Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-20
HOUSE.
u,,rsi,;s I5e,ins,icncies.

tee, offered a resolution authorizing that
committee TO send subcommittee OF two
to New Orleans to take testimony in the
matter of the impeachment of Judge Du-
rell, with power to send for persons ana
papers. He explained that;, among the
charges against Judge Dttrell, there was
charge of misapplieation of funds, and OF
misproceedings in bankruptcy. Adopted
social LeveIism.
Mr.. Butler called up the supplemental
civil rights bill, and proposed to limit tine
debate to two hours.
Mr.. Beck appealed for a longer time, and
gave notice that, although the Democratic
side did not propose to interpose dllatory
motions if fair discussion was allowed, IL
only would do so in the contrary event.
Mr.. Stevens made similar appeal, stat
ing he desired to address the House.
Mr., Butler remarked That the amnesty
bill and civil rights bill were linked to-
gether in the minds of Republican mem-
berS.
1t was agreed that discussion should go
on all day on fifteen minute speeches on
the first and second days after reassem-
bling. The previous question to be con-
sidered operative at four o'clock on the
second day.
The Speaker then called on committees
for reports of private character.
After the call Mr.. Butler, of AJassachu-
sets, opened debate on the supplement
tary civil rights bill. He said that the bill
gave no right which every man did not
now possess except where there was hostile
State legislation. The bill simply proposes
to give to any one from whom this right
was taken means of overriding that hos
tile State legislation and punish the man
who takes that right away from him. That
was the whole of it and who could argue
against that Mr.. Butler knew that its op-
ponents would say that it was an invasion
of State rights. and that the States should
be left to manage their own internal affairs
in their own way. He was content to up
hold State rights, but not to uphold State
wrongs, and no State had a right to dis
criminate against any classof citizens pro-
vided they offended no laws.
Mr.. Bromberg asked Mr.. Butler whether
there was any evidence before the commit
tee as to the necessity for this law, and also,
why those Southern State Legislatures,
which had so long been controlled by the
Republican party, had not passed all neces-
sary laws.
Mr.. Butlerrepliedthat colored witnesses on
| their way to testify before the RecOnstruc-
| ton Committee, had beenforced into dirty,
| miserable, smoking cars. Republican State
Legislatures had not acted IN the matter
because they were waiting for Congress to
| do so.
A Hit AT the BARRIERS.
Mr.. Cox proposed to amend the bill so
as to make colored persons liable to the
| penalties of the bill.
Mr.. Butler said that that amendment
was not necessary. The lawapplied to every
natural person, and negro was very ma
| tural person.
The Effect on the Poor Mans schools.
Mr.. Beck opposed the bill. He declared
that not man on his side Of the House
wanted to see the negro oppressed or de-
| prived of any right, but they objected to
| this bill because Congress was usurplng
authority over matters that belonged .eN-
| clusivelv to the States. They were APP
preaching consolidation fast enough. They
| were drifting into centralism so steadily
that before long the States would bear the
| same relation to the general government
| as the counties now had to the States. He
objected to this bill because such cOercive
legislation as would force colored children
into the same schools with white children
would not operate TO the benefit of the col
ored people, but to their positive injury. II
might not affect the gentlemen who cOulI
send their children to private schools, but
il would drive away industrious poor pe0
pie who objected to their children associ
atipg with colored children. and would III
1 II. Toto nd ADl- III
the public school system there.
And the COIOred Troops Fought NObIy
Rainev. TnegrO member from South Car
olina,1 advocated the bill. They were no
seeking social equality: he and the men O
his race preferred to choose their own assO
ciates. They wanted this law enacted 81
they should be recognized as other men
Why could not negro members of Congress
enjoy the same right and immunities il
hotels as white members of Congress? VIII,
should they not have the right to 90 into
restaurants without being insultcd? Mem
bers on the other side, from the Southern
| States had an antipathy against the cOlOre
race because it had shown its manhood an,
valOr in defense of the flag.
Railroad Rascasities.
Mr.. Luttrell offered 4 resolution instruct
ING the Judiciary Committee to report
bill directing suits to be brought aganS
the several Pacific Railroad Companies Il
the interest paid for them by the Cover
ment. Referred.
Mr.. Cotton offered a resolution instruct
ing the Committee on Railroads and Canal
to inquire whether the rates Of the Chicago
Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Compln
for transportation Of cars, freight and pas:
engers across the bridges and tracks col
Meeting Davenport and Rock Island al
reasonable, and if not, to make reasOnabl
rates. Adopted.
An Army Court 10 Investigate Freed
man Howard.
Mr. CoblIrn, from the Committee on Mi
itary Affairs, reported a resolution request
the President to convene Court of Il
,Ulirv to consist of not less than five Officer
Of the army whose duty it shall be to il
r vestigate all charges against Brigadiel
General Howard contained i'll the COMMIT
ncation of the Secretary Of War Of Dec.
Mr. Butler, of Massachusetts, suggeste
that half of the court should consist {
, officers who had served with the colOre
troops, for he knew that there was a grea
prejudice among army officers aoains
| Howard because he had been the head {
the Freedmens' Bureau, which they though
was not congenial with the dignity of a
army officer.
Mr.. Cobuln said that it was within I'll
: discretion of the President to select me
, without prejudice, and he could see L
, danger from entrusting it to the Presiden
t lie sent to the Clerks desk and had read
, letter from Gen. Howard counting inquil
and waving all technical objections.
After discussion the matter was recon
, mitted.
? Attempt to Revive an Old sWindi'
, Mr.. Cessna presented petition, signe
, by sol citizens of Somerset county, Penn
| ! sylvania, relative to the claim of GeOrg
Chorpenning against the government, ur;
) ing its reOpening and denomination. ii
| proceeded to state the history of the cas-
: and to defend his own connection with
} and the action Of Postmaster General Ores
! | well on it.
Mr.. Dawes commented OH the unusu
course pursued by Cessna and Suggestt
that nobody who had confidence in.his ca
was apt to argue it beforehand. The uni;
: voIable action Of Congress on the Chopper
ming claim had been taken on the unan
nous report of committee of the Hous
{ before which every person who had an Il
| | terest in the case had an opportunity to a
| | pear. The action of the House was unan
| ! nous, and so was the action of the Sena
| too a,,I ,.ff L., IA