The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-24

constitutional debates to prove that con-
gress could not add to the qualifications
of members negatively, stated in the con-
stitution. After depicting the conditions
that surrounded the framing of this pro-
vision of the constitution and quoting
the words of Madison, Hamilton and JEFF
ferson, he asked, triumphantly. who there
was who could shatter the crucibie of
history which surrounded 1t or the dec
laration of the men who framed it. Who
would undertake to impeach the integ-
rity of the men who were present at the
dawn of our history?
Challenges Tayler's Authorities.
Some of the precedents cited by Mr..
Tayler were ridiculed by Mr.. Littlefeld.
He also challenged Mr.. Taylers authori-
ties. Mr.. Littlefield said that the ma
jority were driven back to support their
contention for additional qualifications
upon the general welfare clause of the
constitution.
Gets His First Applause.
He won the first burst of applause while
ridiculing the attempt of the minority
to dispose of Justice Story's opinion by
stating that he had not sought to give
his own ideas, but only the ideas of 9TH
ers. They would" said Mr.. Littlefeld,
make him the Boswell Of the constitu-
tom Great laughter.)
Precedent Against Exclusion.
Mr.. Littlefield said the minority stood
with Burke. the statesman of the eigh-
teenth century; with Jefferson, Madison,
Hamilton, Morris and the men who
framed the constitution; with the deci-
sions of the courts of Maryland. Montana
and Virginia; with the opinions of Story,
Cooley, Cushing. John Randolph Tucker
and Webster. He then challenged Mr..
Taylers statement that no precedent ex-
listed against exclusion, citing the case
of Benjamin Stark in the senate in 1862.
who was charged with disloyalty. yet was
seated without action.
The majority. he pointed out. had cited
this case, but had not informed the house
of this fact.
II believe" said Mr.. Littleheld, con-
Guiding his comment on this particular
case, that Mr.. Roberts has a full con-
stitutional right to a seat in this house"
The applause which swept over the foor
in response to this statement extended to
the galleries, many of the ladies' there
participating.
Inc w htteIuUre case, which occurred
Immediately after the war, Littlefield
said, was poor precedent. The passions
of the war had not cooled, and he be-
lieved the action of the house in excluding
him at that time on the ground of selling
his cadetship was unwarranted and Ill
advised.
Littlefield attacked the proposition of
the majority. that Mr.. Roberts had vio-
lated the compact between Utah and the
United States. He asked where the au-
thority for the statement that there was
as understanding between state and the
United States came from. Eloauently he
declared that the idea of compact be-
tween the states had been the father of
secession, blotted out by the lives of half
a million of men.
The Right to ExpeI.
Littiefields defense of the proposition of
the minority, that the house had right
to expel Mr.. Roberts, concluded his ar
gument He aroused Il great deal of en-
thusiasm when he recalled the difficult po-
sition in which ex-Speaker Reed had been
placed in the last congress when Gen.
Wheeler returned from the Spanish war
covered with laurels to resume his scat
in the house, and the difficult task of
Speaker Henderson, then chairman of the
committee on judiciary, who was obliged
to report against Gen. Wheeler. No
mere patriotic sentiment permitted them
to override the plain dictates of their
duty.
Proceeding, he pointed out the unques-
toned right of either house to expel a
member for any cause deemed sufficient.
This power was unquestioned, and before
it was exercised Mr.. Roberts should be
sworn In.
1--WE state upon our consciences and
oaths," said he, chat he should have the
full benefit of the fundamental law of
the land" (Great appiause)
Littlefeld closed rather abruptly. Mr.
Tayler then renewed his request for an
agreement for vote at 4;S0 on Thurs
day.
Roberts Defends Himself.
Upon the request of Tayler Mr.. Roberts
was then given one and half hours In