Year: 1871

proceeding to do SO. The motion of thu


honorable Senator from the Second Dis
trict is simply to test this question with


the Senate. whether or not it has right
as Legislative body, to proceed at thi.
time to the election of that committee.
Now, a word or two as to the constitu.


tionality of this first resolution. In my


Judgment, the constitution of the State


has no more to do with it than has the


Koran of Mahomet, or the ten com


mandments of Moses. I desire to say that


I admire the manner in which the Senat-


or from Ouachita changes around in this


matter. Yesterday he opposed the action


of the Senator of the Second District,


because the resolution passed on Mon


day was unconstitutional and to-day


he opposes it because the Senate, on the


day before yesterday, resolved to proceed


in this matter by another resolution. Yes


terday he was declaring it null and void


and to day he is raising it as barrier to


prevent the Senate from going forward


in the transaction of the business of this


session.


Mr.. Barber I am in hopes, Mr. Pres


ident, that the Senator from the Second


District will insist upon his motion for
an appeal from the decision of the Chair.
This is question that am glad to see
brought up at this early period of the
session, and when the decision of the
Senate is taken. I am satisfied that the
gentlemen who voted ON the side of the
Senator from the Second District will
stand by him. When that test is made,
it Will then bring the question up fairly
and squarely. We are all anxious to see
it. Then we will have an opportunity to
express our sentiments, and to ascertain
the object of the introduction of this re-
solution. I, therefore, second the motion
for an appeal from the decision of the
Chair in order to aid the gentleman, and
in order that the Senate may understand
exactly the position occupied by the
Senator to-day. I consider that there is
more Importance attached to this resolu-
ton than has been expressed in its intro
duction, and that it is a matter that
should attract the attention of every
Senator, whether he be Democrat or



Mr.. Campbell having offered an amend
ment to the resolution passed on Mon
day, in reference to the election of a
on rules by the Senate


Mr.. Fish said If that motion is
1 wish to offer an amendment,
and I will state my reasons for doing so
very briefly. I want this question tested
The contest seems to be exclusively upon
one point, and that is whether this COM
mittee shall be elected by the Senate or
appointed by the President. 1 believe
hat the committees should be appointed
according to the custom Of this body and
If all similar bodies throughout the
United States. However, if this amend
nent to the resolution is passed I believe
t will then be our duty to asqliesce with
he majority and have this committee
,lected so that the Senate will be or
,anized and can go to work. We have
low spent three days and have done
lothing. My motion is that the resolu-
ion be amended so as to read that a |
committee of five be appointed by the
hair to report rules for the government
# this body.


Mr.. Pinchback f: I guess / might as
veil say what want to say on this sub
ect now but I did hope the matter
would be postponed until to-n,6rrow.
We have taken three test votes on this
question. One on the motion to adjourn !;
mother on the question of sustaining the
hair and another on the motion to
of which have gone III
ayOr of the other side. But it Is mat
er OF some surprise to me to SEQ the posi-
ion of certain gentlemen upon
his fo,r 1t will be noticed by the re-
ord of the vote that every member OF
he Democratic party upon the floor of
his House has placed himscfsquaraly in !
ayor of this measure and that measure {
las been charged here by the press, by
he people, and, / am told, by the Demo-