Speech #690089061

Of course. at the time of the Civil War there were a great many cases that came before the Senate as to whether the legislatures of the Southern States sending Senators here had been properly or legally constituted. All such cases were properly judged by the Senate in accordance with law: Lut not by overriding the law. Other questions that have come up are whether the Senator was of sound mind. whether he had been naturalized long enough before his election to qualify. whether the act making him a Senator was in accordance with the law of the :7098 State. or whether he was qualified for his election under the State law as well as the national law. whether or not under the statute of Pennsylvania. as in the case of Senator Cameron. the State law had been carried out. or whether the election was procured by corruption or unlawful means. whether the legislature was legally constituted. and so on. Mr. President. not to tire Senators with a recitation of the facts. examination of the 73 cases shows that it has practically always been the effort of the Senate to judge and see whether the law has been carried out. and it seems to me an amazing contention on the part of the committee that they have a right to disregard the law of Iowa. to overrule It and try to go behind it. and to count the ballots. no matter how illegal they may be.