at election, could be admitted to the Senate.

In support of this contemplated action there had been a number of
precedents,--the recent case of Mr. Pinchback, of Louisiana, being one
of them. It fell to my lot to draw up the memorial. It was to be
presented to the Senate and championed in that body by Senator Morton,
of Indiana. The Republican majority in the Senate was small. The
Democrats, of course, would bitterly oppose the Morton motion. To make
sure of its adoption the affirmative vote of nearly every Republican
Senator was necessary. At any rate there could be no serious defection
in the Republican ranks, otherwise the Morton proposition could not
prevail. That anyone on the Republican side would oppose it was not
anticipated, for every one that had been approached expressed his
intention of supporting it. No one of the newly elected Senators had
been approached. It was not deemed necessary. It was not anticipated
that any one of them would do otherwise than support the program that
had been agreed upon by the older members of the Senate. Senator Morton
was to submit the memorial and make the motion when the name of Mr.
Lamar was called to take the oath of office.

The names of the States were called in alphabetical order, about three
being called at a time. Maine was reached before Mississippi, and Mr.
Blaine was duly sworn in as a Senator from that State. No one expected
that he would do otherwise than support the program that had been agreed
upon, but, contrary to expectations, as soon as Mississippi was called
Mr. Blaine was on his feet, demanding recognition. Of course he was
recognized by the chair. He made a motion that Mr. Lamar be sworn in
_prima facie_ as the Senator from Mississippi. His contention was that,
since his credentials were regular, the Senator-elect should be sworn
in; and if there should be any question about the legality of the
election it could be made the subject of a subsequent investigation.

This unexpected action on the part of Mr. Blaine took everyone by
surprise, with the possible exception of Mr. Lamar, who, no doubt, was
well aware of what was in contemplation. It produced consternation and
caused a panic among the Republican leaders in the Senate. Hurried and
excited conferences were being held while the subject was being debated.
For the seriousness of the situation was recognized. Mr. Blaine's
defection meant the defeat of the Morton motion should it be made, and
the adopt