The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-15

speech of Senator MortOo-scathing Criticism |
of the Democracy.
Special Despatch 20 The Boe'sin0 Telegraph.
WASHINGTON, Feb 15.-Governor Morton to-
day called up the resolutions of the Indiana
Legislature nullifying the ratification of the
fifteenth amendment to the Constitution of the
United States, and proceeded to make speech
showing the position of the Democratic party
relative to the new amendments to the Consti-
tuition. He argued tb at the objection of the
Democrats to the fifteenth amendment, to wit
that it was declared and adopted before certain
of the Southern States were represented in
Congress, would apply with equal force to the
fourteenth amendment
The Trouble with the Dem mocrntic Party,
he said, was that they failed to seed the wrong
fulness of Rebellion, hence they refused to ad-
nit that Rebel States had not the same rights
politically as the loyal States He held that the
action of the Legislature of Indiana in nulify-
ing the amendment does not amount to any
thing in point of law. 1t only shows the pur-
pose of the Democracy. He argued that it is
Impossible for any state to NuInfy
an amendment to the Constitution after 1t has
been ratified by three-fourths of the States. The
Democratic majority in the Legislature of In.
diana, and their action relative to this amend
ment, did not, in his opinion, ,representthe views
of the people of that State. The issue rendered
by the Democratic party is that it proposes to
accept nothing that has been done in the way of
reconstruction.
1t has not only declared through all its con-
venticns, State and National, that the rec IN
struction acts of 1867 were unconstitutional and
void, but 1t now asserts that the fourteenth and
fifteenth amendments are null, and will be by it
disregarded when it comes into power. Men of
all parties are rotifed that the
Programme of the Democrats
is revolution and retrogressien. Mr.. Morton
charged that the adoption of the amendments to
the Constitution were strongly opposed by the
Democratic party in and out of Congress, that
the democratic party everywhere denied to
Congress the right to require the late Rebel
States to ratify the amendments as conditions
to their restoration, and that no Democratic
convention, Legislature, or leading statesman
so far as he knew, has accepted or admitted the
validity of the amendments. Governor Morton
then
Addueed Evidence
the cases of Kentucky, California, aud indiana,
where Democratic Legislatures had sought to
nullify the amendments to the Constitution. He
| closed as follows;-''When we look at the
Reign Of Violence In the South,
the bitter and bloody persecution of men for
opinions sake, and at the ominous cloud of.nul-
/ lifcation which makes the political horizon
black, who will dare to say that the mission of
the Republican party has been performed"
Senator Morton's speech made
Profound Sensation
among Senators on both sides of the chamber.
| The Democrats were stirred to great pitch OF
excitement at having revolution and retrogres-
sion charged upon their party. Messrs. Thur
man, Blair and Bayard all arose at once to
reply. Mr.. Thurman was recognized by the
chair. Mr.. Morton's speech is regarded as the
opening gun of the campaign of 1872 on the
Republican side.
| Naval Orders.
Despatch 10 the Associated Press.
| WAsHINeToN Feb. Is. = Lieutenant Com
| mander Robson is ordered to special ordnance
| dnty nt Springfield Mass, and Second Assistant
Engineers w. H. Harris aud John F. Bingham
TO an examination for promotion.
Lieutenant Commander Pearson has been de-
tached FROM special ordnance duty aud ordered
to the Worcester
Lieuteb ant Asa Walker is detached from the
jamestown and ordered to return home.
The bill prescribing an
OaIh Of Once
10 he taken by persons who participated in the
late Rebellion, but who are disqualified from
holding office by the fourteenth amendment tu
the Constitution bas become law, without the
Presidents signature He will. in a brief mes
sage today, state the reasons why he did no
sign IT, The President has approved and signed
the act granting
Pensions IN soldiers aud sailors
of the War of 1912 and TO the widows of de
ceased soldiers.
No News of the Tennessee.
No intelligence has been received up to nooi
concerning the Tennessee.
EPDN M 4RJ'T 4 Nm