The Portland daily press., 1871-04-15
XLIId OONGRESS---First Session.
WASHINGTON, April IA.
aENATH

XLIId OONGRESS---First Session.
WASHINGTON, April IA.
SENATE.
Mr.. Schurz had the floor, but before proceed
ing gave way to Mr.. Howe, who gracefully al
luded to the speech of Mr.; Sumner last night.
and expressed his regret that he had in q re-
cent debate doubted the loyalty of the Sena-
tor from Massachusetts to the Republican par
ty.
Mr.. Sumner said briefly in reply that he had
spoken as he did on the San Domingo ques-
ton because of his devotion to the Republican
party, and his desire to save it from the COM
mission of a crime against international law.
Mr. Schurz said he regretted the partizan
turn the debate had taken, and from the inves-
LEGATIONS and debate he had formed some con-
illusions in which partizan bias had no SHARE
Ku Klux disorders in the South did exist to a
formidable extent and they and political ten
dency. Their origin is not to be found in the
reconstruction acts, and Congress was not the
original Ku Klux as had been said. Such out
RACES occurred in greater numbers Immediate
ly after the close Of the war and an improve
ment took place after the passage of the recon-
structiOn acts Such disorders were of usual
occurrence after great social revolutions, such
as the sudden abolition of slavery. TIE origin
of the evil existed in the bafled ro-slavery
spirit, producing morbid public sentiment
which overawed tmid people and INSTRUCTED
the functions of justice. Bad local govern
ments had increased the difficulty, the exist
euce of which had to be admitted in several
Southern States. 1t might have been prevent
ed had the honest and intelligent men of the
South protected the rights of the emancipated
people, instead of driving them into the hands
of INSCRIPTIONS men. The remedy now could
not be found IN penal statutes.
Mr.. Schurz went on to oppose those prOyis-
ions of the bill which enlarged the national
jurisdi cti0n at the expense Of local self GOV
n tIAn flf b0 Viryt of h. ~.
stitutiOn and creating constructive rebellion in
order to invest the President with discretion
airy power to suspend the habeas corpus laws.
a law liable to dangerous abuse by partlzan
governments He could not vote for the bill
unless these provisions were stricken out but
he would support a constitutional measure for
the repression of Outrages. The Democratic
party could not give peace to Southern society
because it was overawed by a lawless element
and controlled by reactionary tendency The
Republican party in many of the Southern
States was in its present condition equally I'M
able to secure peace and order, because, unless
it got rid OF dishonest leadership, it could not
produce good government. But the Demo-
cratic party had strong law and order loving
element in it and the Republican party con-
tanned numerous class of honest and indie
pendent men in favor of good government.
These elements united would be strong enough
to put DOWN discord without interference Of
the national authority. The union of these
L ClcmOuLS dTc uOW bcpdrdteu Dy party lines.
| which could be facilitated by the removal of DO
| litical disabilities low opposed from a senti.
| mental point of view. What was their practi-
cal usefulness? They did not protect any man
| in his rights, lessen mischief of the evil dis
posed or strengthen the party of law and or.
| der. After referring to number of instances
in which political disabilities had practically
endangered the security of negroes and Re-
publicans.
Mr.. Schurz strongly advocated their aboli-
ts<v.n
sentiment. The effect OF persistent and yjo-
lent demonstrations by the democratic party
against reconstruction acts and constitutional
amendments was to strengthen the Ku-Klux
spirit in provoking the use of arbitrary power,
Defining his position as liberal Republican,
Mr.. Schurz said he desired peace and good
will, the removal of political disabilities and
the restoration of local self government to the
utmost extent compatible with the cOnstitu
ton, and the getting OUT of the way OF all war
issues to make room for new quest ons; but
the very first article of his creed was the firm
maintenance of that settlement comprised in
the constitutional amendments guaranteeing
equal rights to all men. He appealed to the
Republicans while enforcing constitutional
law to set moral agencies at work, which would
have q more permanent effect than general
statutes, and abstain from legislation which
creating arbitrary powers, might afford aid to
some but would be calculated to endanger the
rights and liberties of all.
reply to the constitutional and other objections
to the bill, which be reviewed in detail, quoting
from publications put forth ut the time of the
formation of the Constitution and from various
authorities upon the nature of the govern
ment. ---...
