Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-17
THE EVENING STAR.
TSESpAY..,......D December ~. ISyS,
CONGRESSIONAL.
Conclusion of Yesterdays Proceedings


subject Ia the call for the regular order. tie
pehIlng question being on the amendment OF
MI Thurman. submitted on "Wednesday last.
MT Wallace moved In lay the resolution ~
nays 90
Tie question then being on Mr. Thurman's
amendment. Mr.. Blaine said lie had no objection
10 that amendment. but he thought another
eeMmitt ns should take charge of it.
MI AlilSon objected to one part OF the amend
iIent OF MI Thurman, that which proposed 20
Inquire II money was raised by assessment or
otnerw,se" lie did not suppose the senator
insait 10 inquire As TO voluntary contributions
Mr. NooIheeS.-les. sir: voluntary confirm
IONS Tor the purpose of eorrupting the ballot
Mr.. AlliSon.-Does it, anplv IA Senators ana.
Members OF the House: ""'
Mr. Ioorhees.-i suppose il does.
=, MI. alisoh.-lhen withdraw any objection.
The amendment OF Mr. Thurman WAS then
agreed TO without a division II PROVIDE, TnT
inquiry a to whether any citizen or any stat
has been dismissed or threat ened VIII h dismissal
from employment by reason OF his Vote ar IN
tention TO vote At the recent election: whether
in the year lSiS money was raised hv aSe,l,SS-
ment or otherwise upon federal officeholder5 or
employees for election purposes: and, further. -
inquire into the action OF United States suNcr-
ViSofS OF election. aud rs TO the number OF mar
ShalS and deputy marShalS employed.
The question then being on the resolution OF
MIR blaine, as amended. Mr.. Conkling moved
| that the inquiry should be made by special
| committee instead OF the judiciary committee
The amendment Vas opposed by Mr.. Here
ford but II was agreed TO by vote of yeas sc
| ana nays %
Mir. Blaine submitted an amendment authoriz-
ing The committee to take testimony by Itself or
| by any subcommittee, aud to visit any portion
OF the country when any such visit may. in their
mdgfnent, facilitate any portion OF the object
OF this inquiry.
| as TO provide that the committee or any sub
committee thereof SHALL sit with open doors
MI. Blalne.-Ni!l the Senator explain his mo-
| tive?
Nh. Butler replied that his motives was 10
| nave q free, fair and full investigation.
Mr. Blaine said there would be run repre>en-
| tation OF the minority. or rlt her from the other
| side of the chamber. He did not know whether
| Ii was the minority or not.
| Mr.. Mhyte.-F0r little while. [1aughter.l
| Nh. Rlalne opposed the amendment of Mr.
| Rutitr, and said there might he a case where 4
witness would be embarrassed by tesiifying
| openly. Very many men who had been inttmida-
| ted at the polls were more inundated on the
| witness stand. He would leave the whole mat
| ter OF open session OF the committee With the
committee itself.
Mr.. Butler said that there was no proof of tbe
allegation that any voters had been inundated
! lie {Sutler1, as Senator in part representing the
| state OF South Carolina, desired 10 say 10 the
| senate and the country that the people of his
state desired the most complete and fullest in
vestigation which could be made, and any wit
nesseS who appeared before the committee ia
South Carolina could testify lllSt as safely as he
! could Iii the state OF Maine.
| The oehate as 10 opening the doors was con-
tinucd between MessrS. Blaine and Butler in
WHICH, tbe iatttr Sald mat IL newspaper state
! mehtS were evidence, he and Mr.. Blaine would
nave been hanged and quarered long ago. Mr..
| Buffers amendment was rejected by 50 yeas
and 80 Maya street party vote.
| Mr. Davis moved 10 amend 50 that the COM
mttee or any Subcommittee shall sit with open
doors when requested To Go 50 by any member
| OF the committee
| Mr. Blaine said the senator from Ohio Mr.
| thurman argued that property and intelligence
rule the south II that WIS 80, the people pos
sessing them would have Il thousand opportuh-
IA SFf- 81,
| Tee where those who had been wronged had
one. He was free to say that a free election In
the sense OF the Constitution was never known
IN the south. There never was a man IN Viz,
| gina, Georgia or Florida who dared u come up
ana vote for Abraham Lincoln.
