The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-09-28
Tic United States Senate.

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what party he will be chosen, Demo.
cratic or Republican.
The Washington Evening Star Of
the Goth inst. says:
"There has been a good deal Of cor.
respondence going on among Demo.
cratic Senators Of late in regard to
the organization Of the Senate. Sew.
eral letters have been received in
the past few days from Senators who
have been making a canvass Of the
Democratic members Of the Senate to
ascertain how they intend voting
when the Senate meets. The can.
wasting has developed the fact that
there is not a bit Of sentiment among
the Democrats as regards what action
they shall pursue. They all give it
as their opinion that the Senate
shall proceed to the organization be.
fore the two new Senators from New
York and the Senator to be appoint.
ed from Rhode Island to succeed SEN
ator Burnside, all Of whom will be
Republicans, are admitted. Senator
Garland is the only Democrat who is
thought to entertain any other view
than this. He is only reported to be
in favor of allowing the new Sena-
tors to be sworn in before going into
organization. Senator Beck says
that there is not a single Democrat
who entertains that view. The first
step under these circumstances will
be to elect President Of the Senate
pro tenn, who will also be Vice Presi-
dent. Upon this point there has
been a good deal of canvassing among
the Democrats. The general drift Of
sentiment evoked is that Senator
Bayard is the member Of the Senate
who is generally favored for that
Office" nr4 rn
The accession of Mr.. Arthur to
the Presidency leaves the Senate
with 9S Democrats including David
Davis, and 50 Republicans including
Malone and the new Senators from
New York and Rhode Island.
The three latter, however, cannot
be sworn in until after a President
pro tenn has been elected. The United
States Statutes at Large provides:
"Section %. The oath of office shall
be administered by the President of
the Senate 10 each Senator who shall
hereafter be elected, previous to his
taking his seat"
Therefore until a President pro tenn
is elected to swear in the new Sena.
tors, the body will stand SO Demo
Gratis including David Davis and IS
Republicans including Malone.
The Democrats will thus have a
clear majority of three and are en-.
titled to the presiding officer as well
as the Secretary and other. officers
they may choose to appoint. They
will come into possession Of this adj
vantage not by any sharp manage
ment or political trick, but honestly
and fairly through the ever shifting
mutations Of time to which all par.
ties are subject. They owe nothing
to their political opponents in the
way of concessions in the organiza.
ton. They will simply proceed &C.
cording to law in the discharge of
this duty and each sitting member
will vote his preference for a presid.
ing officer. They could not admit
the new Senators until after PreSi.
dent is chosen, ifthey would. There
would be no officer to entertain a
motion or to swear in the new mem.
bers until one is regularly elected.
Moreover the Senate was SO even.
ly balanced between the parties at
the last session that it was impossi.
BILE to transact any business where
the party lines were drawn. Now
since the scales have been tipped in
favor of the Democrats by the force of
circumstances, there can be no valid
reason why a Democrat should jump
over into the other balance out of
mere sympathy or sentiment toward
the Republicans. Time and circum-
stances has turned an evenly bal
anced body and broken the dead
lock. Let the verdict stand. Let
the Democrats elect man who will
both grace the presiding officers
chair and give confidence 10 the pub
lie that in the event Of succeeding to
the Presidency the government will
be safe in his hands. They will ac-
complish all this by the election of
Senator Bayard TO the posi,ion.-
Register.