The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-10-31
WASHINGTON NEWS.
THE SENATE DEADLOCK BROKEN
The Democratic Protest against Ssrathan'S SOnI
AItIOa-Nhat the RspubllsaAl Have Sac
sSsdsd Ia showing bI Their DsfsaIs Of
Strathan-SsHAtS COHnrmAtIoan

ResOlred, That appointments to offices
under the Federal Government ought not
to be made to control or influence elec.
tons in the several States, and appoint
meRts made with such intent are unwise,
unpatriotic and contrary to the spirit OF
our political institutions, and il continued
without rebuke by the people it will be-
come dangerous to the perpetuity OF our
institutions.
Mr., Hill asked immediate consideration
Of the resolution.
Mr., Mcmillan objecting, it was laid
over.
An executive session followed.
While the doors were still closed, but
after the transaction OF the executive bust
ness had been concluded, Mr., Sherman Of
fered resolution for the appointment OF u
committee Of two Senator'S to wait upon
the President, and inquire II he had any
further business to lay before the Senate.
The resolution was adopted, and Messrs
Sherman and Bayard were appointed Us
such committee.
subsequently they reported that they
had performed the duty, and the President
stated that he had nothing further to com.
municate. :,
Mr.. Maxey moved that when the Senate
adjourned to-day it be sine de. Agreed to-
Mr.. Bayard offered the following:
"ResOirsd, That the thanks OF the Senate
are hereby rendered Hon. David Davis for
the courtesy, impartiality, and ability with
which he has performed tile duties Of Presi.
dent pro tenn" r..
The resolution was agreed to UNANIMOUS
ly, and Mr.. Davis, having resumed the
chair, which for the moment he had va
Gated, said:
"SESAToRs-T am touched by the gener.
Gus expression III the resolution which ii
has pleased the Senate to pass In my honor,
and ! am grateful for the courteous CO.
operation which has been rendered me
from all sides in administering the duties
Of presiding OF this high and enlight'
ened body, Hoping every member OF the
Senate will return happily and safely to his
home, and be permitted to resume his
duties here ut the next meeting OF Con-
gress, it only remains for me to declare the
Senate adjourned without day"
The doors were then opened and the
usual leave.mkings exchanged, and in n
few moments the Senate Chamber was de
serted.
PROCEEDINGS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
Immediately after the Senate went into
executive session this afternoon, the Ser
geant.at.Arms made his return OF the order
by which last night he was directed to
"bring in" the Senators named therein US
being absent without leave. An animated
debate ensued forthwith in regard to the
power OF minority OF the Senate under
the Constitution and rules to compel" the
attendance OF absent Senators, the purpose
OF those questioning the validity OF the or
der being understood to be to prevent
action upon the l.ynchburg postotfice nom.
nations.
After speeches Of considerable length by
Messrs. Brown, Hill and Bayard, and brief
remarks by many other Senators, the fol-.
lowing protest" was presented and en-.
tered upon the journal, together with the
Sergeant.at-Arms' return:
'"The undersigned members Of the United
States Senate hereby formally and earnest
" protest against the execution OF the resO-
luton offered and adopted yesterday un.
der the rule prohibiting debate in the
absence OF quorum OF the Senate, BY a
vote Of 10 To II, directing the Seryeant.at.
Arms to compel the attendance OF Senators
named in said resolution
"Firt-BeCause said resolution Is in
violation Of the fifth section of the first
article OF the Constitution, which authorizes
Il smaller number than quorum OF each
House to compel the attendance OF absent
members only when the manner OF such
Compulsion and penalty for refusal to at.
tend have been provided, no provision
having ever been made by this Senate OF
the manner OF compelling the attendance
Of its absent members, nor any penalty af.
fixed for refusal to attend.
"Second-BeCause said resolution and
order violates freedom from arrest gtiaran-
teed to such member Of the Senate under
Article /, Section u, Of the Constitution.
"Third-BeCause said resolution and or.
der violates an unbroken, rnquestioned
and honorable usage and custom OF the
Senate, under which members now absent
have paired and absented themselves only
under such an understanding.
"Fourth-BeCause the resolution was
suddenly and without any previous no.
tice introduced and adopted after mid
night, with no opportunity for debate, and
Is an unwarranted and dangerous depar.
ture from the line OF precedent and consti-
tutiOnal government Of this body"
Signed by Senators Bayard, Vest, Hamp-
ton, Slater, Jonas, Farley, Voorhees,, Davis
Nv. Va.), Hill (Ga), Brown, Williams,
Ciroome, Johnston, Pugh, PendletOn,
Coke, Call, Morgan, Ransom, George,
Maxey, Walker and Jones (Fla.)
II concur in the protest. with the Under
standing that II does not deny the power OF
the Senate, under constitutional quorum,
10 prescribe arrest M manner compelling
the attendance OF an absentee.
y. s. GEORGE"
This protest was next discussed at great
length, and in reply II was vigorously CON
tended by Mr., Edmunds and other Re
publican Senators that the warrant did not
cali for the arrest OF anybody and that no.
body had been arrested, Il having been ex-
eCuted, they said, by reading in the Senate
Chamber, In the hearing OF Senators who
had appeared to-day without cOmpulsion.
Mr.. Edmnnds also referred 10 the journal
Of the Senate 10 show that many Of the
Senators who signed the protest in ques-
ton had, on the oath day Of February, iS7D,
voted for the issuance Of u more stringent
order, which directed the Sergeant.at Arms
10 compel the attendance of absent mem
bera without IL warrant and without desig.
Mating the names OF the Senators to be
brought in, leaving the entire matter "a 10
the persons to be captured and the means
to be employed to the unrestralned discre-
ton Of the Sergeant.at-Artns.
Finally, when the debate was beginning
10 seem interminable, motion was inter
posed TO lay the whole subjectOn the table,
which prevailed without division. The
Senate was once more brought face to face
. with the direct question OF confirming the
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