! MI N1lheTS-There were votes cast for him
IL Virginia.
Mr. Blaine, continuing. And In ISL no one
III the south would vote for James &. Burney'
Mr.. Eaton-Perhaps 10 one there wanted u
vote Tor James &. BufUeS. [Laughterl
MI. Ransom said that Air. Bi3ine'S deClara-
lions were calimny upon the south. II would
rot be best Tor the Senator from Maine or any
other Senator 10 make an assault upon The
southern people. IL there WAS any thought
that anything could be said which would pro-
woke recIlnl!nati0n against the north II was
mistake. The southern people had no such
purpose. Looking towards Mr.. Blaine. he said
senators IL you are TO have war VITA Us. il
SHalt he Your war, not ours
Mr.. Blaine read from Raleigh paper 80 the
erect tllat this was White mans government.
and white men should rule il; but they id not
uteiDrlHtn OF the
right OF suffrage. as the south gained in repre-
SentaIion OF account OF such rights given 10 the
negro; Continuing his remarks Mr.. Blaine said
he indicted the democratic party as the foe OF
free speech, and as the lifelong foe OF free e,ec-
tioDS in the south. lie (Mr Blaine had heard a
good deal about preventing trouble i'll the scat,
ing or President Hayes, and he desired to say
that behind Congress was that same people WHO
had expended life without stint aud money
without count, and for the fate of THOUSAND
Mr.. 1ildenS ora thousand Mr. HAYES they would
/ non nave gOliS 10 war. The southern men in
that count did but their duty
Mr. tanSom.-Yet, in the face of that the Sen
ator from Maine says now we will not do our
duty TO our fellow citizens
MIR. Blaine said IL either he or the senator
from North Carolina should fail TO do their duty
they would both be Smitten with the whitening
condemnation OF 6 constituency which knew
how to do so.
After some further discussion the amendment
or MI. DAVIS was reJected-yeaS IS, nays ga
| strict party vote.
Pending the discussion Mr. whyte said there
| were other Senators who desired 10 speak on
| this resolution and he therefore moved that the
| Senate go into executive session.
Agreed TO, and the Senate, after brief execu-
| tive session, at 1870 adjourned.
DISTRICT BILLS PASSED.
HOT SE.-After our report closed
Mr.. Wright moved TO suspend the rules and
| pass The bill TO encourage settlement on public
| lands by a government advance of $500 to the
| heads Of families.
Pending the vote, at , O'Clock. the House pro-
ceeded 10 the consideration OF District OF Co
! iuInbia business, and action on Mr.. Wright'S
motion went OYER till the Monday after the holi-
| days.
The House then went into committee or the
! whole hr. Finlsy in the chair
| Mr. Hunton- from the District committee re-
| ported bill TO amend the act of the oath OF June
1878. and 10 iiN the rate Of interest on bonds to
| be ISSUED by the commissioners OF the District
the taking up Of SIS, $40 outstanding bends soon
TO fall due.
The bin was laid aside to he reported 10 the
| House.
The committee then took up the nin appropri-
| 2tlng si4e,~b for the construction of a bridge
| across the Potomac river AT the island or the
| Three sisters, above Georgetown. hail the cost
| TO be betrayed BY the Government and half By
| The District
The bill gave rise 10 4 discussion involving
questions as 10 the state Of Virginia cedng iu-
rsdlction for the abutments or approaches or
| the bridge on the Virginia side, and as TO the
| pIopi1ety OF that state contributing oIe-IoditA
OF the expenses.
Mr.. Conger insisted On the Aforementioned
| point, and in the course OF his remarks Satir-
lied the strict conStructlonistS OF Virginia (in-
| dicating Mr.. Tucker by name FOR their old-time
| opposition To internal Improvements, while
they presented appropriations Tor their own
| state in the river and harbor BAL.
Mr. Tucker replied with much warmth, deny
ing that he had ever presented appnopria-
tionS for his state in the river and narlor bill.
and said that he had always opposed such bills.
A proriso was inserted in Ehe bill requiring
| bo assent of the STATE Afryjnia and hp