees and the course
pursued by their opponents, which
was, in his opinion, submissive of all
the usages and precedents of this
body, and fraught with danger to the
legislative branch of the govern :
ment. He argued against the right
of the Vice-President to vote upon
the election of officers. No where
IN the Constitution was he clothed
with that power. It had
been clearly shown, by many roll
calls, that the majority Of the Senate
did not choose to elect new officers.
This special session had been called
to consider business sent to the Sen
ate by the President; whether there
was any communication stating
desire of the President that the
offices of the Senate should be again
filled, he did not know. If there
was, his side would give it all the
attention it demanded. He regretted
that the Senator from Pennsylvania
(Mr. Cameron had made this question
one of endurance, and had then gone
down at the first clash of arms. The
Democrats opposed the proposed
action because it would the estab-
llshed precedent and establish bad
one, because the Senate had been
called here for executive business,
and above all, because grave suspis
clons had taken hold of the public |
mind that this action was the result !
OF an unnatural coalition and |
corrupt bargain. The Senator from |
Virginia (Mr. Mahone) disclaimed |
that he had been moved by any im-
pure consideration. He congratu- |
lated that gentleman, and would say
to him, in all frankness, that he
would strengthen his position before
the country if he would show what
consideration has moved him. Sus-
pieion might be groundless, but it
was due to the reputation of this
body that it should be proved beyond
all doubt to be unfounded. The
Senate had recently organized a
committee and given it extraordinary
powers to investigate questions of
much less Importance than this. Let
the Republicans organize a committee
with full power to ascertain the truth
or falsity of the rumors which were
spreading unehallenged throughout
the country. Let it find out whether
any vote in this chamber had been
controlled by promise of place or
patronage. If the damning charge
were proven untrue stamp out the
calumny for once and forever. If
true the Constitution gives prompt
and ample redress. 1t would not do
to let this foul suspicion, this base
lmputation, go to the world uncon-
tradlcted. 1t was known what such
a charge could effect, for it was
known what it had effected, when
John Randolph had denounced what
be supposed to be coalition between
Messrs. Clay and Adams, it had de-
feated Mr.. Adams for the Presidency.
and defeated Mr., Clay's political
Mr.. Clay had risked his life to vim
1icate his honor, and Mr.. Randolph
lad subsequently made the amende
honorable for the sake of this body.
He did not wish to see one suspicion
Or imputation rest on it's fair fame.
For that reason he did not wish to ,,
see any immediate action taken on
lhe resolution of the Senator from
Massachusetts, (Mr. Dawes). He res
erred to the magnanimous action of
he the Democratic majority in the
asst Congress, in permitting the Sen
tor from Louisiana MIR. Kellogg) to g
'etain his seat in This bOdv. Tt now