At 4 O clock the Senate proceeded to vote on
the amendments on the bill reported from the
Judiciary Committee. The question was first
taken upon an amendment to add to the pro-
vision make it a high crime to ipjure in person
or property any United States officer in per-
torrance Of his daty the words, cor while en-
gagged therein" Agreed to 40 to %.
Mr.. Morton moved to amend the 4th section
so as to give the President the power to sus-
pend writ Of habeas corpus till the end OF the
42d Congress, March 4, 1872; rejected, % to A.
An amendment extending the time within
which The President may suspend q writ till
the next regular session of Congress was agreed
to, A to II. Messrs. Schurz, Upton and Trnm-
bull voted with the Democrats.
Mr.. Osborne moved to strike out 80 much of
the bill as repealed the test oath for Jurors in
U. s. Courts; lost. % to 49,
Mr.. Sherman moved an additional section
assessing damages to persons and property up-
on localities in which outrages are committed +.
agreed to, 80 to %.
Mr.. Trumbull moved to strike out the 4th
section, comforting upon the President discre-
tlonary power to suspend writ of habeas cor
pus; rejected, q to AZ. Messrs Hill. Morrill,
OF Maine, Robertson, Schurz, Upton, Trumbull
and Wright voting with the Democrats in the
affirmative.
Various amendments proposed by Mr.. Sber
man and others on the Democratic side were
voted down, and sundry alterations submitted
BY Mr.. Edmunds adopted.
Mr.. Blair moved as an amendment to add
the House amnesty bill.
Mr.. Edmunds made point of order that the
amendment not being germane to tho bill it
could not besreceived.
Mr.. Trumbull thought tho amendment en-
tirely germane and it would do much to pacify
the South.
During further discussion difficulty was
suggested that an amendment relieving dist
billtles would require two-tbirds vote, while
majority could pass the DILL. The amend
ment was finally withdrawn, Mr.. Robertson
giving notice that he would cali up the subject
OF amnesty at the first opportunity
Mr.. Morton renewed Mr.. Osborne's amend
meht 20 STRIKE out the clause repeating the test
0Stn ior nlted States jurors; carried, "a to 25
The effect is to continue the test oath as here
tofore. The bill was passed, as to19. The vote
was party one except that Messrs, Hill. Rob
ertson, Schurz, Upton and Trumbull voted
with the Democrats.
Messrs Pool and Pratt were appointed on
the Southern outrage investigation, vice viii.
son and Nye, resigned, and the Senate adjourn
ed till tomorrow.
The House passed the Senate concurrent res.
olutlOn to print 1000 copies of The report of
the Commissioner OF Education.
The attention of the House was directed to
speech Of Mr. Garrett OF Kentucky, printed in
the Globe and not spoken, which contained an
extract from Vicksburg paper characterizing
Senator Ames OF Mississippi, as a shoulder
strapped puppy and poltroon, most con-
summate liar and fool. A debate followed in
which Mr.. Garret was shown to have been
guilty of fragrant breach of privilege, snd
resolution was passed to expunge the obiec-
onaoe par Oh tne sIeecn IRON the Globe
the whole speech. A notion was
made to reconsider for correction, and the
matter was then laid aside.
The House then resumed the consideration
of the deficiency appropriation bill. An amend
ment was adopted requiring national banks to
pay in proportion to their circulation the OK
pense of printing their own notes.
California papers tell a delightful little sto-
ry about youth who recently won $11 900 in
lottery and straightway hunted up his most