The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-06-24

sAS SA-~SSA ~ HS-SSa VhSSS 49, W.,
to act thereon and that b,
was wrongfully prevented BY
such officer or person from
performing such act by reason
race, color, or previous condition o.
servItude, shall, for every such offence
forfeit and pay tine sum of $500 to the
person sggrieved thereby, to be recov.
cred by an action in the case with full
! costs, and such allowance for counsel fees
as the court shall deem Just, and shall
also for every such etfense be deemed
guilty of misdemeanor and shall on
conv lction thereof be fined not less than
$500 or imprisoned not less than one
month and not more than one year, or
both in the discretion of the court.
Mr.. WHITE said he would say, with
great respect to the intelligence of the
Chairman and members of the judiciary y
Committee, that the ingenuity OF man
couldnt devise q scheme for the psr-
petuation OF frauds more perfectly tnan
this section did. Such provision as this
was unwlse and impclitic. Here
was s. provision of law
intended to set at nought
and nullity the registration acts Of every
State in this Union. Was it possible
that such legislation IS this could go
forth from a Senate full Of intelligent
lawyers, to be riddled again by the astute
Judges of the Supreme Court. He ap-
pealed to the Senators not to be guided
BY party Feeling, but 70 legislste justly
for the protection Of all men.
The question being on agreeing to
the section as reported by the
Committee. Mr.. Merrimsn submitted
an amen iment providing that il any
person 81 offering such athdavits shall be
deemed guilty Of perjury, and on con-
vlctlon thereof before any District or
Circuit Court of the United States hsv-
ing jurisdiction, shsl! be punished rs in
other cases OF perjury.
Mr.. Edmunds said the statutes Of the
United States already defined the crime
of perjury, and provided Tor It's punish
ment. The Committee on the Judiciary
did not think it necessary TO re-enact
statutes 10 regard 10 perjury in this bill.
Mr.. Thurman spoke in opposition TO
the Bird section of the bill, and said il was
q PLAIN bold attempt TO alter the election
laws of the State. Ii Congress had the
right to alter or amend State election
law they had right 10 repeal any such
law in any STATE, On the pretext that It
int,r cred with the right OF the coIored
man TO vote He denied il was appropri-
ate legislation 10 enforce the Fl teenth
amendment by chan ging the election laws
in this State. This bill was made to sp-
ply to every election, from that for Presi-
dent down 10 tle most triling election, in
the humblest hamlet IN the land. By it
Congress proposed to change the perfectly J
onstitutional and valid laws enacted by
the people of q State. The passage Of
this bill would be simply saying TO States
that they had no rights which Congress
WAS bound TO respect
Mr.. Edmunds asked if it was not like
the State laws OF many States.
Mr. Thurman-Suppose it Is. The
right to pass these laws belongs to States,
and not 10 Congress. He moved the
Senate proceed To the consideration OF
executive business.
The amendment of Mr.. Merriman s
was rejected; yeas l6, nays q; Mr.. Booth
voting with the Democrats in the attir-
native.
Mr.. Christiancy moved sn amendment
TO section third 80 IS to provide that the
section shall not agply in any State
where the laws Of such State say:
GNo person Of any race or color shall be
allowed to vote without being previously
actually registered" Rejected.
The section as reported by the Com
mitt was then agreed 10.
The fourth section OF the bill, which
provides that if any person by force, bril-
bery, threats, or intimidation. or other
unls wtul means shall hinder, prevent,
or obstruct, or combine TO hinder, pre-
vent or obstruct any citizen from doing
any act required by law 10 be done to
qualify him 10 vote, on account Of race,
color or previous condition Of servitude,
shall for every otense pay $500 to the
person sggreved and also be
deemed guilty Of misdeneanor
and punished by q fine of not less than
$500, or imprisoned for not less than one
month, or more than one yesr, was agreed
TO.
Mr.. Merriman submitted an amend
ment to the third section, providing that
il any person so making and
nresenting such affidavit, shall will
fully and contrary to his oath
il that behaf state or sub
serb, any material matter which he
dves not believe 10 be true, shall be
deemed guilt Of perjury and shall on
conviction be liable to the penalties pro-
vided in section 1892 of the revised
statutes of the United States. Agreed 70
The bill having been considered II
CommItte Of the Whole, was re-
ported TO the Senate and the amend.
meu,s made in the committee agreed 70.
/, was then read the third time ahd
passed, yeas Is, nays Is.
The Senate insisted on its amendments
to the Indian appropriation bill, and slso
on is amendments TO the naval aPpro-
priatiou bills Agreed 70.
A conieresce committee on these bills
was asked for by the House Of Repre-
sentstives, and Messrs Window, Logan
and Ransom were appointed members Of
the committee on the former bill, and
Messrs. Sargent, Cragin and wiihers on
the latter. Adjourned.
HOUSE
The House met at IL O'Clock this morn
ing and went into COMMITTEES OF ths