Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-02-11
Continuation Of the Debate Upon the
diplomatic Appropriation Bill
Speech Of TarbOx.
An Able and Patriotic Effort In Behalf
Of Economy, Retrenehment and
Reform -Greeee Gone.
The Bankrupt LaW-The Judicial Courts
Of the United States The Northern
Pacific The Centennial.
HOUSE.


citizens OF Louisiana praying for relief
against certain political evils existing in
that State. Referred.
The business of the morning hour
having been dispensed with, the
house EsIst into committee Of the
whole, Mr. Hoskins in the chair, on
the consuIaF and diplomatic appropTia-
ton bill, and was addressed by Mr..
Hale. He began by showing the inn
portsnce in the past history Of the cOun-
try OF the maintenance of foreign mis-
sioDs, particularly the mission to Eng
land during the rebellion. He alluded
to the fact that no less than six Presi-
dents had experience in the diplomatic
service, and it would not do, in the light
of all tie history of the past, to cast slurs
upon diplomacy as a thing not needed
and as q thing which should be given
up. Mr.. Hale was followed by Mr..
Lynch Miss and at the close Of his
speech Mr.. Blaine arose and addressed
the committee. Every seat in the house
and galleries was occupied, and the
closest attention was given to his re-
marks.
Mr.. Tarbox replied to Mr.. Blaine. He
said that Blaine had shown the spirit
Of the advocate rather than the spirit OF
the savant, still defending criminals.
The speech was an attempted vindica-
ton of the financial policy Of the party
which had ruled the country without
let or hindrance since the flower Of peace
blossomed on the country, and was an
attempted impeachment of the political
action of that party which, since that
tune, had no power st all in the eOun-
ellis Of the nation. The substance and
marrow Of the speech just delivered had
more relation to near political event
of great importance to persons and to
parties than it had to the elucidation Of
any problem of public policy needful in
aid Of legislation. He proceeded to de-
fend the Democratic party from the
charge made by Mr.. Blaine, that that
party in 1868 had proposed an almost IL
Iimitable issue of legal-tender notes, and
he said that that charge was so unjust,
so monstrCus and so uncandid that he
did not dare to character.
| ize it further, lest he should
exceed the limits set by the decorum Of
debate. The allusion, he supposed, was
to resolution in the National Demo-
cratic platform in 1868, in regard to the
payment of certain parts OF the public
debt with greenbacks, and he proceeded
| to explain the true meaning OF the reso-
luton, and to defend it by the political
record of the events. AS to the charge
made by Mr.. Blaine, of there being an
alliance between the Democratic party
| of the north and the south, he admitted
| that there was such an alliance, and he
| asserted that whatever peril that alli-
ance might theaten the Repnb-
| Iican party, there lurked in it no ele-
| ment Of evil to the public welfare OF the
| boI
| object than The restoration OF the Union
| on basis of loyalty and constitutional
! law, The representatives of the south
| were not invited hero as interiors, but as
peers and equals; equally honOred end
| equally respected in the council cham
Der of common government. That
league of snity was so firmly sealed
| that it was beyond the power Of pOliti-
cal ambition or political malignity to
break it. So far as the future of the
country was concerned, and so far as
| their future action went, the people OF
the south were as loyal to the flag and
the government as either the gentleman
| from Maine or himself. In conclusion
he sub nitted the following problem in
arithmetic: "Gold being at l09 in 1870
and 113 in 1876, how long would 1t take
at the same rate of progress to reach
resumptionm Laughter. When the
gentleman from Maine could elucidate
that problem satisfactorily, and show
specie payment as the result, he Tar
boxl would consider his proposition, but
in The meanwhile, even though the
Democratic hesrth-stones should grow
cold, there was for the Democrats no
hospitable warmth at the fireside under
his Blaine's] political roof tree.
| Mr.. Randall, chairman of the COM
mittee on appropriations, defended the
action Of the committee in reporting
this bill. He said that the committee
had in no degree interfered with any OF
the commercial interests OF the country;
that the COMMITTEES had given to the bill
more consideration than had been given
to any similar bill during his term In
CONGRESS. So far as he was himself con-
cerned, he had given much more time
to it's "details than his other duties would
propefly have permitted. As to the
diplomatic portion of the bill there were
two questions involved. The one, re-
ductions in salaries; the other, the abO-
Iition or consolidation of missions. In
regard to the first, he defended the com.
mittee on the ground Of the necessity Of
economy and frugality. AS to the
consolidation of the South American
missions, he recalled the fact that in 1856
q Repubiican house Of representatives
had voted q like consolidation, which
had only failed to become law because
of the opposition OF the senate. AS tC
the mission TO Greece, the committee
had been informed by gentleman whC
; had held the Office under Lineoln's ad
! ministration, that it was utterly value
less. either in diplomatic or CONNER
ciaI point of view, and that there WOulC
be as much reason in sending minister
to Dahomey as to Greece. The commit
tee had not attempted to interfere witt
the mission to Portugal, as it was neces
sary to maintain representative therI
for reasons which were manifest to any
body. He closed by defending the &C
, ton Of the committee in regard to Chins
! and the South American consulates.
! The committee then proceeded to con
: slider the bill by sections for amend
ment.
; Mr.. Chittenden moved to strike on
the paragraph making appropriation
for salaries OF the ministers to France
:, England, Russia and Germany. II
: claimed to be as good an economist q
auy man on the Democratic side Of tn
house, but be believed it would be NOR
: honorable for the nation to abolish thes
high offices than to degrade them. Th
e salaries of these ministers had bee
y fixed under a Democratic admins
/, tratiOn at seventeen thousand fv
q hundred dollars, and certainly no on
q would say that the cost Of living ha
It decreased since that time. He was toI
y by gentlemen on the other eide that
o they expected to conciliate the Amer
a can people by that kind OF economy the
i were mistaken. Congress had been
|. session for over two months, and VIII
had congress done? it had stopped Il
{, bu liiug of an hospital at West Poin
he'd taken an additional ration flOl
q thee hundred cadets, and had reduce
D the compensation OF half dozen pr
u fessors. 1t had also introduced tar
10 so radical as to be more complicate
u vexatious and vicious than any Of Il
si tariffs OF the last thirty years.
Tue motion was rejected.
n. Mr.. Hale moved to amend the par
graph by increasing the salary Of Il
o. ministers from fourteen Thousand dC
~ lsrs to seventeen thousand five hu
ID dred dollars
ne After discussion by MessTs. Hale, KG