The Portland daily press., 1872-01-12
ADDITIONAL TO CIVIL SERVICE.
XLIId CONGREss..sECOND SESSION.
SENATE.

Appropriation Committee, appropriating $27,-
S45 for the expenses of the Ku Klux Commit
tee.
Mr.. Davis, of Kentucky, denounced the whole
Ku Klux investigation bill. Passed.
The joint resolution of Mr.. Sumner, propos-
ing Constitutional amendment limiting the
service of President to one term, came up.
Mr.. Conkling addressed the Senate, arguing
against any such amendment He claimed
that the country was on the eve of civil service
reform. We are about to divorce appointments
from patronage and favorits and to try with
drawal of political patronage from politics. He
argued against any amendment of the Consti-
tuition forbidding reelection to the Presidency.
1t was unnecessary as q means of getting rid of
peril to which the old appointing system was
open, but which the new system is specially de-
signed to remove. We are in the act of provd-
ing that Presidents shall not be reelected by
bad means, and we are told that as part of the
same act we must provide that Presidents shall
not be reelected by good means We are root
ing out the great alleged evil of re-elgibiity to
second Presidential term when we are told we
must not leave tsre-eligibe" standing in the
Constitution, even after its alleged evil has
been taken away. We are stripping thing of
the one objection to it, and are told the thing
itself must not exist after objection is gone
This seems very odd. A common mind sees it
all the other way. To me the two things seem
not only distinct, but contradict each other If
we were engaged in preserving the present sys-
tenn of appointment could see the fitness of
removing danger, real or supposed, belonging
to that system; but when we are bringing it a
new system do not see the need of q COnsti-
tutional anathema aimed at the departing evils
and the abuseses banished with the old system
and superseded and prevented by the new. 1t
would seem not to require further action; GER
tainly not require action warning on reason in
other respects. Proceeding with his argument
the Senator urged the inconsistency in claiming
that removals would be ''only for cause" and
then forbldding the reelection of a President
who has won such public confidence by four
years of faithful service; that he can only be
got rid of by legal disability. He claimed
that the pending proposition was simply an ex-
pedient to prevent the re-relection of President
Grant, for, if adopted, it would be claimed that
Grants denomination in the face of it would
be INDIGENOUS; that if the dogma is right and
so declared by Congress and the people it must
not be trampled on now; but why not provide
as well against the reelection of Vice President
or Senators? Are they not as likely to be
tempted to abuse their patronage and power?
Mr.. Sumner, in reply, said:-sT shall not I'M
dertake now to follow in an elaborate speech,
nor at any time shall / undertake any reply to
the lnsinuations and inuendoes he has so freely
strewn in his path. leave him in the full en-
joyment of what he has DONE In introducing
this proposition simply discharged conscien-
tious duty, taking counsel of experience and
following the testimony of the best minds of
our republic 1 have felt it my duty to give the
Senate an opportunity of deciding upon the
question say taking counsel of experience,
and does not experience confirm the conclusion
at which have arrived? Is is not sustained
by the authorities of the republic? Who in
cur history has not arrayed himself ON the side
the Senator from New York represents to-day.
What eminent statesman has placed his name
on this question against the names of Andrew
jackson, Henry Clay and Benjamin f. Wade.
Who is the statesman? L know him not; do
you know him, sir? The Senator from New
York opposes these illustrious characters but
in his opposition he mistakes the whole foun-
dation of argument. The object is to guard
temptation, to see that the President may not
be placed in a position where he may be tempt,
ed to use his powers improperly The argu-
ment of the Senator says, let him be tempted.
Nay, he goes further, and says the people ought
not be restrained in the choice of their chief
magistrate He argues against restrictions upon
the people. Sir, that argument is an assault on
constitutional liberty. 1t is by restriction of
the people, assured by constitutional law, that
liberty is maintained. What is the great OBJ
ject of civilized government but liberty, reg
ulated by law; liberty under the safeguards of
the Constitution.
