Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-31
Forty-Second Congress First Session
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 30.
SENATE

SENATE.
All was quiet in the senate chamber this
morning, and after the routine business Mr.,
Garrett Davis took the floor on the kukluX ques-
ton.
Mr.. Davis denied that congress had any pow.
er to pass such legislation as proposed, and
gave notice that he would present his views at
length, at the proper time, and he would then
pay his respects to the administration, taking
authority for all that he would say from the
records of the administration as made by its
own friends.
Mr.. Wilson said he held in his hand list of
victims of murder and outrages committed in
Kentucky during the last month in 1865 and
the first ten months of 1865, and TO this he ill.,
vited the attention of Senator Davis and his coll
league, Mr.. Stevenson. 1t appears that in this
time there were nineteen murders of freedmen,
and 233 freedmen were maltreated without be-
ing killed. Two white Union men some time
since were ordered to leave, and five Others as
saulted with intent TO kill. General Jet
&. DAYS, then in command in Kentucky,
then reported that in none of these cases was
any action taken by the state authorities. Hon
orable senators might argue from now until
eternity, but they could not oblitcrate these
facts.
Mr.. Stevenson indicated his state from the
charges Of lawlessnesS, and claimed that the
people there uniformly treated negroes gener-
ously and kindly, and their only fault was in
refusing to believe in the superiority OF the
negro race. To show that the senator from In
diana, Mr.. Morton, at one time entertained the
same sentiments, he had read eX racts from the
gentlemanS message TO the legislature, as gov
ernor Of Indiana, and from a speech delivered
by him at Richmond, Indiana, in 1865, opposing
negro suffrage as dangerous to the country,
holding negroes to be unfit to WELD the fran
chiSe, and they should undergo probationary
period. Mr.. Stevenson commented on this as
showing that the only difference between MIR.
Morton and the people of Kentucky was that
the former was more apt scholar.
Mr.. Morton proceeded TO read from what he
stated TO be the official list Of murders and out
RACES committed in Kentucky.
MIR. Stevenson enquircd what "Otficial list he
meant.
Mr.. Morton replied that it was an official
record prepared by the freedmen bureau. (Dc-
rsive laughter on the democratic Side)
Mr.. Stevenson-"Wc do not recognize the
ireedmen's bureau as authority in Kentucky"
MIR. Morton-"You do not recognize any au-
thorty. You do not allow negroes to testify,
and if you could succeed in excluding all testi-
mony 1t would be easy for you to prove that
Kentucky is a law abiding state" In reference
TO the sentiments previously expressed by him,
which has been quoted, he would say that, at
the time they were announced they were very
generally entertained by the republican party,
but 1t was soon found that reconstruction could
not be accomplished without the eniranchise-
ment of the colored people, and Acknowledgement
had worked far better than he anticipated.
MIR. Blair desired the senator from Indiana,
Mr. Morton, TO answer candidly one question,
whether negroes had not been entrusted with
the ballot, in order to obtain republican votes.
Mr.. Morton replied that it was well known
that reconstruction could not be accomplished
on white basis. The white people OF the
sonth would not accept the situation.
Mr.. mphatically-"They did accept
the situation. They did abolish slavery, and
n
since; and any one who asserts the contrary,
asserts that which is not true" General ap-
plause in the galleries,)
The chair, Mr.. Anthony, warned the galleries
that repetition Of such demonstration would
cause them to be instantly cleared.
Mr.. Edmunds said he desired to give notice
that, upon the next occasion of any dSordery
manifestations the galleries, he should not only
insist upon their being cleared, but that the
offenders be arrested and punished 1t was
about time TO stop the practices which, during
the last few days, had turned the chamber into
beer garden or cock pit.
Mr.. Morton said he did not wish the galleries
interfered with on his account.
Mr.. CoHflling said he would have to object to
carrying ont the threat of the senator from
Vermont, in this case. The same galleries had
now, for days, been applauding the sentiments
identical with those Just expressed by the sena
tor from Missouri. He opposed any discrimi.
nation in the matter, and thought the senator
from Missouri should not be deprived of the
plaudits awarded other senator's.
The chair stated that if the disorder was re-
peated, he would have to direct the sergeant-at.
arms 10 enforce the rules.
MIR. Morton said he would conclude what he
had to say by asking for a reading of an editor.
ial from the Louisville Courier7Journa on tEe
Kentucky legislature. 1t was photograph by
a democratic paper of u democratic legislature
article. 1t declared the kukluX in Kentucky to
nptS
that the legislature had failed to do anything TO
suppress them, but spent its time
in whiskey and champagne drinking,
smoking cigars, lobbying and praying
that the state may never look upon its like
again, &c. Mr.. Morton explained that he did
not mean to say that lawlessnCss was universal
among the democratic party Of Kentucky. He
admitted that the late governor and now sen
ator, Stevenson, and TWO democratic Judges,
had done their duty, as also one democratic pa
per, the Louisville CONFECTIONERY out of forty
published in the state; but they were unable 10
influence the democratic party Of that state.
MIR. Pool obtained the floor, and, after a brief
executive session, the senate adjourned
HOUSE.
The senate bill authorizing the president to
appoint commissioners to examine and report
upon the Sutro tunnel in Nevada was taken up
and passed.
The consideration of the bill TO protect loyal
people of the south was then resumed, and Mr..
Beck of Kentucky made a strong speech in OPP
position to it.
Mr.. Beck was followed by Mr.. Blair of Michi-
gan in favor OF the bill. He stated that before
the receipt of the presidents message he believed
that there was sufficient law to protect all the
people of the south, and was therefore in favor
of the adjournment of congress- but he was
bound to accept the presidents statement that
the law was not adequate, and was therefore in
favor of the pending bill.
MIR. Blair said the act Of May 1870, known as
the enforcement act seemed to have been made
to meet the existing condition of affairs Its
provisions appeared broad, clear and definite
enough TO meet all acts of lawless bands and
conspirators Statutes are not wanting to en-
able the president to enforce the law, and in this
connection, Mr.. Blair quoted the law of 1892
He was unwilling, therefore, to recognize the
presidents message as a further reason for leg
islation; but, as the president had expressed a
doubt on the subject, it became the duty OF the
representatives of the people to reconsider the
whole subject. While he deprecated the neces-
sity of passing such bill as this, the country
would not be satisfied with denunciations of it.
If gentlemen had better way of protecting the
people, let them produce it. He did not hesitate
to say ttat, by a fair construction of the consti-
tuition, the government was authorized to inter
iere in a state to suppress domestic violence
when state cannot; or, by reason of completely,
does not apply to the general government for
assistance. This bill was proposed to protect
the people in their rights, privileges and immu-
mites which pertain to them as citizens of the
United States, and under the constitution and