The New York herald., 1871-02-16
WASHING on:
I~~~~~~>>>~>~~~>>>~->~~~
The First Gun in the presider-
tial Campaign.
Senator Morton Opens on the
Democracy.
The Attack Icepe11cd by
Frank Blair.
ANOTHER INDIAN WAR N PROSPECT.
The Test Oath Repeal---Message
~~ by the President.

OF frank Blair.
The first gun OF the Presidential campaign Of 1872
was fred In the Senate to-day by Governor Morton,
OF Indiana, on the part Of the republicans, and the
IRE returned. by General Frank Blair, OF Missouri,
on the part OF the democrats. Both being repre-
sentative men OF their respective parties the contest
excited much attention. and was reluctantly
brought to close by the urgent demand Of time
for the consideration or the public business
Had 1t occurred earlier IN the session the
debate maugurated to-day by Senator Morton
would PROBABLY have continued for week.
As 1t was, each side had its say, ANA
then the Senators insisted that the debate must be
stopped In order that the Appropriation bill might
he passed. The significance Of Morton's speech Is
that represents the Views Of the Presidents upon
the several questions discussed. II Grant Is renOmt,
mated it Is evident that he intends not TO act on the
defensive, but to carry tie war into Africa and to
attack the enemy's position at all points. This was
the tactics displayed to-day by Mr. Morton. 1t
is complete confirmation Of the prophetic state
ments in the leading editorial In this mornings
HERALD. The occasion OF Morton's speech was certain
JOINT resolutions, passed by the democratic Legis-
lature or Indiana, nuliifying the fifteenth article or
amendment to the constitution Of the United States
After showing that the fifteenth amendments was
properly ratified by the Legislature 0f Indiana ard
that no State has the right TO nulllfy amendment
TO the constitution after has been ratified by three
fourths OF the States, Governor Morton charged
home upon the democracy. He asserted that they
are as party revolutionary and retrogres-
sive; that they denied the coDstitutonality Of
the reco instruction acts; that they regarded
the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments to the
constitution as utilities, ana that they prepared
TO open the way for the assumption Of the rebel
debt. He stated that the democratic conventions,
legislatures and the leading statesmen Of the party
had all assumed this ground. The democratic party
OF the North, like their brethren OF the South, no
SAID, refused TO regard the recent rebellion as q
crime, and, although the republican party had
sought nothing but security for the future the demo-
Gratis persisted in denouncng all the legisia-
tion growing out OF the rebellion as un-
constitutional and void. In view Of these
facts Morton said he did not think that the mission
OF the republican party was at an end
Perhaps the most attentive listener to Morton's
speech was Senator Blair, OF Missouri Morton's
charges We're too scathing and too damaging to the
democracy to be allowed to go unanswered but
everybody supposed thai Judge Thurman, of Ohio,
VINO has hitherto been The leader on the democratic
side, would reply TO Morton. Frank Blair, however
was the first to get the floor, and indeed he was
the only democrat who attempted to obtain
II. 1t was hts maiden speech in the Senate
and the republicans seemed even more anxious
than the democrats that he should be permitted to
proceed 1t Is believed that Morton was anxious 10
call Blair cut, knowing as he did that the Missouri
Senator Is not overcautious IN his public speeches
II the trap was set with the intention that Blair
would step into it it was entirely successful He
launched out at once In bitter and bold denunca-
ton OF the reconstruction acts declaring them to
be unconstitutional and vo,d and asserting that 1t
would be the duty Of the democratic par
U TO repeal them as soon as 1t came
into power. Having placed him upon the wit
ness stand, Merton cros5-examned Blair and COM
PEELED him to admit that the democratic party made
an Issue before the country in 1868 upon the ques-
ton of the consututionality Of the RECONSTRUCTION
Acts. Blair added, with some warmth, that the
democratic party was beaten in that contest be-
cause some Of its members lodged this issue. He
asserted that the fifteenth amendment was complete
and part Of the law Of the land, but he held that 1t
was ratified by fraud, and therefore was not So
cred as other parts Of the constitution.
During his speech Blair admitted that the demo-
party against the reconstruction acts and
the amendments to the constitution. If Blair Is to
pe regarded as leader Of the democracy Morton
has succeeded In forcing that party upon the same
platform they occupied in 1858.
Preserving the Purity Of the Ballot.
The House to-day was engaged In debating til bill
to amend the act to enforce the rights Of citizens OF
Union. The speech-making, which continued from
halfpast twelve to four O'clock principally con-
fined to The democratic side OF the House. The bill is
party measure and the republicans felt certain OF
their strength to pass 1t when vote could be OBJ
tanned, IL IS the last OF a long line OF measures
which, to use the language OF Judge Bingham, are
intended to hedge In the democracy and to keep
them from cheating at elections. 1t is supplement
to the celebrated Enforcement bill passed at the
last fall elections. In the case Of New York and
some other States was not found efficient and the
present bill is intended 10 supplement- 1t in thar re.
gard. AS already stated in the HERALD, the bin
places the machinery OF the elections entirely the
hands OF the federal authorities. 1t s, therefore,
naturally regarded by the democrats as one OF the
most obnoxious measures passed by the dominant
party.
Trial OF Congressman Bowen for Eigamy.
The argument OF counsel in the Brown bigamy
case was cofed and the case given to the jury TINS
afternoon Judge Wylle charged the jury that the
law here nDwfin regard to bgamy was the same as
defined by tNe Maryland law OF 179s except 1t was
then felony THE simple question was whether
Bowen married Parke and the government were
bound to prove that he was the man without q
doubt. 1t was \,for the jury to determine
whether 1t had been l,roved not and the law was
that the oath of the who had convicted himself
OF perjury could be tan en- for what 1t is worth In
conclusion he chargedsthat the present position Of
defendant should not be taken into consideration.
the jury retired their OF swo O'CLOCK but up
to seven O'Clock had not AZ reed upon verdlct.
Repeal Of the Test On th-HIessaxo by the
PrcsideAt.
The bill prescribing an oath OF office to be taken
by persons who participated III the late rebellion
but who are disqualified from II ,ding oflce by the
IN ha "a n ha
come law without the President's signature. The
President however, to-day transmit ed TO Congress
the following message, giving tue rea sons why he
did not sign the bill:--
10 THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPREsESl' 'ATIvES:-
have this day transmitted TO the SenaAe the an
nouncenent that Senate bill Ne. 218, 'An act pre-
scrbing an oath OF Office TO be taken BY ps s'rsons
who participated In the late rebellion, but wh., are