Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-04-13
F0RTY-SEC0ND CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings.
THURSDAY, April d.

Mr.. Robertson gave notice that a. soon a. the
Pe,h1ng hnklun olli ~as disposed OF he would
bill.
THR KUKLUN BILL
was then proceeded with. on which Mr. Thur-
m an was entit'ed 10 the floor.
MIR. Thurman objected 20 the central ring
tendencies Of the first section, giving tue
power To any man who NAV be injured
however slightly, In his rights under the Con-
sutution, 20 seek for redress in the federal
courts. IL was a disparagement of the State
courts: and although the judiciary OF the State
Of Ohio was generally opuoSed 70 him II, toitirs
he was satisfied that they were impartial and
would award justice, and be was unwilling 10
say 70 the people OF Ohio that the Congress OF
the United States had no confidence ia their
judges. There were some parts OF the second
section that he could approve OF, but there were
others that were open TO the most grave objec-
tons. It's terms as TO what shall constitute 4
conspiracy are too vague. The utmost discre-
ton as TO this is placed in the hands of the dis
triet attorneys, many OF whom have no precon-
ceiyed idea of the law, and many in the SOath
10 not know how 10 draw an Indictment snd
the judges are little IL any better, for in MANY
instances they had 90 take just such Judges
and attorneys as they could get, and the
grand Iuries who are TO find the in.iist-
menfs may be composed two thirds OF
negroes, none Of whom can read or write
The amendments OF the Judiciary COMMITTEES
10 dissection propose to take under the control
| OF the general government the due course OF
| justice in the States. Ills attempting ON the
A.
| State laws is plainly unconstitutional. Then
as 10 the penalties of hne and Imprisonment
provided in this section. According TO the
supplementary civil rights bill OF the Senator
| froTo Massachusetts, Mr.. Sumner, } and under
the provisions of this section, III the proprietors
OF tie Arlington Hotel provided different tables
ior colored guests and declined TO mix them AZ
the same tables with the white guests they
would he liable 10 fine at the least Of $500 and
imprisonment for six months, and the same of
| every other hotel keeper, or Of any steam boat
ND nm ha neh ar han
| daI kies who robbed a hen roost or plundered
| pig pen would be liable, under this section. 10
the same penalties. But these tremendous and
extraordinary penalties would make the law
dead letter, just az the fugitive slave Law conId
not be executed IN many Of the States because
| Of its being ediOus 10 the people.
The third and fourth sections were really all
that there was in this BILL and If il WAS not for
them II would he dropped immediately. These
sections gave to the President OF the United
States power which was possessed by OILY I've
mOnsTchs in the world-the Gar of Russia and
the Sultan OF Turkey. Under these sections
the President can Of his own will declare war
against the people OF any State OF this Union
Such an idea as this was unknOs n to the trainers
OF our Constitution. To give to the President
and be probably a candidate for reelection
this power, TO put in his hands absolute control
over the elections, is the destruction OF the
country. He may not only shipwTeck his own
fame, but shipwreck the Very liberties af this
country, when this discretion is given 20 the
President 10 suspend the wilt Of babeas corpus
The power TO suspend the writ was a legis alive
power, and couldnot be delegated, AMI arsu.
ment on this point was not necessary. He
agreed with the Senator from Illinois Mr.
Erumbuln that the question now before NJ
~, whether we are TO reyciutiOnize this
government, and no longer have a repub-
nc composed Of separate States, but a CEN
ralized, consolidated government, 10 strike
out thirty seven stars. and have but one
tie had always been OF the opinion that one OF
the greatest sources Of the happiness Of TIE
people OF the United States was the existence an
the State governments, by which local self gov
ernment was secured 10 them, but IL now the
State lines were to be obliterated. il would h.
the destruction of the system OF government
under which We had so hong prospered.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Barnum, member elect from the State OF Con
necticut, made his appearance and was sworn
in
Mr.. Leonard Myers Pa introduced a bin 10
provide for the adjustment and settlement OF
the claims OF AMERICAN citizens for French
spoliations prior to 1901. Referred to the Com
mittee on Foreign A fairs.
Mr.. McCrary CIowa) offered = resolution a.
lowing the contestant in the contested election
case OF Schenck vs. Campbell, sd Ohio district
10 amend his contest by adding the plea OF
frsud in the Second Ward OF Hamilton, Ohio.
ON motion OF Mr., Kerr lind the tfouse re-
considered the vote by which a bill 20 authorize
the construction Oft bridge across tue Missouri
river at ST. Joseph was referred TO the Commit
tee on Commerce.
After amendment the bill was passed.
Mr. Holman (ind.l presented a commuuiea-
ton from Henry ID. Cooke aud Clinton Iioyd
IN behalf OF the
YoUNG MEs's CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
announcing that general convention Of dele
gates from all parts Of the United States aud
British Provinces Numbering over a thousand
delegates, the business meetings OF which viii
be held at Lincoln Hall, and asking as there Is
no hall or church in this city large enough for
the purpose that the use OF tbs House of Esnrs-
sentaives may be granted Tor their public OPEN
ing aid closing services.
The Speaker said that under the rules mo-
ton to grant the Use OF the House could only be
ebtSTtslped by unanlmQns consent,
A.. Willard lNt objected, and Mr. Blair
(Mieh,l demanded the regular order.
The House then resumed the consideration OF
The DEFICIENCY BILL
the question being upon concurrence in the
Senate amendment repeating the law uXing the
line fOE the meeting OF Congress on the ith OF
March.
Mir. Coburn (Ind) opposed the repeal and
said that he hop d Tor the time when We should
not hear of CO-eTdinats branch o.; tue govern
ment. There W A. out one great power of the
government. AM that was the power OF the peo-
Ole throu gh their Representatives.
Mr.. Beck ny advocated concurrence. He
said there Was no doubt that the
NExT CONGRESS WOULD BIS DEMOCRATIC,
an their Speaker would then be IN the same
embsrr asS.ng position as the present Speaker
was now placed IN regard 10 the appointment OF
committees before he became acquainted with
the members. Besides they woald have a dem
Ocratic President and there would be no danger
OF hrs violating the PROVISIONS OF the constitu-
the case required in calling Congress together.
Mr.. Banks Mass advocated the repeal. He
said by the meeting Of Congress on the fourth
# March new members ef the House had not
that influence in the organisation of the House
that they had ght to. he denied that any
necessity existed Tor the present law. he said
that If the President and Vice President should
die, and there should be no president of the
Senate. II would be competent for any member
TO call Congress together. He did not mean 10
say that this was regular, but il gentlemen
would suppose
IMPROBABLE CoNTIHG yNCIRs
We must suppose proper WAYS Of meeting the
difnculties. He hoped the isw would be re-
pealed- He did not approve OF the House sit
tirg here from two TO six weeks unable 10 intro
duce any legislation, and without the power
TO reslst measures forced upon them by the
Senate.
Mr.. Hosr Mass opposed the repeal of the
law, and IN the course OF his remarks charged
that the bi was an attempt on the part of the
Senate to clutch 1t and grasp in its own hand
the power. not only from the executive on the
one hard but the Representatives OF the people
on the other.
Mr.. Cos a. W advocated repeal. ana saia
that the slip-sho1, awkward way OF legislation
without committees. repeating to- iay What rhev
had passed Yesterday, without doing apything
70 relieve the people from taxation or TO revive
trade, was not satisfactory 10 fha canp frv