Worcester daily spy., 1871-02-16
Forty-First Congress Second Session
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. Is.
SENATE.

| WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. Is.
SENATE.
On motion of Mr.. Sumner the following reso-
| luton was adopted
Resolved, that the secretary of the navy be
directed to communicate to the senate copy OF
| the instructions to the commander Of the ship
Tennessee on her present cruise Also the names
| of the United States ships in the waters of the
| island of San Domingo, since the commencement
of the recent negotiations with Dominica to-
| gether with the armaments of such ships.
Senator Morton made an able speech, show
ing that the legislature of the state of Indiana
did not possess the constitutional right to with
draw the previously given ratification of the
| fifteenth amendment by that state. While the
| senator was speaking, his old preceptor, Mr..
| Newman, of Indiana, occupied seat at his side,
| and Mr. Sumner and other senators left their
| places to sit near him, and thus hear the whole
Of his mastery argument.
Upon the conclusion of Mr. Morton's speech,
Mr. Blair rose TO reply.
Mr.. Cole moved to take up the appropriation
bills.
Mr.. Pomeroy hoped the senator from Missou-
ri, Blair would be allowed to proceed.
Several senaors-"0h yesl Let him 90 onP
Mr.. Blair said, he thought the senator from
Indiana, Mr.. morton, had fairly represented the
administration in the bold, outSpoken, con!emp
tuous manner in which he had spoken. Last
summer it was rumored that the senator had
been appointed to high mission, and, after ac-
cepting the office, had changed his mind about
it, in consequence of che democratic majority at
the election in his state, to prevent democrat
coming here, in his place, to represent his
state.
Mr. ton-interrupting-"T misrepresent
herP
Blair-repeating,w with emphasis-"Wh would
represent"
He Blair proposed to state some matters con-
nected with the history Of the ratification OF the
fifteenth amendment He then arraigned the re-
publican party for lndelity to its profession be-
fore the people in regard to the principles of
the fifteenth amendment. After carrying the
presidential election upon the representation,
held out by the Chicago platform, that negro
suffrage was entirely matter within the con-
troll of the states, that party, at the ensuing
sion OF congress, had forced the principle upon
the country, in the fifteenth amendment. A
proposition to submit the question to state legis-
latures thereafter to be elected was voted down.
Senators and representatives from the states of
Missouri, Kansas, Michigan, New York and
Ohio, voted for that amendment, though the
people of those states had, by immense major-
ties, ranging from $4,000 TO 50,000,-reiected
negro suffrage at the elections just preceding
Legislatures throughout the country, elected
prior TO the submission of the amendment, rati-
fed ii, without regard to the protests Of their
constituents.
Mr.. Howard here remarked that a fair ex-
preston of the popular sentiment of Michigan
was to be found in the result of the last Novcm-
Der election there, at which all discrimination as
to color at the polls had been abolished, by
striking the word "white" from the state con-
stitution.
Mr.. Blair thought that did not touch the
question with which he was dealing. The de-
feat of the proposition previously by a deci-
sive majority Of 1000 should have been suffi-
cient TO guide the cOuse of any representative
of the state in congress, who was disposed TO
heed the voice of his constituents. Yet the SEN
ators and representatives of Michigan and the
legislature of that state, equally regardless of the
wishes of her people, voted to ratiiy the amend
meut. The yoke has been fixed upon the necks
of the people, and they CALLED. lfamendments Ii
could be adopted, as the 18th had been, against
the wish Of the great mass of the people, we
might soon have one to make the government
monarchical, and the president of the senate an
officer for life.
Mr.. Blair, replying to what Morton had said
about punishing the south for her treason, re-
minded that senator that the congress of the
United States had no right to go outside the
constitution to ind punishments for rebels, or
any one else.
Mr. Morton asked whether the democratic
party, in the last presidential election, did not
take issue squarely that reconstruction acts were
null and void, and ought to be disregarded, and
If they were not beaten on that.
MIR. RBlair thought they did, and he also
thought that the only reason why they were beat
en- was because some of them wanted to dodge.
He held those acts void, because congress under
took to infilct punishment outside Of the consti-
tuition.
Mr. Blair proceeded to comment, In detail,
upon the reconstruction acts, the 18th amend
ment and the enforcement Of the bill, all of
which he characterized as Aagrant violations of
the constitution, and usurpation by the congress
which enacted them, That congress had been