The Blair Resolution

Mr. President : If tho Sonate will bear with mea moment I will explain my relation to this resolution. Tliero are ro instructions coming to mo from the Legislatnre of niy State in regard to it. I am opposed to it. I shall act witli good f aith. I voted f or the appointment of the Electoral Commission, and I will stand by the decisión of that comtnission. I fooi in honor bouncl to sustain it. I foei tUat if 1 were to do otherwise I should be unworthy, as a membor of the Sonate, to a seat npon the floor. Moreover, I am sure that, while reason holds her sway over the minds of our people, any attempt to reverse the decisión of that commifision will not bucceed. I do not consider this Senate a Buitublo arena for the exercise of such a power as this joint resolution whicht has been read would propose. Our people degire peace. We have had enough disturbance throughout this land. Noman within the conlines of my State desires to witnesi a renewal of such scènes as havo ber,n enacted withiu the past fourteenor fifteen years. No one can desire to see brothers weltering in brothers I gore. We want unity, peaco and concord, and never while I hold a position on this floor shall there be any act of mine the effect of tehich wonld be otherwise than to contribnte and aid in bringing about fraternal accordbotwoeD every section of our country. Sir, wo are one people, identified and bound togothcr by the ties of relationship, and by every tie that can bind man to his fellow-nmn. Let those who died in that sanguinary strife rest in peace. Let thoso wlio were baptized by the blood of that strife, and slumber among the dead, sleep in peace until the day of final resurrection, when the archangel shall assemble uncountcd millions b; the Bound of his trumpet, and cali tipon the sea and all the earth to give np their dead. Sir, -we are united as a people in all and in every respect. We are bound by bonds of iron, and, I may say, by a netwerk of nerves, in a telegraph so arranged that when you touch one point you touch the tv hole. Sir, to the Pacific ocean I havo sent ono cf ïny cliildren, who is as dear to me as my own heart's blood. His destiny is fixed Tvith those people in that growing, rich and populous section. While he sleeps by the gentle murmura of the placid Paci lic, I, in the noonday sunshine, almost, am here, and shall labor to do whatever I can to promote the interest of that section iii ■whicli bis future destiny is fixed, and every section of our common country. In tho presentation of this rcsolution I have periormed the duty which respect for the Legislatura of my State demands, but, believinir that the interests of every section of the Union calis for ncquiepconce in the decisión made by the Electoral CommisBion, I feel constraiaed to state thnt I shall deern it incumbent upon me to oppose any nction by this body in furtherance of the intont of the resolution. I ask thiit the joint resolntion be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. So ordered.