The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-05-09
CONGRESSIONAL.
WAsHlHGfoN, May 8,
SENATE.

On motion Of Mr.. Hamlin, a resolr
ton was adopted directing the Secretary
of the Navy to furnish the Senate with
comics of the report and maps of the sur
| vey Of the Isthmus Of Darien for an in
teroceanic ship canal.
Mr.. Kellogg called up The bill pro
yiding that the Presidential election II
Louisiana shall be held on the same day
with the State election, the first Mon
day in November. He said the objec
of the bill was to avoid the expense
and trouble of holding two elections II
succession.
Mr.. Morton said that an additional
advantage of the change would be thai
the Presidential election would get tht
benefit of the protection now provided
by law for the State election.
Mr.. Trumbull said that Mr.. Morton
statement was an admission, and was
designed to enable Congress to control
by direction, a Presidential election In
violation OF the Constitution.
Mr.. Morton denied that he had ad'
mitted any such thing and asked Mr..
Trumbull whether he wanted to have
the scenes of 1868 in Louisiana re-
newed and the Presidential election
held under such circumstances that it
could be controlled by the Ku-Klux
If he did he might fully oppose this
bill, but if be was in favor of an honest
election he might support it.
Mr.. Trumbuil said Mr.. Morton had
stated the object of the billwas to place
the election under the protection of an
act of Congress, and he asked where
Congress got the authority to interfere
with Presidential election in the lace
of the express provision Of the Constl-
tuition that it is TO be held in each State
in such manner as the Legislature
thereof may direct. He knew what
the protection spoken Of by Mr.. Morton
mig ght prove. 1t might be the protec-
tion offered by suspension Of the habeas
corpus and the presence of the military
power. He was in favor of an honest
election by a free people and for that
reason he was opposed to unconstltu-
tional Congressional supervision.
Mr.. Morton said Mr.. Trumbull was
in favor OF an honest election but op'
posed to the means by which it could
be secured, like the man who was
in favor of the Maine liquor law but
opposed to its enforcement. Laughter. J
The Senator knew that the election law
to which be objected so strong ly,
merely provided for the presence at the
polls Of two inspectors, one OF each
party, to see that the ballots were fairly
cast and counted.
Mr.. Bayard suggested that as Mr..
Morton had sought to remind the SEN
ate of the scenes of 1868, in Louisiana,
it might be we'll to recall also the
scenes of 1871, when the Federal au'
thorities interfered in quarrels OF the
party of which Senator Morton was
so distinguished an ornament and set
tied them by force OF arms.
Mr.. Morton-There were some dis
turbances in Louisiana last fall and
during the winter, but / believe that
the authors of them have now Joined
the ranks OF Senator Bayards friends.
Mr.. Bayard-If the Senator means
that my answer is that, he must be very
ignorant of what my political affilia-
tions are or else very reckless in his
charges.
MI. Morton-If we are to infer any
thing from the Senator'S remark 1t is
that those who have gone into this
Liberal movement are not his political
friends. We know what hopes have
been held out to those who went to
Cincinnati, that the Democrats would
father their little enterprise and adopt
their candidate. The Senator from
Delaware now disclaims that, but we
shall know better in q few weeks what
the Democracy will do.
Mr.. Bayard-The Senator from In
diana will probably be wiser three
weeks hence than he is now. BY that
time ne may know what the position Of
the great Democratic party, for which |
make no pretensions to speak, is and
what that great organization intends to
do for the benefit OF this country, but
he cannot know it until accredited
representatives of the party have spoken.
Perhaps he will have learned, too, by
that time to appreciate the motives oi
a political opponent whose object In
legislating is not that laws shall be
made to benefit by indirection or other
wise the party to which he is attached
but that laws shall be made that shall
conserve the liberties OF all the people,
whether they are his political opponents
or his political friends.
After further discussion the bill went
over.
The bill to regulate elections in
Washington and Idaho, to increase the
vote on the passage Of which it had
been reconsidered, was again passed,
ayes 90, nays Is.
The Postofice appropriation bill was
passed, Mr.. Nye's amendment which
was pending last night being first
adopted.
The general amnesty bill was then
taken up.
Mr.. Stewart endeavored to get the
Goat Island bill taken up, when Mr..
Cole insisted it should be referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs and
denounced the bill.
A personal passage occurred between
Messrs. Conklipg and Cole. Mr.. Conk'
ling charged Mr.. Cole with favoriug the
measure one year since, which Mr..
Cole said was untrue.
/ Mr.. Casserly thought it was very
strange if the California Senators were
to have no say in the matter, and re
sented the action of Mr.. Stewart in as
suming to take charge of it.
The subject then went over and the
am nesty bill was proceeded with.
Mr.. Sumner renewed his civil right:
amendment and advocated the same.
n E.rry of Conpecticnf made a