Year: 1877

: Z, MI a L .. lSI {
question as he indicates. Lieutenant-G Cover
nor Simpson has already taken the oath, and
repetition of it is unnecessary"


Sammy Green said "We don't claim that
the Lieutenant Governor must be sworn in by
the Chief Justice or one of the Associate JUS
tices, but we hold that he must be sworn in
the presence of the Senate. I, for one, don't
know whether he has ever been sworn in at
ALL"


Mr.. Crittenden said: "Although Lieuten-
ant Governor Simpson was not sworn in, in
the presence of the whole Senate, due notice
was given to the Senate, and the onus Of their
absence lies upon them alone"


Green replied: ri do not think that reason
ing applies here. Even granting that he was
sworn in somewhere up the street, and that
no one but his private friends were present, if
be is to be our presiding officer, it will not
hurt him to be sworn in again. call for the
question of the adoption Of the amendment,
and demand the yeas and nays"


The vote was called, and resulted in 16
yeas and II nays strict party vote.


The question of the adoption of the original
motion to appoint committee to escort Mr..
Simpson to his seat and swear him in was then
put, and also resulted, yeas 16, nays II.


Swails appointed the following committee: !:
Witherspoon, Meyers and Clinton. The COM
mittee stepped forward. Lieutenant Cover
nor Simpson took the arm of Mr.. Witherspoon
and quickly ascended the stand, and stood
l;lx. - n,Llo,,,a ho,;do fbo ohr;1a11od founv.
colored president pro tenn.


Whittemore suggested that swearing off,
Ger had best be sent for Immediately, but
Lieutenant. Governor Simpson, in clear ring
ing voice, cut him short. He said: 81 desire
to announce that have already taken the re-
quisite oath and have been duly qualified as
the Lieutenant Governor of this State, and l
cannot consent to take the oath second time.
I regret that have been compelled to take
this ground, but under the Constitution of the
State am the presiding officer of the Senate.
to which position I have been duly qualified
and elected" ....--. d ~


Swails then said: "The Senate has heard
what Mr.. Simpson has said. What action
shall be taken ?"


Up to this point the Republicans had been
steadily pressing onward and gaining every
point, but here the fateful tide in the affairs
of the State began to turn the black river OF
corruption and sin had reached its hig hest
point, and began receding again from the
banks, sweeping along with it in its down.
ward course, the miserable creatures that, for
years, had hoated on its crest like gaddies fat
tening in the sun.


Nash showed the first symptoms of surren-
der. He thought that further time was me-
cessary to consider the matter. He did not
think they could proceed at once.


Lieutenant Governor Simpson said: IL
would ask the Senate, in courtesy to me, not
to press upon me the unpleasantness of this
position. fully thought that it was under
stood that did not intend to take the oath
again, and in view of this position, ask the
courtesy of the Senate, and will add further
more, that there is no power on this earth that
can compel me to take that oath second
time" Applause from the crowded gale
ries.


Senator Witherspoon: ri move that the
Senate reconsider its vote to swear in Lieuten.
ant-Governor Simpson, and [ think l can
make an explanation which will appeal to the
honest convictions of every Senator present.


Nash said that, when the question for re-
consideration came up, it would be time
enough for explanations. Swails then put the
motion to reconsider and, pending the roll
call, Mr.. Witherspoon said 81 would like to
offer the following explanation On yesterday
there was conference between the former
LieutenantG Governor of the State and the
present Lieutenant. Governor of the State and
the President pro tenn. of the Senate. was
requested to be present, simply to know what
was going on, to provide against this very spe.
cies of political trickery. was there, and it
was agreed that we should bridge over the
change between the new and the old admin
istration with harmony. We asked if you
intended to 60 into this matter in good faith,
and it was distinctly understood that every
thing was to be in good faith. The same
question was raised then, and to the credit of
the Lieutenant Governor, he positively assert
ed that he would not stultify himself by ta-
king that oath again. After the consultation
upon the other side this morning, he again re-
iterated his purpose of not taking the oath
second time. 1t was agreed, in so many words,
that this body would not require that he
should be put in such position. hope that
you will not continue to force Lieutenant
Governor Simpson to do what you would not
do if you were in bis position"


Swails: "There have been two consuta-
tions held, and all the matters stated here are
matters of fact, with one exception, and that
is this: That while we met in consultation, it
was we'll understood that our action could not
in any way bind the Senate as body on
either side. believe the Senator from York
made the remark himself that we went there
as men, for the purpose Of making some ar
rangement for getting into corners. If there
is difference between the Senators here, it
is no more than there was in the consultation.
I hold that am only here as an officer at
your bidding. / am here to do what is right,
and pretend to do 30. I hope that we may
get this matter settled in some way harmon
iously, for there is not man on the floor OF
the Senate more anxious for harmonious
and peaceful settlement than | am. l hope
that we will arrive at some conclusion, if not
to-day, at some early period, for this now is
the only bone of contention


Witherspoon: The statement Of the Presi-
dent pro tenn, that the agreement arrived at
in the consultation was not binding upon the
members of the Senate, is correct but he can
not deny that an adjournment was had from
yesterday to this morning to settle that very
matter, and to consult our respective friends"


Nash said that he was not aware that any
such arrangement had been made. If the
Senator from York speaks correctly, and do
not doubt that he does, if such is the arrange.
ment, / consider myself bound by it, and if
had been aware of it, should have been
the last man to have made such motion as |