The New York herald., 1870-05-17
FoRTY-FIRsT CONGRESS.
Second Session.
SENATE.

sa WASHINGTON, May IS, 1870.
RAILROAD LAND GRANTS.
Mr. SPENCER trep.) OF Ala, called up the bill
granting public lands in the State OF Alabama TO tho
Decatur and Aberdeen Railroad. Passed.
Mr.. RAMSEY, Tep.) Of MIMI, called up ,he bin
granting lands TO aid in the construction or o rail.
road from the western boundary OF Minnesota mt
the junction Of Sioux Wood river with the Red river
OF the North to the Winnipeg District OF British
America.
Mr.. CAssERLY, tien.j OF CAL, offered an amend.
ment putting the price OF tile land at the average
value OF 80 so per ana presenting a methvu
keeping the lands open for settlement He said the
amendment was identical with the formula pro.
posed by the House Committee OH Public Lands for
all bills OF this character Rejected by yeas 20,
Tie bin then passed.
THE BILL ENFORCING THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.
At one O'Clock the Appropriation bin came up In
order
q request made to MN by a number OF senator's he
would move 10 pass over the present and all prior
orders In order to reach the bill for the enforcement
OF the htteenth amendment.
Messrs. SUMNER ana SALISBURY rose to speak
upon the motion. but Mr.. WILLIAMS objected to de-
bate.
Mr.. SALISBURY, (demJ or DEL, desired to know
why, upon motion to take up bill OF so much I'M
p0rtance debate should be excluded.
The CHAIR replied that single objection wOud
prevent debate under the rule.
Mr.. CAssERLY asked for division OF the motion,
L,
over the pending order the Appropriation bill, which
resulted rmatlyeiy; yeas "a, nays %.
The Franking bill was also laid aside; yeas So
nays %.
The bill enforcing the fifteenth amendment the
provisions OF which have been heretofore published,
then came before the Senate In re guar order.
Mr.. STEWART submitted an amendment providing
hat when any person ineligible under the third ar
icle OF the four eenth amendment. shall hold Office
kept as member Of Congress or State legsla-
or, the United STATES District Attorney for the dis.
rict In weh said person hollis ONCE Shall proceed
oh
writ OF quo ecdrT0ntO shall take precedence over all
Others on the dockets OF the unlted States Courts
Mr.. STEWART also moved several additional Sec
tions, imposing fine and Imprisonment ior holding
forever disqualifying che offender from holding
Office under the United Sates giving 10 ali persons
not taxed excepted, the same rights in every State
or Territory 10 make and enforce contracts to sue
give evidence, and 10 full and equal benent Of al
laws and proceedings for the security Of person and
property as enjoyed by white citizens; also to be
subject 10 like pains and penalties, taxes licenses
and exactions OF every kind and none other;
any Stale upon any person emgrating thereto.
The sections also provide that any person, under
color OF law or CUSTOM ciusing another to be de
prived Of any right secured by this act or subjecng
him to different punishment on account OF his being
sened for the punishment Of citizens shall be pun
ished by fine OF not over one thousand dollars or
Imprisonment Tor not moro than year. The Civil
Rights act OF 1860 is also re-enacted.
MIR. ViCKERs, tdem) OF Md, rose to address the
Senate, when Mr.. stewart said he would give notice
to the friends OF the bill that he did not Himself in.
tend making any remarks, but proposed to have the
bill passed before the Senate adjourned.
Mr.. ViCKERs then made an argument against the
power Of Congress to pass the bill, claiming that to
the States alone under the constitution beonQeI
the control Of the suffrage.
State had permitted the colOred vote; that no
black man had been inleriered with, and IL would
now be most evil example to pass bill bristling
with fines and imprisonments upon officers Of elec.
tion and rewards to be given TO informers when no
necessity for It existed HIS own opinion was that
defeat itself. The first section was Objectionable,
because the fifteenth amendment could not gain
additional strength by Its enactment in the shape Of
statute and that seemed CO be the only object OF the
section. The second section undertook 10 impose
du les upon State officers directly ia the face OF
power Of Congress 10 impose any duty upon an officer
OF u State The third section required that
pay y' to voter Shall rendered 70 nuea.ory ea.as
by the refusal or negligence OF an election ofcer be
ueemed ia as IS performance 10 law Of act Although
party was committing perjury his affidavit as to
offer was to be conclusive. II the election oicer did
not receive such vote 1t was provided that lie should
forfeit five hundred dollars to the person ag-
grieved, thus holding out clear inducement to an
HHnscrupuious His man to commit perjury, giving him
nve hundred dollars for it, and making the party in
prohibited any attempt to hinder, delay or
husdrsd dollars to the person aggrevel,
and and imprisonment, with an additional fine Of
W.. "unuleu collars 10 tne united states.
one man reasoned with another approaching
the polls, and attempted TO persuade him
10 vote Ior particular candidate, was that an at.
tempt 70 delays II So the offender would nave to
pay nye hundred dollars to the man, five
nuharei dollars to the United States and
the power OF every Inscriptions man who chose TO
swear M 1Lisely lor pay. Had 1t come to this, that
.he auap ION OF tue fifteenth amendment had made
IL necessary 10 oler premium for perjury and put
every every man IN o community ar the mercy OF W..
Mr. FERRY, rep.) OF Conn.,, moved to amend Mr.
SteNait amehdneLJ by striking the section to en-
force the i0i teenth amendment imposng penal.
Ties on any person me tble the aty W "a knwinniv