Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-12-25
VOL. NVII.-NO. 80.

ishment by confinement and hard labor, shall
be deemed convict, and shall Immediately,
under the charge Of the keeper of such jail or
public prison, or under the charge of such
person as the keeper of such Jail or public
prison may select, be put to hard labor, as
in the first section of this act specified aad
such keeper, or other person having charge OF
such convict, shall cause such convict. while
engaged at such labor, to be securely coafn-
ed By cham, str feet IN length, Of mt less han
'f0urSirteenfhs nor mare than Mreeesghths Of
an inch link, ,cith a r0und ball of iron, of not
less Man four nor mare than sic inches IN d.
'aHaFter, attached ; which chain shall be Sc
'curely fastened to the ankle of such convict,
with strong lock and key And such keep
err or other person having charge of such con
Vict may, if necessary, confne such convict,
while so engaged at hard labor, by other
chains or other means, in his discretion, so as
to keep such convict secure, and prevent his
escape. And when there shall be two or
more convicts under the charge of such keep
er or other person, such convcts shall be fas-
tened together by strong ehatas, aoiM strong
locks aad keys, during the time such conYicts
shall be engaged in such hard labor without
the walls of any such Jail or prison."
1t is these acts, and the test oaths of this
election law, that the Senator from Delaware,
rising above the prejudice Of his section de-
nounces as becomes an American of the better
days of the Republic. Where in the annals Of
despotism and wrong can you find an edct Of
the tyrant, of blacker or deeper infamy than
those laws enacted on American soil, and re-
cognized as valid by the Executive of the Re
public, and which we are now asked to recog-
nize as giving to the people Of the Territory
the rights guaranteed by the Constitution of
their country? In view of these acts, the
London Times truly declares that the enOrmi-
mites If Naples and AaStria are REPRODUCED in
the Taifcd States Of AD,erica.
Mr.. Speaker, have examined this election
law somewhat in detail, citing the provisions
which exclude from voting class entitled, up
on every principle of justice and right, to the
eXerci e, under this Government of the cleo
tive franchise. | have referred to the provi-
sionS Of that law, which violates the organic
act passed by Congress, and subyerts the dear
est ights of freemen guaranteed by the Con-
stitutlOn of the Republic. ! have read des-
cription of the legislation enacted in the Ter
ritory of Kansas, as given by men who cannot
be charged with partiality to my views, or
as holding fanatical opinions-men who pro-
claim from the Senate Chamber that these laws
are infamous, oPpressirc and unconstitutional
Under such laws it is claimed that Dele
gate, coming with certificate based Oh such
enactments, presents such prima face case
as entities him to a seat upon this floor and
that too, after Congress has once adjudicated
the case, and refused him scat
Without trespassing longer upon the patience
of the House | leave this case with a single
remark, that Congress being judicial tribu-
nal when it sits upon an election case, its de-
cisions are conclusive upon itself on the same
state of facts The facts have not changed
since the last session. They arc precisely the
same as they were then, and the same tribunal
is now asked to oyerturn its decision and to
overturn it for what? To recognize and give
validity, so far as can be done by our action,
TO an odious despotism, forced upon an unwil-
ling people by fraud aud violence