I have no personal question with the Senator; I have for him nothing
but kindness and respect. I deal with this question simply as a
question of principle. The Senator tells us that he will not vote, when
the case comes up again. I believe him; he will not vote. But, Sir, he
has taken the Constitution in his hand, and, holding it up, he tells us
that he finds in that instrument authority for it in his case.…
Since the Senator makes the claim, it is important for us to meet it,
in some way or other,--by correcting the journal, or by a resolution
declaring that the Senator shall not vote,--fixing the precedent
forever, so that hereafter we shall not be left to the uncertain will
or opinion of a Senator whose seat may be in question. We must rely,
not upon his honor, but upon the Constitution, interpreted by this body
and fixed beyond recall. Therefore I think still it would be better, if
the Senate had corrected its journal. Being a vote that in itself was
null and void, it was to be treated as not having been given.
The Senator asks to withdraw his vote. To withdraw what? Something
which has never been done,--that is, legally done. There is no legal
vote of the Senator. His name is recorded as having voted, but it is a
vote that at the time was null and void. There is nothing, therefore,
for him to withdraw, but something for the Senate to annul.
Mr. Sherman moved the reference of Mr. Sumner’s resolution
to the Committee on the Judiciary. The Senate refused to
refer,--Yeas 18, Nays 22. The resolution was then adopted.
March 27th, the consideration of the resolution declaring Mr.
Stockton “duly elected” was resumed, when, after the failure
of an effort to postpone it, Mr. Clark moved to amend it by
declaring that he “is not entitled to a seat as Senator.” On
this amendment Mr. Stockton spoke at length. The amendment
was adopted,--Yeas 22, Nays 21,--Mr. Stockton not voting. He
said, “I desire to state, in order that it may be a part of the
record, that I do not vote on this question, on account of the
resolution passed by the Senate yesterday.” The resolution as
amended was then adopted,--Yeas 23, Nays 20.