The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-05
Senator Lindsay Speaks to a Ques-
tion Of Personal Privilege.
Denies the Right Of the Kentucky leglsla-
ture 10 Request His Resignation.


Georgia, who Desired Leg1sia-
ton to Require the President to
Bid the Full Amount Due.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-Speaking TO
a question of personal privilege IN the
Senate to-day, Lindsay CD of Ken
tucky commented sharply upon the mo-
tiyes of the authors and promoters Oh
the resolution recently passed by Inc
LEGISLATURE demanding his resignation
as Senator. Lindsay, after defining MS
position on the financial qeustion, made
il clear that he was the representative
of the whole people of Kentucky, ana
nor in any sense the agent of the Ken
lucky Legislature. Above all he was
he said a Senator for the whole Amer
lean people, and as such would per
form the duties and cast his vote in
accordance with his convictions, ana
with the dictates of his conscience. NC
business of Importance was transactea
in the brief open session.
AT the opening of the Senate to-day 1t
was decided that when the Senate ao-
iourned to-day it be until Monday
next.
A bill providing for the erection OF a
public building at Beaumont, Texas, q,
a cost not to exceed $4,000 was pass
ed
Platt Of New York offered resolu-
ton which was referred to the COM
mittee on Military Affairs, directing the
Secretary of War to return TO the sew
enth Regiment Artillery Formerly the
One Hundred and Thirteenth New YORK
Vol) the flags of the regiment.
Lindsay then took the floor TO SPEAK
on the resolution of the Kentucky Leg
islature asking him to resign. He mad
the resolution read at the Clerk s desk.
and then said:
While this processes to request my
resignation. it is couched in language
which disregards the ordinary amenl-
ties of life, and is in effect a demand
that / shall surrender my place IN Or
der to create a vacancy, and thus make
room here for some one holding poiitt-
cal views in harmony with the author
and promoters of the resolutions. 4 de-
sire 20 protest against this usurpa-;oii
of ungranted power and / propose TO
give il a place on the records OF the
Senate, and to make such comments as
l deem necessary and proper under the
circumstances.
1T is TO be observed that in the
Arrangement which precedes the reso-
luton there is no charge that / have
ever 6isobeyed the expressed Will OF
the people of Kentucky, no intimation
that / have ever given a vote which
did not reflect the views of the major
ity of my constituents, or that l have
at any time failed to look after the II
interests or have been wanting in any
duty owing TO them or to the country,
or that l am now opposing legislation
which the majority of the people OF
Kentucky regard as essential to the
public welfare. or that my personal
conduct at any time or in any respect
has been. to the slightest degree, in
compatible with the high position of
an American Senator.
The substance of the complaint is
that l am opposed to the free and IN
limited coinage of silver at the ratio OF
IL TO /, and that l opposed the cleo
ton of the nominees Of the late Chi
cago convention, and by so doing be-
trayed the trust reposed in me by ,Gy
constituency. My constituency is made
up of the people of Kentucky, and that
people voted against those nominees,
and twelve out of thirteen of the cleo
toral votes of Kentucky We're registered
against them"
The Senator reviewed his votes
against silver in the extra session in
1893, which repealed the purchasing
clause CT the Sherman law, and contin-
ued.
In the discussion OF the BILL / de-
clared that / would vote for no amend
ment which merely experimental with a
change of ratio. or that did not pro-
vide reasonable safeguards TO insure the
maintenance of the parity of gold ana
silver dollars. Those votes and that
declaration We're known 10 all the in
tell.gent people of the State of Ken
lucky.
I'm the month following the adjourn>
ment of this extra session, the General
Assembly, charged with the duty of
selecting my successor. was chosen. 1t
convened in January, 1894. My name
was the only one presented to the Dem
ocratic caucus. and when the election
came to be held ! received the vote of
every Democratic member present.
stand to-day precisely where l stood
when / received the unanimous indorse-
ment of the Democrats in Kentucky.
If those who We're in accord with me
four years ago are not so to-day, Ii is
because they have changed their opin-
ions. whilst i have remained steadfast.
j eriticise no one for changing his opin-
ions. but l protest against being de-
nounced as a betrayer OF my trust be-
cause my views remain unchanged.
Il deny the right of self-seeking po-
litical ehangelings who We're with me
in opposition 10 free silver when free
coinage was unpopular. ana are against
me now when free coinage seems TO
meet Democratic approval in Kentucky.
TO sit in judgment on my Democracy,
or to call in question my fealty to the
constituency represent. l Will remind
those who voted for the resolution that
i am not the mere agent of the Ken
lucky Legislature. / do not exer-lse
my Senatorial duties subject TO legis-
lation. nor hold my place at the legisia-
tive Will l represent not merely a
party or faction. but all the people
of Kentucky. My term of service is
fixed by the legislation of the United
States. II cannot be abridged by the
action of the Kentucky Legislature.
and an attempt by certain members of
that body TO abridge it is the assertion