PARTIZAN DECLARATION.
Mr. CLAYPOOL offered the following:
WHEREAS, The suppression of the rebellion, the restoration and preservation of the Union of all the states is the great and paramount object of all loyal citizens. Therefore, be it
page: 9[View Page 9]>Resolved, That the members of this Legislature will vote for no man for office who is not in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war, and who is not unalterably opposed to the severance of any State or States from this Union.
Mr. COBB moved to postpone any action on the resolution until next Tuesday week.
Mr. MARCH had not come here to shirk from any duty to avoid or dodge the-expression of any opinion. While he had no disposition to pass judgment in advance, upon rumor, as to the loyalty of any candidate to he presented, yet it could not be denied that there were rumors out, and it was proper that the Senate should now define its views. He was prepared to vote for it now, but would consent to the postponement of the resolution until members could have time for consideration.
Mr. WOLFE had no objection to a resolution on that subject, properly worded. There were some things in it that were proper, but there were other subjects that orient to be in that are not.
Mr. CLAYPOOL thought there was nothing in the resolution that ought not to meet with a proper response now. If gentlemen wished to amend it, now was the time. Its object was that when it became necessary to elect officers none but those of undoubted loyalty should be voted for.
Mr. McCLURG said the resolution should he more comprehensive in its wording. It should be definite and positive in its sentiments. No one could object to the war, if it be not prosecuted in a profligate manner.
He withdrew his motion upon the suggestion of--
Mr. WILLIAMS who moved to refer the resolution to the Committee on Federal Relations.
Mr. MELLETT was not uneasy about being gagged. He was ready to vote for the resolution because it was a simple proposition and right in itself.
Mr. MANSFIELD, as one of the minority, would throw no obstacle in the way of the majority, but this question was a simple expression, and if gentlemen were willing to postpone elections until an expression was had on this resolution he would consent to postpone action on it now. He offered an amendment providing that the present Legislature shall not enter upon the election of United States Senators until action is had upon the subject embraced in Mr. Claypool's resolution.
The PRESIDENT (Mr. Johnson in the chair.) deemed the amendment out of order.
Mr. RAY advocated the reference to the Committee on Federal Relations. The resolution was not fall enough, and should go there to be perfected. There were many patriotic and loyal Senators who were in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war, who thought the olive branch should accompany the sword. Others were satisfied that war alone could never restore the Union. He could assure Senators that, no man whose loyalty had a shade upon it would ever be elected to any high or responsible office.
Mr. CLAYPOOL, to test the question, made an ineffectual motion to lay the motion to refer on the table--yeas 22, nays 27.
The motion to refer was then agreed to--yeas 27, nays 22.
Mr. MANSFIELD offered the following:
Resolved, That the present Legislature enter upon no election of officers, until the resolution denning the position of the nominees for office, upon, the questions involved in the resolution, offered by the Senator from Fayette [Mr. Claypool] shall have been acted upon.
The resolution was rejected by yeas 23, nays 26, as follows:
YEAS--Messrs. Bearss, Beeson, Berry, Blair, Browne, of Randolph, Campbell, Claypool, Culver, Davis, of Parke, Dickinson, Downey, Graves, Grubb, Mansfield, March, Mellett, Murray, New, Pleak, Reed, Teegarden, White, Wright--23.
NAYS--Messrs. Bradley, Brown, of Wells, Cobb, Davis, of Cass, Douglass, Dunning, Ferguson, Finch, Fuller, Gaff, Giffod, Hartley, Hoagland, Hord, Jenkins, Johnston, Landers, McClurg, Marshall, Moore, Ray, Shields, Shoulders, Williams, Wilson, Wolfe--26
