The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-08-08
II is not a matter of compromis

fully, honestly and consclentlously
under the Constitution and oul
oaths, and have come to a conclusion
as to what is due to the people, We
should stand by it. We have nc
right to barter away their rights. II
is not a matter of bargain and sale
like Dutch Jew selling clothing
Il takes twelve dollars, and not Q
d-n cent less. Now, what you
gives ?" Laughter1 We are here
to perform our duty under our oaths
and the Constitution, and we wan,
1 no man upon that side of the House
to say that we are disregarding oul
oaths, and that we, as Republicans
do not understand our duty under
the Constitution. l refer to the gen.
tleman from Franklin, (Sharpe,) and
| wish he was in his seat. | would
like to know who has appointed him
the keeper of our conscience, and
the Judge of our duties under the
Constitution and the oaths we have
taken. He may speak for himself,
but / wish him to understand that
he is not my keeper it is not fol
him to dictate to me what | shall
do in the discharge of my duty here
as a representative of the people.
But to return to the subject. Oul
Democratic friends rendered US 8
bill, and they would listen to no re-
monstrances from us against it.
They would accept no amendment
they would accept no alteration oil
modification. They passed their bill
as it was their right to do. | am
not complaining because they can
not see their duty as we see ours.
I-fully accord to them that which
| claim for myself-the right OF
thinking and acting as free man
the right of forming judgment and
arriving at conclusions for myself,
free from the dictation of anybody.
The Senate introduced the bill
which we had so carefully prepared
and matured during the regular ses-
sion. We did not go up high in or
der that we might come down; we
had not studied the matter here for
five months to no purpose, but We
had made up our minds 20 what was
right. The Republican side of the
Senate had come to conclusion,
and. for the benefit of nv friend
over there, let me say, he will find
that we have no longer any Inde-
pendent Republicans we have no
longer any Stalwart Republicans
we believe in the policy and the
principles of the great Republican
party, and we are simply united and
earnest Republicans. [Applause.l
Without a dissenting voice that
bill passed the Senate. 1t came over
to the House. Appointments were
made to it here, and it was referred
to committee Of conference. That
committee in due time reported that
they were unable to agree.
Now, the gentleman from Lacka-
wana-Mr. Amerman-has harped
long and loud about their offers OF
compromise and concession. The
Senate is denounced in unmeasured
terms for having closed the door
against further compromise, further
concession and further negotiation.
They say: "We have appointed
another conference committee and
we are knocking at the door of the
coordinate branch of the Legisla-
ture, asking them to counsel with
US in reference to solution of this
difficulty" Mr.. Speaker, what have
they offered ?-what compromise has
been offered? What concessions
have been made since the day we
first met here and talked about an
apportionment of the State? In the
conference committee AT the regular
session ii was II 10 L. Seventeen
were offered by our Democratic
friends to the Republicans, and II
claimed for themselves. The Re-
publicans offered them 10, and
claimed IS.
That is where they stood at the
regular session. Have the Demo
Gratis ever conceded ANYTHING other
than that up to this day ? Have they
made a single concession to the ex-
tent of dotting an 'i" or crossing a
"t" from that day TO this ? They
are knocking at the door of the Sen
ate to accept that which they have
already twice offered in conference
committee. They say, ''this is our
ultimatum." Cur friends say, Eve
have no ultimatum." Call it by
whatever name you please-you
stand there as immovable as the ev-
erlasting hiTls, we will take eleven.
or if we do not get it we will stay
here until the crack Of DOOM" Mr.
Speaker, this is the history of this
matter. and | want this House to
understand and the public to under
stand that all this talk about com
promise and concession--all this
talk about conference committees
knocking at the door of the Senate,
and being rejected, amounts to moth
ing, there is no compromise in it it
is eleven to seventeen it was that
in the beginning, it is that to-day,
and it will be that for evermore
unless they manifest some real dis
position for concession and compro-
mise
Now, Mr.. Speaker, is it necessary
that we should remain here in ses-
sion uutil next December to ascer-
tain what we should do? Is it nee
essary that we should remain here
at great public expense until next
December in order to ascertain that
we cannot agree? If We have deter
mined that this is the best that We
can do-if we. as Republicans, have
determined, and We have done
so. that ten 10 eighteen is an honest
apportionment of the Commonwealth
Of Pennsylvania. and our Democratic
friends have as honestly come to the
conclusion that it must be eleven to
seventeen, lie it not useless to remain
here longer? Had We not better adj
iourn at once and refer the matter to
the people !? Let us refer it to the
people, to the judgment of the tribu-
nal that stands behind Us all, and
let them determine. 1t is all idle,