The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-20

question is entirely unauthorized. The Con-
stitution provides for the election of Sena-
tors in legal form for stated term. but
it does not provide for their expulsion or
enforced resignation. Senators have often
been instructed by State Legislatures to
support certain measures or vote in a GER
tain way, and often they have complied
with such instructions because they could
do so without doing violence to their con-
victions. Sometimes, however, they have
refused to obey such instructions and have
not felt called upon to resign either. A not
able ease in point was that of the late
Judge Lamar when Senator from Missis-
sippi. AT one time the Legislature of that
State passed a concurrent resolution in
structing It's Senators to vote for the bill
remonetizing silver and repeating the act
for the resumption of specie payments.
When a certified copy of the resolution
reached Senator Lamar he had it read in
the Senate and then said:
Mr.. President between these resolutions
and my convictions there is great quit
/ cannot pass it. OF my love to the State
alone can tell it. My gratitude for all the
honor her people have done ne, no words
to-day what / think their true interests
and their character require me to do Dur
ing my life in that State it has been my
privilege to assist in the education of more
than one generation of her youth, to nave
given the impulse to wave after wave of
the young manhood that has passed into
the troubled sea of her social and political
life Upon them / have always endeavored
to impress the belief that truth was bet
ter than falSehood, honesty better than
policy, courage better than cowardice. To-
day my lessons confront me. To-day must
or unfaithful to my people. Even in this
hour of their legisla tive displeasure and
Misrepresentation | cannot vote as these reso-
lutions direct. cannot and will not shlrk
the responsibility which MY position i'm
poses. My duty as | see it l will do. and
will vote against this bill. When that is
done my responsibility is ended My rea-
sons for my vote shall be given to my peo-
pie. Then 1t will be for them to determine
If adherence to my honest convictions has
disqualified me from representing them;
whether a difference of opinion upon diff
cult and complicated subject to which
have given patient, long-continueG, con-
scientious study; to which / have brought
entire honesty and singleness OF purpose,
ability God has given me. is now to sep
arate us; whether this difference is to over
ride that complete union of thought, SYM
as l believe even more important subjects
binds US together. Before them / must
stand or fall. But be their present decision
what it may, know that the time is not
far distant when they will recognize my
action to-day as wise and just: and, armed
with honest convictions of my duty, I shall
calmly await results believing in the ut
terance of q great American who never
trusted his countrymen in vain: THAT
truth is omnpotent and public justice GER
tain
Such a speech as that is worthy of a
man fit to be in the United States Senate
and should make his constituents proud of
him. 1t is not unlikely that Senator Caf-
fiery may answer his protesting constitu-
entS in the same vein.