Daily Kennebec journal., 1876-08-08
Forty.Fourth Congress- First Session.
SENATE.

Washington, August l.
| Boutwell, presented majority and Bayard a
minority report of the committee on investigation
made in the late election in Mississippi The re
ports will be read tomorrow.
The bill making appropriations for claims allow
ed by the southern claims commission passed.
The Senate recommended the consideration Of
the unfinished business, being the resolution OF
Mr. Morton to print 1000 extra copies of the mes
, sage of the President and accompanying docn"
ments in regard to the recent trouble at Hamburg,
sc.
Mr.. Edmunds said the expense of printing the
extra copies would be less than $500. 1t had
been said on the other side that this was an cleo
tioneeing document and ought not to be printed at
the public expense. Every document which af-
fected the welfare of the people was ought
to be, an electioneeiiDg political document, be-
cause the people were entitled to know what was
going
Were the Senators on the oih.r iJe ops >rG -
this resolution because they weie afraid the peo-
pie of the United States would find out the truth !,
He argued that the people of the south did not
intend that the colored man should make himself
capable OF defending his rights either IN the forum
in the field. He reviewed the action of Con-
gress on the amendments to the constitution, and
said the first to vote against the 18th amendment
in the Senate were Davis of Kentucky, Hendricks
(now the democratic candidate for Vice Presdent)
McDougall, Powell. Riddle and Salisbury. These
men represented the cloth as we'll as the sentiment
Of faith of the democratic party. That legislation
was followed by the democratic convention at
Chicago in 1864, oil which MIR. Tilden was a dis
tinguished member, and which declared the war
for the preservation Of the Union failure.
Mr.. Edmands said that in course of debate on
the 18th amendment in the Senate, Mr.. Hendricks
denied the power of Congress or the people of the
United States to abolish slavery by constitution
al amendment.
MIR. Edmands read from the journal of the Sem
ate as to the action on the l4th amendment. The
States which voted against this amendment were
all under the control of the democrats. He then
referred to the 10Th amendment. Every demo-
cratic State voted against these amendments.
And yet in the recent manifesto put forth from
st. Louis and the still more recent ones put forth
from Saratoga, the democratic candidates, and
spite of the history of the party, said they were
happy to accept the present situation to give to
every body their constitutional rights, The peO-
pie were told and asked to believe that there had
been a sudden conversion of the democratic party.
Senators might say that he (Edmunds) was
making political speech. So he was. And ev-
cry speech made here should be political speech,
because members of Congress were elected to Sc
cure to the people all the blessings under the con-
| stitution. He next read from the letter of Mr..
1ilden and argued that if he should be elected the
kind of law and kind of constitution he would ad-
ministrate would be laid down by the St. Louis
convention. He argued that the present session
of Congress had shown that the moment the demo-
cratic party should get into power all legislation
to equal rights to the colored people would
be swept Sway.
| Pending the discussion, Mr.. Allison from the
conference committee on the river and harbor ap-
preparation bill submitted report that the COM
mtee had agreed upon the bill, and it was ordered
| to be printed and laid over until TO morrow.
The chair appointed Messrs. ingalls,, Oglesby
and McCreary as conference committee on the
bill to authorize the secretary of the Interior tC
deposit cert: in funds IN the United States in lier
of investing them.
The Senate resumed the consideration Of Mr.
Morton's res olution.
HOUSE.
| There were few bills introduced under the call o.
States. A resolution offered by Mr. Douglass
of Virginia, allowing committees of investigation
to report at any time during the session.
After much discussion a resolution offered by
Mr.. Cox adopted, to the effect that the inves-
tigating committees have leave to report during
the session at any time after two days from the
time that committee has agreed to its report and
submitted the same to the minority, who shall
have leave at the same time to submit their views
to the House, and that if the minority of the COM
mitee shall be absent, notice shall be given in the
| House.
The House at $50 adjourned, after refusing
| leave of absence TO some twenty members who
had applied for the same.