Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-04-14
Forty-Second Congress First Session
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 10.
SENATE


SENATE.
The discussion on the kuEluX bill was re-
sumcd.
As an instance of the monstrous pains and
penalties of the bill, Mr.. Thurman said, if Mr..
Summers supplementary civil rights bill should
pass, then, under this section, the proprietOrs of
any first class hotel will be liable to fine of $500
and six months Imprisonment for assigning
white and colored guests TO separate tables, or
falling to provide for both at the same tables.
The same held good as to any proprietor of
public conveyance or place OF public amusement.
On the other hand, a few darkeys, for robbing
the hen roost or plundering the pig pen of
white man, would suffer the same penalties for
having infringed the immunities and privileges
of American citizens These sections might
give rise to veXatious and harassing prosecu-
lions, but their extraordinary severity would
practically make them dead letter. The es-
sence of the measure is the third and fourth
sections, which vested the president of the
United States with power now only welded by
the sultan of Turkey and czar of Russia.
He will declare war against the people of any
state, and suspend the writ of habeas corpus
there. This power of suspension was a legisla-
tive power, and could not be delegated to the
president. Its unreserved surrender to a
presidential candidate was most dangerous to
the liberties of the country. The question now
was, whether we are to have but one star, in
stead of thirty-seven, upon our flag; whether
the state governments, the source of prosperity,
are to be obliterated, and, with them, our whole
system of free government.
Mr.. Boreman spoke, at length, in vindication
of the reconstruction measures. He attributed
the southern hostility to the government, and
disorders in the south, to the effect Of northern
democratic opinions and example.
Mr.. Davis, of Kentucky, said the bill would
be executed only in democratic and doubtful
states, to carry the republican ticket.
Mr.. Sumner asserted the right and duty of
national protection, where life, liberty, or prop
erty of individual citizens was imperiled,
especially where, as in the case of the freedman,
that citizen had been the friend of the govern
ment. That fearful outrageS had been perpe-
trated in the south, could not be denied, and the
power of congress was ample. No cry of CEN
tralism, of imperialism, could deter him. He
was for the centraism of liberty and the impe-
rialism of equal rights Once the nation served
slavery, in the interest of state rights now il
must serve liberty, even to the denial of state
rights.
Mr.. Thurman inquired whether the senator in
tended to vote for the BILL
Mr.. Sumner replied that he did.
Mr.. Thurman said the president of the United
States had only recently been arraigned, and, in
his Judgment, justly, by the senator from
Massachusetts for uSurpng the war power
against the black people of Hayt; but that SEN
ator seemed now wholly insensible, when a bill
was proposed to confer upon the president
power to make war upon the white people of
America.
The first of the pending amendments, being
mere verbal improvement of phraseology of the
bill, was then voted upon.
Mr.. Trumbull called for the ayes and nays, to
test whether the senate was disposed to amend
the bill in any shape.
The amendment was agreed to-41 to Z.
At 5:35, it was arranged, by unanimous con-
sent, to hold an evening session for debate on the
bill, the measure to be disposed of finally to-
morrow, the session TO commence at ten and
Mr. Edmunds, in charge of the bill, to be as.
signed the floor to close debate at one P. NJ.
Recess.
EvEING SESSION.
Speeches were delivered by MIR. Osborn, in adj
vocacy of the bill, and Mr.. Sawyer, in denial of
the charge of Mr. Blair that the failure of re-
construction was owing to maladministration of
southern officials. He charged the responsible
ty of kukluX disorders upon the northern
democracy, by whom the southern people had
been msled into hostility to reconstruction.
MIR. Nye presented communication from
Judge Logan, Of North Carolina, saying that he
was unable to hold court for fear of the kullux,
and asking for troops to protect him in the dis
charge o. his official duties; also statements of
large number of victims, white and colored, of
recent whippings and scourgings in Cleveland
and adjoining counties of that state, by men
wearing masks.
MIR. Blair said he did not want Senator Nye
to shed all his tears over North Carolina, but to
look at home. He, therefore, asked for a read
ing of the proceedings of the vigilance commit
| tee in Virginia City, Nevada, and numerous
| outrages of recent occurrence in that state.
Mr., Stewart remarked that the vigilantes of
| the Pacific coast were unlike the kuklux, as
they had never taken life for political reasons.
Mr.. Wilson said the old leaven of slavery was
still working in the south, and years would be
| required to eradicate it.
Mr.. Sherman gave notice of an amendment,
to assess damages, arising from destruction OF
| private property by riotous or tumultuous as
semblages, upon the localities in which they
were committed.
MIR. Vickers and Mr. Blair then delivered
| speeches against the bill
The attendance of members during the evening
was very meagre, and, at twelve O'Clock, ut
winch hour Mr.. Blair still occ pied the floor,
i ent.
Adjourned.
HOUSE.
The amendment to the appropriation bill, re.