Year: 1868

L i L
dld not desire then TO break the ouoruns II
was ihe OBJECT OF the Democratic Senators
TO ask the Senate to postpone the case untiI
we could get a full House. Now. Mr.. Presi-
dent, so far as my conduct on that oeeesion
anq t1At OF my colleagues, being reprehen-
slble, VIII state this-that / am perfectly
responsible to the people of the State for nv
conduct hold myself personally respon-
slole Tor my act then, as I do on all occa-
slons. l shall hold myself responsible to
that people who sent me here as a Senator,
ior my action to-day. We simply ask full
ho1se and believe l could pledge,
on the part of the Democratic members. that
II the Senate would but grant us time to
telegraph to members who are absent in
the country and do not know that this case
ls Delng considered, | believe could pledge
on behah OF my colleagues that we win be
present and not break the quorum. But,
sir When we simply ask you to grant us
tline 9lt until these men can come, the power is
wlth you. The power is with you, but we
do say to you that if in the exercise of that
power you force gentlemen to take their
hats and leave the Senate chamber in
order that they may protect themselves or
their colleagues from injustice they must do
So. In such cases we will break the quorum
so long as we are able to break it until the
presence of absent members can be secured.
And this is no threat; l do not in the least
intend it as such but / say this, that a
minority must sometimes resort to measures
OF this kind for their own protection. If We
are forced to do it, we of course must take
the responsibility if we clog legislation
from now to the end of time, when we simply
ask this justice on the part of the majority
to procure the absent members.


we want this case fully and fairly inve
stlgRted and decided by full Senate, and
nothing more. And unless this privilege is
granted we will take the responsibility Of
absenting ourselves from the Senate and let
the legislation be clogged from this time
forward.


We are held responsible to constituency
that we know will sustain us in our course.


1t is simple question of Justice. Delay the


case until we are prepared and until both
parties car take their seats in the Senate
chamber, and we pledge you our word and
honor that quorum will not be broken.
Mr.. Lewis: Mr.. President, I am fully
| satisfied that no member of the Democratic
party would attempt to break the quorum if


he did not have it in his power. Now l have
| heard great deal said about courtesy by


Democratic members, but have never seen


them extend it to the Republican side when
q political question was under consldera-
ton. ! have the first time to hear the first
| dissenting voice from the whole number of
| Democrats in this house. They have voted
together as a unit in every instance of this
kind. / have known Radical members to
stand upon principle of right and vote
| in opposition to their party. But such q


thing has never come from the Democratic


side in this Senate. And to-day, sir, if they
| believed that we had a quorum, you could


not get one Of them out of here. Give


them the power and they will
| break the quorum every time, unless
they believe they can carry their point.
| OF course they know that the men


who elected them here elected them in op-
position to Radical principles, and hence
anything they can do to thwart Republic


an member or clog Republican legislation


will be sanctioned and applauded by their


constituents, and they will be lauded tor


it. ! do not pretend to doubt the gentle


mans word that he will be lauded for this


action. And pretend TO say that if they


had pledged themselves to-day to be pres


ent on Wednesday would have voted for


the postponement.


But, sir, they say they are not responsible


for the action of these absent members,


and have no right or authority to make


pledges for any but themselves.


And so, sir, when the question comes up


on Wednesday, if we should postpone it tall


then, we have no assurance that we shat


be any better off than we are now. If there
are enough Republican members here to


make quorum without them, and it is SO


determined by the adoption of this resolu


tion, we shall have no further trouble o.
MIR. Bacon: Mr.. President, I believe thai


nv course in this Senate has been as fair a
that of any member present.


think that I may fairly claim
that, without exception, have been a!
mild in my political course and q
Just toward my political opponents, AM
in the expression Of my political opinions
; as any ,Senator here. And | asked tha
Senators should agree to a postponenent
not from any desire to catch the Republican
= party in minority, but that Republican
= absent and Republicans present, as well a
Democrats, may have fair opportunity t
} be present when this very important meas
} ure shall come up for decision.


That is all. I desired that they might q
1 have an opportunity of so arranging the
business affairs as TO come here and b
present on that day, If l supposed the1
e would be Democratic majority on that day


gentlemen might say that proposed itwit
tactious motives; but the majority on tbs
day will certainly be Republican majority
And, sir, it is only that this esse may hay


about it all the opportunities ef Altnes
} which can fairly be afforded, that desire
1 have a full Senate when it is disposed Q
} The course we now ask in this case was SUI
stantially pursued in former case, whic


was fixed a number of days ahead; and Q
that dav it was decided, not in accordanC
? with the desire of number of Senators,
is true, but we took pains to fix it at ds
r when all Senators then absent cou
r come in.


$ Mr.. Smith. Mr.. President, I rise to poll
= of order. believe the question is not Q
q postponement.


r The President: The question is now on Il
y adoption of the majority report.


Mr. Campbell: rise to point Of order
l. The line of argument the Senator
r pursuing has no bearing on the questio
IS which is on the adoption of the majorit
:, report.


/ Mr.. Bacon: Mr.. President, The gentle
S man who has lust sat down has accused tn
5. majority who voted on former occasion c
d untairness in pressing the question on tha
/. day. But the time had been previously fxe
If for taking up the case. And 1t was afte
e the contestants had been fully heard upo


il. that a majority determined, the Que!
o tion having been fully argued, that the
1. would take a vote upon it. It is true, sir
If that at that time the gentleman was cut oj
IS from debate by the previous question, an
i I, sir, tried my best to get him hearing
a but the majority would not accord it i
0 him at the time, but he afterwards dil
! obIain 1t. Now, sir, desire to see. thil
. matter completely tested. The Senator
who opposed it so strongly, the Senator
from Natehltoches and De Soto, said


that if there had been pledge tina


the Senators would be present he would
not object to it. /, sir, am authorized K


pledge for the sitting member and myself
and for sufficient number to create


quorum. And I think. sir, | may pledg,
the presence of all the Democratic members
on next Monday. say Monday, because ]
wish to have the Senator from Carroll and


the Senator from st. Landry here. They
] are men of intelligence and strong sense
and we want such men here. think gen
tlemen will not say that my course has been
factious, or that havesever attempted to
, | - L., a t1nfafr TO in tbfa hf,t,sa