New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-04-03
XLIID CONGRESSES SESSION.
CONTINUATION OF THE KU-KLUx DEBATE IN
THE HoUsE-THE DEMOCRATS DRIVEN OUT
BY A COLoRED oRATOR-CONGREss FIX
PECTED TO ADJOURN ABOUT THE MIDDLE
OF THE MONTH.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I
WASHINGTON, April 2, 1871.


WASHINGTON. April 2, 1871.
The Ku.Klur dehate in the House continued Satur-
day afternoon and evening 10 nearly empty galleries.
and thin audience the floor Among the speakers was
Mr. Smith, the new member from the Elinira Dstrct OF
New-York who delivered clear and forclbe argu-
ment in favor Of tho bill The argument OF MI Eno.'
the colored member from the Columbia District OF south
Carolina attracted considerable attention III was as
signed reply to Mr. Kerrs speech opening debate on
the Democratic side, and legal discussion, was well
arranged and sustained Mr.. Elliott received close at
tention from the leading Republicans present. put te
Democrats behaved with marked discourtesy, taking
and laughing In loud tones with evident contempt OF INC
speaker and finally leaving their seats almost en- nd'se
Mr. Eotts manner easy his voice clear ana pene-
trating and his sentences, though delivered somewhat
hurriedly. owing desire to bring the argument within
the hours limit had finish and elegance not often
heard In Congress oratory.
The long debate upon the shellabarger bin in the House.
while 1t has thrown but little light upon the ve1atous
problem OF how TO maintain the forms OF segoyeTnneh
at the South and the time secure the supremacy
Of law and order has yet been Of value In directing at
tentOn to tho XIvth Amendment TO the Constitutions
and causing q careful study to be made by the most
satesmanlike minds In Congress- OF Its scope ana pur
pose The result has been two different interpretations
Of the meaning Of the Amendment among Republicans
One party whose views Mr. shellabarger exemplihes,
maintains that by virtue Of this Amendment the United
zen as never before and II is bound protect him in per-
son and property, and in all his rights Of citizenship
that the Government has become consolidated and CEN
tralized and the authority Of @ State is no longer
the last resort OF the citizen whose rights
have been infrneed, but that he has at al times re-
course to the United States II the State Courts and laws
do afford him protection The other party, repre-
sented by such men Messrs. Blaine Garfield, and Po
land, deny that this is correct Interpretation OF the
Amendment They believe that the duty OF protecting
the lives and property OF citizens and to make and exc
cute laws for that purpose devolves the States as
fully with only this modhcaton-the laws must
be equal affecting all classes alike; and 1t is only when
they not equal administered as to deprive
every class OF citizens Of that protection that Congress
may intervene and TO the citizen the rights OF
which he Is deprived The development OF these two
constitutional interpretations In the discussion Of the
sheabarger bill has led to no breach Of harmony among
Republicans the contrary frank desire is expressed
by all agree upon OF legislation that viI
be effective in suppressing the Ku-Klux odv.
RACES, and which will not, in tho opinion OF
any Republican lido violence 10 the Constitution confer
alarming and unprecedented powers upon the Executive
All agree that 1t will not do TO adjourn without
passing bill and this Is in itself long step IN tho
direction Of final harmonious action An mprOmptu con-
ference of few prominent Republican members, repre-
sentng heretofore conflicting views upon the question,
was held on Saturday, in OF tho House Committee
rooms, and considerable progress was made toward agree
ing upon bill chat all can support The first section OF
Mr.. sheabarges hill agreed TO, and the members
present. who have heretofore been opposed 10 the second
section. said they would support section in place
of the same, providing that when any body Of
conspire combine 10 prevent any class
of citizens from enjoying the equal pro-
lection of tho Constitution and laws OF
the United States and the equal privileges granted by
the same, and SHALL in pursuance OF the objects Of such
conspiracy. commit any crime, such crime aud con
spracy shan be deemed offenscs against the General
Government and be punishable by the United states
Courts But the fact that any crime has been committed
in fuherance Of the purposes Of such conspiracy must
be proven before the Court try the This Is sub
stantaly the same as the second secton Of tho willard
substitute, and ia not objected to by Mr. Sheabarger
In conversation Saturday Mr. shelabarger said that
the section Of his bill does not punish murder, man
slaughter any Of the crimes named In the section az
such. 1t only Furnishes conspiracy to deprive
citizen of some OF his rights secured 20
bin by tho United States Constitution and laws;
but 10 make definite what shall be considered his right,
1t added that the conspred to DO done must amount
10 one OF the crimes named. For example, the con-
spracy is TO burn house. and the parties start the
road burn It, The crime is complete though no one OF
the crimes enumerated is in fact committed The moder
ate Republicans decline 10 support any measure that
gives the President the extraordinary TO proclaim
martial law suspend the hd6egs corpus, and call out
volunteers. II occasion arises when such extreme
required to suppress serious outbreak, they
thnkt would DO better for the President 10 call an extra
session Of Congress for the passage OF legislation specify
ing the number OF volunteers TO be enrolled and the
States districts to be put under military rule instead
OF authorizing him at his discretion 30 put the whole
country under martial Law and increase the army TO any
extent
The general opinion regarding the probable length OF
this session OF Congress point to about the mid
die Of this month. IT, however, the President and his
friends in Congress conclude that Will be better to
In off Mt
ent session. which Is not improbable the adjournment
will be delayed, perhaps, until the last week In April
The only business which the two Houses have deter
mined finish the KuKlux bill and the Deficiency
bill. The House has nearly exhausted itself on the
former and the Senate has also in effect been debating
it for several days The speeches in the House WILL
Monday or Tuesday be limited to five or ten minutes,
and Tuesday orWednesday shelabarger will close the
ment. Il seems probable that the bill will
pass the House in some shape, but It
form Il Will then tn the sepae where the
Gratis declare they viii fight hard and 5Sls o Se
constitutional amendments discussed will IN due
time bring about yTt RrSca On ne ast OF sp co or
SSp%d Of e s9d T e was long paS &
clerks in the Pension ONCE, and appropriated in the
aggregate about $4,000 The Senate added several pages
involving overt 10000 beside indefinite amounts where
ant amendment OF the Senate that repeating the law
Of March, The debate Will be long in both Houses but it
is thought everything may be finished by the middle Of
the month.
The latest outrage the Democratic side OF the House
the appointment yesterday OF colored page named
Alfred Powell the first selected in either House.
He was appointed from Virginia by representative Por-
ter and, except some practical jokes which have been
put upon him by Of the older pages he got started
very creditably.
REGULAR REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WASHINGTON, Saturday, April ], 1911
THE KU-KLUx BILL.