Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-14

klsllblS " W Isl Olut. WI.
Wilson, upon his own request, was ex-
cused from service on southern outrage
investigation.
Mr.. Robertson gave notice he would
ask for vote on the amendment of the
order of business to permit action on the
general amnesty bill as soon as tle Ku-
Klux bill was disposed Of.
The Ku Klux bill was then proceeded
with.
Speech of Thurman.
Mr.. Thurman took the floor IN
lengthy argument against the centralizing
tendencies of the bill. This whole IN
dertaking to punish .offenses against
State laws through the machinery of the
federal government was plainly uncon-
stftutional. The essence of the message
was in the third and fourth sections,
which vests the Presidan5 OF the United
States with power ROW only welded by
the Sultan of Turkey and the Gar Of
Russia. He could st viii declare war
against the people of any Sta e and sus
pend the writ of hab2&s corpus there.
This power of suspension was legisls-
tive power, and could not be delegated 10
INC ITSsluCUt. Ito UAACSSl NCA
der to Presidential canaiGste was most
dangerous to the liberties of the country.
The question now was whether we are 10
have but one star instead of thirty seven
on our flag; whether the State govern
ments, the source of OUT prosperity, are
10 be abolished, and with them cur whole
system of free government.
On motion of Mr.. Trumbull the SeCre
tary of the Interior was directed to fur
nish statement of the population of the
United States, giving the representative
and total population of each State sep
arately, as ascertained by the ninth cen
sus.
Ku-KIux and HaYtI-Sumner VS..
Sumner-A SOmers0uIt and Suicide
Mr.. Sumner asserted the right and duty
of National protection, especially in the
case of the freedmen who have been the
friends of the Government; that fearful
outrages had been perpgtrated IN the
South could not be denied, and the power
of Congress was ample. No cry OF cen
tralism or imperialism could deter him.
He was for The ceatralism of liberty and
the imperialism of equal rights. Once
the nation served slavery in the interest
of State rights; now it must serve liberty,
even denying State rights.
Mr.. Thurman inquired whether MI.
Sumner intended 10 vote for the bill.
Mr.. SumeT replied he did.
Mr.. Thurman said the President of the
United States had only recently been
Justly arraigned by the Senator from
Massachusetts, CMr. Sumner) for usurping
the war power against the black people
of Hayti, but Senator Sumner seemed to
be wholly inseDsible when a bin was pro-
posed to confer upon the President power
to make war upon white people Of
America.
First amendments being q mere verbal
improvement of phraseology were agreed
to-yeas, Il; nays, z.
4 Voc To-Day.
1t was agreed to hold an evening session
for debate, and TO finally dispose of the
bill tomorrow.
Senate took recess.
At the evening session Mcssrs. Osborne
and Sawyer spoke in favor of the Ku-
Klux bin.
Mr.. Nyc presented 4 communication
~ from Judge Logan, of North Carolina
saving he was unable to hold court TO
fear of the Ku-KluX, and asking tol
troops TO protect him ia the discharge o
his official duties. Also statements tina
a large numb of white and cOlored per
sons were victims OF recent whipping
and scourgings in LcVand and adjoining
counties OF that State by men wearin!
masks. The condition of things thu
shown constituted civil war. These coun
ties were in instruction to-day and unde
terror were defying the State and the IA
lion. Were Senators content to cav
over inilnitesimal constitutional point
while these wells of woe come up iron
every breeze.
A HOme-Ihrust.
Blair did not want Nye to shed all hi
tears for North Carolina, but to look a
home. He asked for reading of tn
proceedings of vigilance committee, l
Virginia City, Nevada, and various ou'
RACES of recent occurrence in that Ststt
He ouoted from the Territorial Entel
prise. a Republican paper OF Neyad'
that within the last ten years two hun
dred murders had been committed IN or
county of that State, for which two live
had been exscted-One by law and or
by violence. =, -,
Mr.. Wilson said the old leaven
slavery was still working in the Soutl
and years will Ae required to eradicate i
In the period previous TO Lees surrend,
during which the OLD Rebels had contr,
of the South, Outrages and murder we
rnuch more general than low. An clio
mad been made to establish sertdom
Mace of slavery.
Mr.. Sherman gave notice OF an amen,
raent. assessing damages arising from u
ABSTRACTION of private property
r;,tous or tumultuOus Gsscmblages upc
the localities IN which they are comm
ted. IL.
Victors and Blair then deliver
speeches against the bill.
The attendance of members was We
meagre. aud al u O'Clock, al which he