The Van Buren press., 1872-06-18
TELEGRAPH NEWS.
Especial Dispatch to the Republican. !
DISA BlLITIES
w ASHINGTON. j

George F. Houston of Alabama, and it
was approved by the president to-day.
THE BAYoNEr AMENDMENT.
On Saturday last, the protracted strug
gle to force the house of representatives
to consent to have the bayonet election
bill, which amendment the senate had
past, put on the sundry civil apportion
ment bill terminated on explicit pledges
from leading administration members
and senator's, that if the Democrats would
let the bill 60 TO a conference committee
the obnoxious amendment should be
abandoned. At this stage of the busi-
ness it seemed as if the regular appro,
priation bill would pass this morning
and both houses adjourn at - to day. 1t
leaked out, yesterday, however, that Son
ator Cole chairman Of the senate COM
mittes on appropriations had, under par
ty pressure gone back on his plighted
word, and that Messrs. Garfield and Pal
mer of the house had so far disregarded
the auimus of the house as 10 yield up the
great point in dispute The knowledge
of the nature Of the forthcoming report
spread about and created a very deep ex.
citemcnt 1t was well understood that
the Democrats would resist the attempt
to engraft this bayonet amendment on
the appropriation bill by dilatory mo
tions. Mr. Garfield made and explained
his conference report, although no quo
rum was present, but the house speedily
filled up. As soon as he had concluded
several dilatory motions were promptly
intcrposed. The yeas and nays were
called on each, but the proceedings now
assumed q much more interesting phase
than the monotony Of roll calls Mr.
Kelly of Pennsylvania, an impracticablc
supporter Of the administration, arose to
protest against the action of his associ-
ates, stating thatif they drove this bill
through in this way they would do an
act similar to those for which he, when
sitting as Judge, had a score Of times
sent men to solitary confinement and
penal servitude. He alluded to the
pledges by which the bill had secured its
present shape, and said that on Saturday,
when the minority had the bill in their
power, a'senator, meaning Mr.. Cole OF
CaIfoi MA, had come into the hall and
had given pledges that il they agreed to
Let the bill go to conference committee
he would abandon the bayonet amend
ment. He and his associates had then
gone to the other side Of the house, and
assured them that these circumstances
were withdrawal OF the amendment, and
t,,t =. Aley lost any ground by yielding
to let the bill go to conference com
mittee he would co operate with them to
secure them all their usual parliamentary
rights. Mr.. kelly's remarks were i'm
pressively delivered and fell like a bomb
shell among the administration ring, who
are endeavoring to control the presi
dental election by military power Mr.
Garfield laborcd to vindicate his course,
and tried to change the issue by alleging
that the minority were obstructing vote
on the bayonet bill Mr.. Bingham fol
lowed in an excited strain, using the most
violent language to the Democratic mem
bcrs, accusing them Of organizing dis
honorable and disreputable treason in
their recent proceedings Gen Morgan
instantly rose to his feet and in excited
tones branded the assertion as false
hood The speakers gavel fell again and
again, but Mr.. Bingham at once reitera-
ted his insult to the Democratic members,
and Gen. Morgan, in tones heard above
all tho din and noise. denounced it as a
lie. Mr. Bingham turned white as n
sheet Speaker Blaine called loudly cor
der, ," and members rose to their feet in
great excitement Job Stevens, with
Characteristic partisanship, demanded
that Gen Morgan's words be taken down,
in response to which the Democratic
members called out, " Let the words Of
both be taken down. Tho speaker or.
dered this to be done. Mr.. Dawes call
ed out to the speaker that the country
would hold him responsible If this disor.
der was not stopped, for which remark
he was forthwith snubbed by Mr., Blaine
When the words OF the two gentlemen
were read, the speaker ruled Mr. Morgan
as out OF order, and Bingham's as all
right. The Democrats at once called for
the reading Of all of Mr.. Bingham's per-
sOnalitics, which being read, the speaker
was compelled TO rule that they trans.
cended the proper limits Of debate. AS
had thus given the provocation,
nothing could be done to Gen. Morgan
for rescnting it, and Mr.. Bingham then
went on, but in subdued strain, very
different from the insolence with which
he had begun his speech. The previous
question was thon called, which was sus-
tained, and the motion to recommit was
carried by 1913 to 81.
The minority, headed by Ben Butler,
Platt and Maynard, attempted to ilibus
ter, so as to necessitatc an extra session,
but they were not strong enough to call
an extra session, but they were not
strong enough to call the yeas and nays.
After much trouble and several con
ferences, the result was that the amend
ment was shorn Of its most vicious and
dangerous features by express limitations
in the form Of election supervisors. In
this shape tho body OF the Democrats
agreed to let direct vote be taken on
the conference reports.
The house adopted the report by a
party vote of lO2 to 10.
This failure of these revolutionary
schemes, needed to perpetuatc Grants
power, is due partly to the desire of the
members to get home and look after
their interests and to the dread felt by
the administration Of calling an extra
session. avowedly to pass these bills; but