The Senators argument would overthrow the
constitution and overthrow the law where they
were restraint upon the people Can that ar
gument find sanction? Is it not ON its face con-
trary to Republican institutions? Why, sir,one
definition of republic is a government calcu-
lated by law to the end, that it may be gov
eminent, not of men, but of law. But the Sen
ator would make it government of men. 1
know of no better indication of the progress of
civilization than the manner in which men
gradually come within the sphere of law. At
first there was but little law, and the executive
power large, but as civilization increases by
the executive power is diminished and the do
main of law extended. Now, sir my object in
preparing this amendment is to bring the exec
utive power of the republic within the domain
of constitutional law; to the end not to fall I'M
der temptation which all experience shows to
be most pernicious. All parties for several
years seem to have been of the opinion that the
great defect in our system at which this propo-
siton is aimed should be remeded. Such has
been the condition of parties generally in this
governments; that it has been almost q hopeless
task to engraft the measure upon the constitu-
ton; but now there is an opportunity, and be-
lieve every man is sensible that correction of
this evil onght be promptly applied" d-
On motion of Mr. Wilson further consdera-
ton of the joint resolution was postponed At
half past three the Senate went into executive
session and soon after adjourned till Monday
HOUSE.
Mr. Edwards of Arkansas, said if he had been
present when the report rejecting on him and
Senator Clayton was made, he should have de-
nounced the testimony taken as untrue and
should have moved for an investigative COM
mittee. He was content however now to leave
the matter with the Election Committee
A resolution in reference to the Improvement
of the Tennessee river was adopted.
A bill from the Commerce Committee author
izlng the construction of ship canal from Lake
Michigan to the Mississippi river was reported
and reeommitted.
Mr.. Banks of Mass, from the Foreign Com
mittee reported a bill authorizing protection to
citizens. The bill was amended so as not to
impair the rights of discovers or assignments
by them previously recognized by government
and then passed. ,s..--.. -
Mr.. Butler of Mass, from the Law Commit
tee, reported bill increasing the limitation of
the amount of suits which were appealed to the
Supreme Court from $1,000 to 5000 and other
rules relative to appeals from territorial courts
and in criminal proceedings Ordered to be
printed and recommitted.
HISTORICAL AND OTHERWISE.
The joint resolution accepting the statue OF
Roger Williams from Rhode Island was taken
up; -
Mr. Eames of Rhode Island pronounced an
eulogy on the life and character of Roger Will
liamS.
Mr.. Banks of Massachusetts, thought it due
to himself and the State of Massachusetts tt
reverse some statements made by Mr. Eames
in reference to the Punishment of Williams
from the colony of Massachusetts,. He denied
that the question of sou-liberty or religious lib
erty had entered into the cause of that Danish
ment. The causes were first, that Williams de
MED the title of the people to their lands as de
rived by grant from the crown of England, ant
held that there could be no valid or Just title t.
the lands, except it was derived from the Indl
ans. Of course the Puritans could not admi
the denial of the title of their lands made in
| public manner, and which unsettled the rights
| not only of the colony, but of Individuals
Williams had also opposed vigorously the Gus
| tom OF conference between the different minis
tiers of the colony, and had declared that thei
church was not such as christian could com
municate with, inasmuch as it received its au
| thority from the church of England, which h
condemned. After thus assaultng the yer
foundations of the State and denied the chris
tan character of the church, the Puritans wer
! of course compelled to resist him. He had gon
so far as to say the women should be yelled;
custom which never had been and never woul
be acceptable to the men of Massachusetts,
Uaughter.) Roger Williams had unquestiona
bly, been to the Pilgrims a troublesome man an
he hoped that no exception would be taken b
any OF his colleagues if he said there was fe'
] in the State. Uaughter.)
Mr.. Cox denounced the Pilgrims as mean, il
tolerant and bigoted and eulogized Williams
Gen. Butler replied defending and eulogiZin
the Puritans, Saying that they had puritanize
the nation.
Mr.. Niblack of Ind, took exception to I'll
phrasology of the resolution in the sentent
that this work of art is accepted in the nam
of the nation" and suggested as the propt
phrasology 'in the name of the people of Il
United States and he moved to SO amend i
Mr. Beck OF Ky, suggested sarcastically I'll
word 'empire." -.----.-----
Mr.. Eldfidge of Wis, suggested that Mr.. N
black s amendment correspondent exactly wit
the constitution, ''the people of the Unite
States" "a
Mr. Hoar of Mass, trusted that the Hou
would pass before striking from the resolutic
the assertion that this country is nation.