The New York herald., 1871-02-16
Congress observation-disclosures Poiitlcs-Tcss
0affaS.

go,s houses Of Congress were engaged ycs-
terdav il ,ba discussion of national politics.
In the Senate the srso champions were sena-
tor Morton, Of ladhna, and senas9q. Blair, o.
Missouri. Morton opeoed the fight by SLASH
ing attack upon the Legislature of his own
State for undertaking to passa joint resolution
withdrawing its assent heretofore given, to
the ratification of the fifteenth constitutions
amendment. In his opinion this recent action
Of the Indiana Legislature was a mere harm
less nullity, aud deserving Of no consideration
except for its political significance In indi-
eating the spirit which anlmates the demo-
cratic party. That party lie accused
Of an unwiIlingness to accept any of the
results OF the war, to recognize the recon-
struction policy of Congress or to regard tho
fourteenth or fifteenth amendment Of the con-
stitution as Of binding effect; but on the con-
trary, he represented 1t as determined to
nullify them oil if it had only had the power to
do so. Blair took up the gauntlet and de-
fcnded the position of the democratic party,
retorting upon Morton that in the bold, out
had alluded to the system of representative
government as embodied in the Legislature of
his own State, he had fitly represented the ad-
ministration Of President Grant.
Strangely enough, the House Of Representa-
tives was at the same time arraigning the
administration for the use il made of the mill
tary power in the last fall elections, and
democratic Representative from Senator Nor
tons own State-Mr. Voorhees-was throwing
out vague hints of the dangers to be appre-
hended from grim, saturnine, silent men, high
in power, and was drawing parallel between
the occupant Of the White House at
Washington and his supposed prototype, the
Emperor Of the French, who had reached the
imperial throne over the PROSTATE liberties Of
his country.
The debate in each House was more than
usually interesting and significant, as bearing
upon and intended to influence the action Of
parties In preparing for the next Presidential
election, the two Senatorial athletes being
themselves prominent in the list of available
candidates, while on the democratic side Of
the House Voorhees,, Eldridge and Kerr have
also been spoken of in the same connection.
The subject on which the House debate was
carried on was q bill introduced by Mr..
Churchill, Of Oswego In this State, and re-
ported back from the Judiciary Committee by
Mr.. Bingham, Of Ohio, for the purpose oe
throwing additional securities around the BAL
lot box, and still further protecting the right OF
~, -
mcnt, by means Of the authority of the federal
government. The argument against it was
that the bill was an unconstitutional inter-
ference with the rights OF the States, and was
a gratuitous assumption of power by Congress,
as there was no inclination in any of the States
TO prevent any citizens from voting. Tho
friends OF the bill defended its constitution
ality and found necessity for 1t in the expe-
riencc which we have had in the elections in
this city, largely controlled AMI influenced, as
they have been, by ruf1sniy gangs Of repeat
ers. The bill wac passed by party vote.
The bill which was passed by both houses
and sent TO the President some time since, re-
lievpg from the obligation TO take the test
oath all who could not consclentiousiy take
1t, and imposing II on those who can, became
a law yesterday through the operation of the
constitution, the President having neither
signed nor vetoed it within the ten days re-
s;riction. He sent message to Congress
yesterday pointing out the absurdity of this
paradoxical measure, which, he said, dis
csiminatcd against the upholder Of the gov
ernment and in favoc Of the general who COM
manded hosts for the overthrow Of that gov
ernment He could not affix his name to such
law, but preferred 10 let 1t become operative
without bis sanction, recommending, however,
the abolition OF all test oatbs. The President,
In this sensible message, stands upon the
ground which the HERALD has always occu-
pied.
Both houses wero In session last night, tho
Senate being engaged In the consideration Of
appropriation bills and the House in acting
upon reports from the Judiciary Committee.
CARipALDI RETURNS TO HIS ISLAND from
A.. l.. l. L.. lx~..n Al. 4.