The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1872-06-07
Failure of the Ku-KluX Bill In
the IIOMAn
(From thc New York Trlbunc.)

Failure of the Ku-iilux Bill In
the House
(I'rom the New York Tribunc.)
Again the House Of Representatives
has shown itself more independent
and discreet legislative body than the
Senate. The public opinion which
found authoritative expression in the
Cincinnati platform, was echoed and
approved by all the unpurchascd press.
and was set forth anew in language Of
rs much beauty Us vigor in Mr. Gree
lcy's letter Of acceptance, demanded
that an end be speedily put TO any I'M
just and discriminating legislation
against the South. The Senate dctiGd
this evident and earnest popular de-
mand. In obedience to the dictalion
Of those friends and managers Of the
President who Imagine that with the
same SWORD by which he gained his
fame he can gain his reelection. the
Senate passed Il bill extending to the
President the power Of su,pending the
writ Of Ilabcas Corpus at his discretion
until the close Of the next regular Sc,-
sion Of Congress. II went easily through
that body, which, by common consent,
is called n dignicd and II deliberate
one, though opposed with vgOr by
several of the ablcst members Of the
Senate, and not supported by any
speeches or argument, worth mention
Ing. The Administration threw lis
whole weight in favor of the bill, its
par,i2ans not hcsitating to say that it,
passage was required as II political ne
ccssily. There was never more shame
less sight presented by our political
history an Administration not daring
to trust TO the free suffrage OF the pcO-
pie. and clamoring for the sword OF
military power to be placed in it, hands
to accomplish an endangered election.
The public Indignation against this
Ubiquitous attempt 10 gag and ict'cr a
people Just beginning 10 recover its
freedom Of speech and action. had
been given Intelligent form and dircc-
ton by the Cincinnati movement. The
House of Representatives was near
enough to the voting population to APP
prcciatc this fact. When Gen. Butler
tried to accomplish the wishes Of the
/ President by the trick of voting Il recess
instead OF an adjournment, the vote Of
| the House showed Enthusiastically the
spirit in which they looked upon such
"a measure. We were therefore cncOur-
AGED to believe that when the time came
for the House TO act upon the Senate
bill for keeping the South another year
] .l,,,, L., Ia,
scs, it would be found that they would
decline being made the puppct Of En-
ccutivc ambition and OF Senatorial SER
Witty. These hopes were not uni'Ound-
ed. Yesterday. Mr.. Poland moved n
suspension OF the rules to take up and
pass the Senate Ku.KluX bill. His mo-
ton. which required u two-tllirlS vote,
did not receive Il majority. only ~ voI-
inc in its favor to los against it. This
virtually killed the project; for, as Mr..
Poland frankly said, if his motion had
received II majority, he could have re-
ported from his committee an identical
| bin with that Of the Senate. and passed
| it by the same majority. But with the
greater number against him, he should
.
instructions Of hi, Committee.
This is another Of the pcaccabc fruits
/ of Cincinnati. Just rs the wise and
Imagmanmous plea for amnesty inlu-
cnccd even the Senate to pass and the
| President to sign measure of amncs-
|ty. which, though imperfect, was far
better than the grudging mcanncsS Of
their an'cccdrnt policy. so the uncqniv-
oral declaration Of Cincinnati in favor
OF the restoration of civil authority
in the South. and the quick and unInis-
taxable response of the country to this
declaration. has given strength enough
to the conscientious members Of both
parties to vote according to their own
convictions, to bring back as soon rs
possible the reign Of law TO every Sec
ton OF the country.