The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-27
Where the senats,s strength Lies.

Ex-senator Doolittle. OF Wisconsin, says
the Chicago Herald speaking yesterday OF
I Thomas H. Bentons success in securing the
passage Of the famous expunging resolutions
in ia sksOn time, said 'In February, 1857,
Just after my election as senator from Wis
consin, on ms way to Washington TO attend a
special session Of the Senate upon the inaugu-
ration OF President Buchanan. / called upon
General Fremont, then living in the city of
New York. I was introduced by him to Thorn
as II. Benton, and at the same time TO Mrs.
fremont the daughter Of the great ex-Sena-
tor.
Il found Benton in the library playing with
nus graEdchildren-roiltng silver dollars on
the hoor-fOr he had Just come from a lee
turing tour In New England and his pockets
were well filed with the hard cash. l was
presented by General Fremont as the newly
elected Senator from Wisconsin. Benton rose
TO his feet, took me by the hand and said: L
am glad TO meet you, sir. young senator
from young state, sir. Perhaps from 30
years experience In the Senate / may tell
you something about the Senate you do not
yet know, sir, but you will surely find out, sir.
Doyou know, sir, where the strength OF the
Senate liesT
Young man, let me tell you what perhaps
will surprise you. The strength OF the Senate
Is in their bellies, sir In their bellies, sir
shall tell you how carried through the
eXpungln3 resolutions in Jackson's time?
we held caucus after caucus and agreed
several times when we would bring the
question TO vote. But on trial we failed,
AiOH4 1lAIS W JlIIsb. whenever the majority
attempted to sit the matter out. about 8
clock In the evening, Mr.. Clay. who led the
minority, would rise and move to adjourn.
ne yeas and nays would be demanded and
the motion would be lost. Then, perhaps,
Mr.. Webster would rise, and in his solemn
way, move to lay the matter on the table
Another call OF the yeas and nays occupying
fifteen minutes would declare the motion
lost, Then, after some speaking or parlia-
mentary skirmishing- Mr. Clay would Sc
again and move to adjourn. BY this time it
would be 10 clock, and some of the majority
would begin to say: 1t is useless; we had
better ADJOURN so an adjournment would
be acquiesced in. After several such trials
and failures to come to a vote resolved to
make provision for the weak ones on our side
ana to take away from the opposition all
reasonable excuse for adjournment.
Another time was agreed upon in caucus
Tor vote-with a firm resolve to sit il out to
finish went to Gautier and ordered a
supper Tor 81 men to be sent TO my committee
room at o'clock sharp that evening l
ordered him to have IL either hot or cold
did not care which But one or the other
sure--nOt lukewaTm, sir When the time ar
rived for voting. before any ley9n to show
signs Of weakness on our side. / sent page
around the senate to inform all our frienC s
there wa a supper waiting in my committee
room. about 9 O'Clock Mr.. Clay, as usual
arose and moved that the Senate do now ad-
lourn. While the yeas and nays were being
called l sent q ye 10 Mr.. Clay and to Mr..
WEBSTER to inform them that supper with re-
freshments was provided In my committee
room and that they and all their friends were
cordially invited.
The result was that about 10 O'Clock that
night the Senate came to a vote fn1 the
famous expunging resolutions were passed
Now young man, you see what told you
is true. The strength of the senate is in
their bellies, sir! In their bellies, sir"