The Indiana State sentinel., 1876-01-24
Xiv CONGRESS.
REGULAR SESSION.
HOUSE.

A FRESH CONSTITUTIONAL LAMESDMENT-lHE
CENTENNIAL APPROPRIATION - sPEEchhs
PRO AND C0N-TUCHER's STRONG ADVERSE
ARGUMENT.
Mr.. Bland, OF NO., offered a resolution Gaining
for information on the subject Of the transfer oi
lands within the railroad limits aHo"eu W
Union soldiers. Adopted
The speaker then called on the committees for
renorts. and Mr.. Springer, of ILL.,, introduced
constitutional amendment providing that con-
gress shall not pass any sp pecial or local laws IN
regard to granting pensions bountles, ianos OF
prize moneys or IoG fbereto gfa1ting relief
to any person or authorizing the pay nent
OF any claim, giving 10 any GOt fo iax
railroad tracks or comforting any spsclaI ana
exclusive privilege on such corporation, regu-
lating the practice of courts or cOnierrlng spe-
caI Jurisdiction in particular case; that IN all
cases where general Law can be m made ,appnes- ca
BILE, 70 special law shall be enacted ana that the
courts NAV determine II any special law
could be embraced in general enactment. he
Mt Tarbox, of Mass, offered a resolution di-
recting the committee on foreign affairs TO con-
slider The proper legislation necessary 10 carry
into effect the treaty with the hawaiian Is-
The House then went into the committee of
the whole on the state ol the Unloni with MI.
wood, OF N. Y. in the chair, on
THE CENTENNIAL APPROPRIATION BILL
and was address d by Mr.. Phillips, of Kan, in
advocacy of the bill.
Mr. Harrison, of H., followed on the same
side. Abiding to the suggestion that the House
by its vote on Mr.. HOman's resolution on the
18th of December had committed itself against
all subsidies, he recalled the fact tn t when that
resolution was offered, Mr.. Hoar, Of Mass, had
appropriation, and Mr.. Holman distinctly
stated that he did not consider the word
''subsidy" in that resO' utiOn as covering the
Centennial approximation. The House, there
fore, had voted for the reso ution, with reser,
walton In favor of the Centennlal-Dot mental
reservation. but 40 outpoken reservation. he-
ferring TO the enthusiasm OF old John Adams
over the Fourth Of July celebrations, and 10 me
fact that he made orau0ns wnleh might De
called spread eagle, he expressed the desire ina
there were to-day more sPyead-eag eism IN me
land. The common eagle, he said, taking his
flight from the extreme limit OF
eastern civilization in l776 would have made It's
flight to the Western limit in a single day. But
now the proudest monarch OF the air dropping
himself into the Atlantic and then looking at
the setting sun, ever intent and sailing onward,
ions at the broad 2 cihc, and he said We are
told that the people shall not be taxed
the celebration of the eountry's birth
day. He hoped that the bill would
would not allow this opportunity to pass with
out proving that they had as much pride In the
Mr.. Atkins Of Tenn asked Mr.. Harrison
whether he meant that these gentlemen who
opposed the bill were disloyal 10 The govern
ment.
Mr.. Harrison-Not by any means,
Mr.. Atkins-I hope not. hope thst no such
test will be made. We have heard enough OF
Mr. Harrison-I did not fight myself, but 1
have read history sufficiently 10 know that the
brave men who fight are always the first to
join hands across the bloody chasm.
Mr.. Atkins-I am willing to join hands across
THE BLOODY CHAsM,
but am not willing to vote for this bill.
Mr.. Cochrane OF Pa, spoke in opposition to
the measure as unconstitutional. He said that
&C.
Plttsburg that he would vote against every
subsidy, and this was a subsidy.
He should therefore, vote against this bill and
when he went home to his people he would be
able TO look them In the eyes and say: I KEEP
the pleds e which made to you when was
elected. (ApplauAe on the moor and In the gal
Mr.. Kelley, OF Penn. spoke in answer to
Mr. Reagan, OF Texas, spoke in favor
of the bin and gave as one
own mind this reason: A great and pro.
tracted civil war with the long controversy
measures, just as disastrous as the war, have so
wrenched and distorted the constitution and
have so obscuIed and perverted the principles of
civil liberty and just government as to make
serious and earnest recurrence to the principles
of the declaration of independence, of the con-
stitution and of the spirit and generosity of
Mr.. RYE, of Me-, supported the measure.
Mr.. Tucker, OF Va. spoke In opposition 10 the
bill, and said that the path Of duty that Law be-
fore him In regard 70 this centennial bill was as
clear as II ever was In regard to any question
that had even been brought to his cOnsidera-
ton. What was proposed to be celebrated In
this centennial ear? Was 1t proposed to have
exhibition worthy of the great moral principles
that were to be illustrated by the anniversary
OF independence? In his views there were
THREE GREAT PRINCIPLES
that underlay the declaration of independence.
These were the principles of individual liberty.
ha orla 0fI Iooo I0Ox In, he
gle against centralized power. and the principle
OF the exemption Of American destiny from the
controlling influence of Europea an politics. He
would unite In celebrating a centennial anni-
versary on these three principles. Let him see
that liberty OF the citizen was secure against ar
6itrsry Power that freedom and independence,
autonomy OF the states, was safe against
the arbitrary usurpation Of the federal
be guided alone by its own policy and be free
from the interference of European policy; then
there would be indeed Centennial anniver-
sary. The spirit of the Centennial was obedi-
ence to the constitution. The greatest inven-
view entirely. and that was the absolute subor-
d1nauon OF the governments power to the
tution. Mr.. Tucker then proceeded to argue
against the constitutional1ty OF the pending
measure.
Mr. Hoar, OF Mass. asked Mr.. Tucker whether
when the constitution delegated to congre- 8
certain national powers. including the taking
VI nahOud etltuuc toWaIu lOrelgu NATIONS, IL
did not intend that such expenses for national
dignity as were usual to nations for welding
those powers should be made by congress.
Mr.. Tucker asked the gentleman from Mass
achusetts to point out 70 him where the word
national in respect to power or anything else oc-
Cured in the const tut on.
Mr.. Hoar-The power 10 levy war, to conclude
peace, TO establish commerce means a nation in
every line where that power is granted.
Mr.. Tucker-If that is what the gentleman calls
national Power,I understand him. But there
Is no such thing In the constitution as a power
70 levy war. There Is q power to declare war and
TO raise and support armies.
Nj. Hoar-And 10 levy II after IL Is declared.
Mr.. Tucker-That Is not in the constitution
The power to create and maintain an army and
10 make rules for the regulation of the land and
naval service cover the whole question OF what
1he gentleman from Massachusetts means.
Mr. Lawrence, of o., called the attention OF
Mr. Tucke To- letter from George Washington
transmitting the constitution to con xrees In
which the government is called a N aIion al GOV