Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-02-27

Thurman's amendment was amended to pro.
vide for two commissioners instead of three
and was agreed to.
Mr.. Trumbull moved to substitute the Sur
veyor General of the Territory for Judge, as
an officer to aid in selecting persons to serve
as jurors. Agreed to.
Mr.. Sherman moved to strike out the Sec
ton which provides that aliens living in biga.
my, or polygamy. shall not be admitted to
citizenship.
Mr.. Edmunds opposed the amendment.
Mr.. Sherman argued against this section,
and also against limiting the amount of prop
erty that can be held by the Mormon church,
and forbidding it TO solemnize polygamous
marriages.
Mr.. Sherman's motion to strike ont wa.
lost.
Mr.. Nye said that the laws must, Of coure
be enforced, but the best way for Congress tc
deal with the mormon problem would be to dc
as little as possible. The public sentimen
surrounding Mormondom wa, an influence
that would destroy it.
AT o'clock the Senate took recess unit
: O'Clock.
The special order of the day, the report Of
the report Of the Credi. Nobiier Committee
was taken up.
Mr.. Binham Of Ohio, took the 3ur and
prefaced his remarks by saying that he had
no pardon rnd rendered no apology, for enter
ing on the discussion. 1t was easy for any
man TO undertake 10 silence the voice Of a
representative Of the people, by making false
and malicious accusations against him. The
men who undertook that task has mistaken
altogether the temper of the man with whom
they dealt. Some of the journals, he didn't
speak Of the genera! press Of the country,
had dishorer / their great station before the
American people, holding in trust what had
not been inaptly called in other days The pal.
ladium of the liberties Of the people, in un-
undertaking by clanor to dictate to tho rep
resenta,ives Of the people how they should
discharge the duty enjoined on them by the
obligations of their oath. He would reply to
them in the language of the President Of the
French Assembly to the messenger of Napo-
leon who commanded them TO disperse, go
tell your master that the Assembly can re-
ceiye no orders from him" He would saw
that to these gentlemen who had undertaken
to control the abtIon of the House under the
preteuse, he supposed. that they were ward
ems of the public interests, and that they were
keepers Of the cousciences of the representa-.
tives of free people. He asked no fayors
from such men. He did not live by the
breath of their mouth. The representatives
Of the people, were, thank God, as free un-
der the shield of the Constitution as the rep
rcsentatives Of the press, and know just as
we'll how to discharge their duty. Passing
on to the question of the powers Of the House
to expel member for acts done before cleo.
ton, he said that bad as the Credit Mobiier
might be, it's guilt was covered with a dark
eclipse. In the presence of the assumption
rnaAa hare fhpf hOusn of
might usurp the power to strip the people OF
their rights to representation on this floor in
accordance with the express letter. a:
well as the spirit of their constitution and
laws. He Joined isue with the committee
He joined issue with the mob which demand
ed victim. He would have it understood
that he interposed the laws of his country,
not SO much in behalf of any single man &C.
cused here, as in behalf Of the rights of a free
people, attempted to be betrayed and over.
turned by two-thirds of the House i'll the ex-
ercise of what they weae pleused to call the
power Of publication. They had better begin
with those who were so pure that they pro-
posed that their neighbor should be condemn
ed in the violation of their oath, violation OF
the Constitution and statute laws, and in vio-
lation of all precedents If there was any
thing which made man impure before God
~
ing in the words Of the old law, the fear OF
God before his eyes, but instigated By the
| devil" TO break through the restrictions Of q
written Constitution, TO assert a little petty
power of what ne called publication.
Referring to Brooks, he said that nayer in
the long years Of his service with him had he
hea d the breath of suspicion agaji:.; ais good
name, till this accusation was made. and as
to represtative from Massachusetts lAmes).
it woul,! be said Of in, whatever might be
| the determination Of the House. that he had
not lived in vain ami That he had contributed
something 10 the honor and glory oi his
country. Blu. whatever NIGH; be said Of
| either of them, by way OF praise. o. eensu-e,
| one thing was true, ,hs, tho Ant9ricl@n peo
| pie would demand Of this House. that what
| ever rights belonged to these men under the
constitution and laws, should he accorded
them. In conclusion, he prayed the House
| to consider what question it was trying. II
was not so much the right Of Ames and
| Brooks, but the right of the whole people &c
| representation. lie trusted that whatever
might be said by the howl of mob, the NOR
al ability Of the constitution and the moral
ability and rights Of a free people to be rep
resented according their choice, would he re
spec.ed. Fer himself, he was ready to re.
| cord his vote, and by his vote to notify n
corners that he would offer no victim to the
mob, through his violated oath and the VIC
olated constitution of his country.
Mr.. Banks of Massachusetts, then took the
floor and Immediately enlisted the closest at
tention of the members and auditors. Ill
opened his remarks by allusion to the all ab
sorbing Importance OF the pending question
which was evidenced in the crowded CALLER
les and overlooking hall. There was ais
present in the hall, hand which all coul
not sees voice they conld not hear; a spiri
invisible, resistless, that paralyzed the con
sciences that clouded the intellect; that dead
ened the hearts of men, here and else
where. He alluded to the concentration c
the wealth, represented by the gigantic monte
corporations of the country, which seemed t
grasp, without resistance, all power, Of ever
character here and elsewhere and Whic