The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1875-02-05
SIXTEENTH AMENDMENT.
Third Term Killed.
Grant Wounded in the House of His
Friends.

Grant Wounded in the House OF His
Friends.
louisville Courier-Journal.]
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-The House
of Representatives, by an emphatic
vote set its seal of disapproval this after
noon upon the third term project, and,
what is at once strange and significant,
it was brought about through the agency
of Gen. Butler, who has hitherto been
regarded as the embodiment of Grant
ism in Congress and in politics. He, as
chairman of the Judiciary Committee,
had the floor: and after the presentation
and passage of three or four bills of a
miscellaneous character, he quietly
yielded to Clarlson N. Potter, of New
York. who Immediately presented a
resolution providing for the reference
to the people of new amendment to
the constitution, to be known as the
sixteenth amendment, limiting the
Presidential and Vice Presidential
terms to six years, and prohibiting re-
election. The House was at the time in
it's usual inattentive, restless mood, and
for few minutes went on with its GUS
tOmary undertOne of cOnVersatiOn. Mr..
Potter's voice is not loud, and members
were not particularly interested in what
he said, which was merely few SEN
fences to the effect that the people of
the country had already made up their
minds upon this subject, and that he
supposed members were ready to vote
upon it without debate. He concluded
by calling the previous question.
This Immediately brought Judge
lockwood Hoar, of Massachusetts,, to
his feet. The attention of the House
was Immediately arrested, and a faint
light seemed to dawn upon the body
that the country would regard what
ever was said and done upon the prop
Osition as the expression of the feeling
of Congress upon the third term project.
Mr.. Hoar stated that so far as he was
concerned, he had no idea that the
American people would ever elect a
President a third time, but he was will
ing to trust them, and did not wish to
bind them in a matter of such impor-
lance. Again, tie was opposed to sub
hitting an amendment to the constitu-
ton to the country without a word
of debate in the body where it origi-
mated.
At this point, MIR. Ellis II. Roberts,
of New York, moved to reconsider the
vote by which the previous question
had been ordered, which was carried.
Gen. Butler then took the floor in re-
ply to Mr.. Hoar. He declared that in
the present proposition there was moth
ing whatever personal to the EXecu-
tive, which was received with an in
credulous smile by the House. He saw
no prospect whatever of the reelection
of Gen. Grant by the American people,
except in a certain condition of affairs,
and pointing to the Democratic side of
the House, and to the Democratic
crowd of members who had come over
from their benches and formed Il circle
Immediately around where he stood, he
said: eft will be done by your hand
if it is done at all.'
The interest in the question had by
this time become greatly intensified,
the whole House having become alive
to the magnitude and Importance of the
discussion. Speaker Blaine looked
down upon the scene below him with
feelings which can DO more easily inn
agined than described. Dawes appear
cd to be quite unconccrned, but he was
not Indifferent to what was going on,
and his vote showed that in him the
man on horseback at the other end OF
the avenue had no friend. The carpet
baggers looked unhappy. Thoroughly
lcmoralized by their defeat the day be-
fore, they did not relish the driving OF
the iron into their souls, and We're dis
mayed at the propccts of II fresh defeat.
Mr. uoar again took the floor, but
still no word of comfort or consolation
for the thirl-term candidate fell from
his lips. Mr. Roberts, of Utica, whose
paper was SO guarded in its expressions
upon the subject last summer, came out
boldly upon the thirtl-term scheme.
Mr.. Ward, of Illinois, then moved to
lay tho resolution on the table, which
was lost, the vote standing 2S in favor
to l3S against. This was regarded as
an overwhelming defeat by the Grant
men, and Mr.. Poland, OF Vermont,
jumped to his feet with Il motion to
recommit. Mr.. Trcnainc wanted Il
postponcment for q week but finally
the previous question was called upon
the motion to rccommit, which was
also lost, tho vote standing 40 yeas and
the nays 1873.
The House having refused to lay on
the table or recommit, the resolution
was placed on its passage, when 1874
voted in its favor and 10i against it. n
majority of twO-thirds being REQUIRED