The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1893-03-08
Senator senn's Objections to Recognition
Of the Douglass House.


reasons given on my vote against the
recognition Of the Douglass house from
the imperfect extracts Of my remarks on
the floor Of the senate as gwen by the
daily papers, / ask permission OF you to
publish them as I wrote them since, from
points hastily jotted down just previous
to speaking correct in substance If not
exactly in phraseologY. In the papers
there were several omissions which ma
terislly change my meaning. / said:
ain opposing the resolution to recog-
nize the so called Douglass house, l
think fully realize the Importance and
grsvity Of the situation. I fully agree
with my colleagues on this side Of the
house in their denunciRtion of the de-
cision Of the supreme court as set forth
in the preamble to the resolution. / 60
farther, since in my judgment the su-
preme court has no jurisdiction over the
membership Of legislature. am not
satisfied to simply protest, but I shall
Vote against the resolution. am we'll
aware that this will bring the charge of
anarchy against me. Now, l am not an
anarchist; and | may state here that ]
have TO some extent at least examined
the philosophy Of anarchism, and do
not agree with their conclusions. Let
me remark here that such decisions as
the court gave yesterday, and tsmely,
supinely yielding to it, will do more to
bring about anarchy than all the teach
lngs Of the real anarchists.
"I do, however, confess of having q
different conception Of law than great
many people have. 1t is the generally
accepted opinion that anything which is
enacted by legislature and approved
by supreme court IS law. To certain
extent it is; but according to the true
conception Of the term it is not. The
curse of'our age is too much law. Nearly
all the evils from which we suffer result
from unjust law. One Of the sblest
lawyers this nation. ever produced, on
being asked, What is lawP' replied
That which is boldly asserted and sue
cesafully maintained Thisis lawyers
idea Of law. / do not mean all lawyers.
Permit me to give my own definition Of
law, from the standpoint Of common
sense. Law is Of Divine origin. But
when i say this do not mean the creed
or dogma Of any church, nor the opinions
Of any man or body Of men. II l look !
up to the stars observe that they move
in their orbits with the utmost regularity,
held in their course by the law Of gravi-
tation. Every plant has its law Of growth
and development. Whenever we investi-
gate nature we find law and order.
Therefore / conclude that the universe |
is governed by self.opersting law. In |
man we find more or less developed q |
sense of right and wrong, generally |
called conscience. From observing regu-
lsrity, order or law in the universe, and |
percsiving q law Of right and wrong
within, springs the true and correct idea
of human law. The only right any law
has to exist, is for the purpose Of estab-
llshing justice between man and man, ip |
their various relations with each other.
Laws should only be enacted for the pur-
pose to protect the natural rights Of
every individual against all oppression.
How many laws would remain on.our
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