The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-01-20
HOUSE.


transfer of lands, within railroad limits
allowed to Union soldiers. Adopted.
The Speaker then called on the COM
mittees tor reports.
Mr.. Springer introduced Constitu.
,ional amendment, providing that Con.
gress shall not pass any special or local
laws in regard to granting pensions,
bounties, lands or prize money, or for
correcting the records of any Department
in relation thereto, granting relief to any
person or authorizing the payment OF
any claim giving to any corporation as
sociation or individual the right
to lay railroad tracks, or con-
ferring any special and exclusive
privileges on such corporations, regu.
lating the practice of the courts con-
ferring special jurisdiction in a particular
case; that in all cases where the general
law can be made applicable no special
law will be enacted, and that the courts
may determine whether any special law
could be embraced in the general enact.
ment. Referred.
The House then went into COMMITTEE
of the Whole on the Centennial appso.
prialion bill (Mr. Wood in the chair and
was addressed by Mr. Phillips, of Kan
sas, in advocacy of the bill.
Mr.. Harrison followed on the same
side, alluding to the suggestions that the
House, by its vote on Mr.. Holman's reso-
luton of the l4th of December. had COM
mitted itself against all subsidies. He
recalled the fact that when that resolu.
tion was offered MIR. Hoar had asked
whether it would not cut of the centen-
nial appropriation, and that Mr.. Holman
distinct stated he did not consider the
word subsidy" IN that resolution as
covering the center nial appropriation.
The House, therefore, had voted for that
resolution with a reservation in favor OF
the centennial, not a mental reservation.
but an outspoken reservation. Referring
to the enthusiasm of old John Adams
over the Fourth of July celebration, ana
to the TACT that he made orations which
might be called spread eagle he ex-
pressed the desire that there was to-day
more spread eagleism in the land. The
common eagle, he said, taking his flight
from the extreme limit of Eastern civil
zation in l776, would have made its flight
to the Western limit in a single day,
but the proundest monarch Of
the air dipping himself in the Allan
tic and looking at the setting sun ever
intent and sailing onward take: now days
and weeks before he cools his pinions
in the spray OF the broad Pacific. Yet
he said I'VE are told that the people shall
not be taxel at the rate Of three cents
for the country's birth day. He hoped
the bill would pass and he hoped that
his southern friends would not allow this
opportunity to pass without proving to
tie Moth that they had as much
Pride In the Fourth OfJuIy
as any other man.
Mr.. Atkins, of Tennessee, asked Mr..
Harrison whether he meant that the gen.
tlemen who opposed the bill were dis
loyal to the government.
Mr.. Harrson-Not by any means.
Mr.. Atkins-I hope not. | hope that
no such test will be made. We have had
enough of that.
Mr.. Harrison-I did not fight myself,
but have read history sufficiently to
know that the brave men who fought
are always the first to join hands across
the bloods chasm.
Mr.. Atkins Il am willing to join
hands across the bloody chasm, but
| am not willing to vote for this bill.
Mr.. Cochran spoke in opposition to
bill rs unconstitutional. He had SAID he
had pledged his word to his constituents
in Pittsburgh that he would vote against
every subsidy that was a subsidy. lie
should therefore vote against this bill,
and when he went home to his people
he would be able to look them in the eye
and say / kept my pledge, which made
to YOU when ! was elected. Applause
on the floor and in the galleries.
Mr.. Kelly spoke in answer to Mr..
Cochran and in support OF the bill.
Mr.. Regan, of Texas, spoke in favor of
the bill. and gave as one Of the controll-
ing motives in his own mind this reason
A great and Protracted civil war, with
the long controversy which led to it, and
a system of reconstruction measures just
a disastrous as the war, have so wrencned
and distorted the constitution, and have
so perverted tho principles OF civil lib
erty and Just government, as to make a
serious and earnest recurrence 10 the
principles of the Declaration Of Inde-
pendence, of the Constitution. and OF the
spirit genius of the government, para
mount necessity.
Mr.. Frye supported the bill.
Address OF Mr. Tucker. Of Virginia
Mr.. Tucker spoke in opposition to the
bill, and said the path of duty that lay
before him in regard 10 this Centennial
bill was as clear as it ever Was in regard
to any question tnat had ever been
brought TO his consideration. What was
proposed 10 be celebrated in this Centen-
niai year? Was it the purpose TO Fave q
material exhibition only. or was it 10 be
an exhibition worthy OF great moral
principles that were TO be illustrated By
the anniversary Of our independence. Ia
his views there were three great princi-
pIes that underlay the Declaration Of In
dependence, and these were the prisci-
piles Of individual liberty. the principles
OF local government IN the struggle
against centralized power, and the Prin-
ciples Of the exemption Of American des.
tiny from the controlling iufueoce OF
Europe. He would unite in celebrsi.
ing the Centennial when be coul1 see that
the liberty otevey citizen was secure
against arbitrary power; that freedom
sud Independence and what Chief jus.
tice Chase called the -autonomy OF the
States Was safe against arbitrary usurps-
ton Of the Federal power, and that
the American destiny was TO be guided
alone by its own policy and
bs free from the interference Of Euro
peaa policy. Then there would be,indeed
q Centennial anniversary. The spiri,
of the Centennial was obedient to the