Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-12-12
FrOlal Washington.

,Oaucusscs were heiu TINS morning by both
Republicans aud Democratic members of
the Senate to determine their respective
courses Of action upon Blaiuc's resolution,
submitted yesterday, which provides for
inquiry by the Judiciary Committee CON
corning alleged violations of the right of
suffrage at tho recent elections, and the
propriety of enactng additional legislation
for its more perfect security in all the States
of the Uuion. Republicans decided to
press the resolution for the adoption after
amending it SO as to provide that the invcs-
tigation shall DO made by special commit.
tee instead of tho Committee on tho Judici.
ary Ut was also determined in the Re.
publican cuuous that resolution Shall be
offered shortly for discussion and action in
the Senate declaring tho entire validity of
the constitutional amendments and asserting
the propriety of enforcing them by appro-
pirate legislation.
The Democratic Senators with unanimity
decided to tuko tho position that Blaines
resolution SHOULD be amended so as to refer
to alleged violations of laws or .abridgemcnts
Of right Of suffrage in both Northern aud
Southern, iustead of omitting reference to
any specific part Of the country, und that
as thus amended they will vote for its
adoption.
The House passed the military academy
bill and the fortilication appropriation bill
With little debate. There was no amend
ment to tho latter, and it is identical with
the bill of last year. This passing Of two
general appropriation bills on the second
day of the session is unprecedented in the
history of the House.
Rapey introduced bill in the House
to-day i'll rclntion to the election frauds.
1t imposes fine not exceeding 81 900 and
imprisonment not exceeding two years for
usiug tissue ballots or other than one printed
on pluin white paper, aud provides that any
ballot found in box with distinguishing
mark shall not be counted under like pom
atty. Similar penalties arc imposed for
interfering with, intimiduting or preventing
voters from casting their ballots. All
ballots found folded together are to be
thrown out aud not counted.
WAsnlNNToE, Dccomber 2.-Thc ines.
sage is received with general but mild
approval. Some people complain that it is
a very uucScting document, but the gene
raj opinion is that this is one of its inertia
The soft money mcu arc, Of course, irritatcd
at tho passage relating to tho currency.
The Southern men, almost without exccp-
ton, arc satisfied with tho Presidents rcfc
renee TO the South, aud are disposed ut tllis
time to grant the money asked for to dcfray
tic expenses Of trials for violation of the
election laws. 1t is probable, however,
that there will be lively discussion on this
phcns. Of GcorGia, this evening expressed
to Herald correspondent what secms to
be tho general Southern opinion of the
message. He said:
Upon the whole, think very we'll Of
tho message Of coursc, | differ with the
President upon his financial policy. The
message upon the subject Of Southern out
rugcs was not different from what expected,
! think, however, very exaggerated accounts
have reached the President az to outrages
in South Carolina aud Louisiana, aud when
! the facts come to be inquired into It will be
found that great deal of the newspaper
statements are totally without foundation
How it really is do not know. One thing
however, would say: If there have bccn
any outrages or violations of law they ought
to bc rcdressed. | an a law and order
abiding man: The maintenance of tho
majesty of the law is tho only hope of tho
preservation of the rights of FREQ people.
Governments, in the last resort, may be put
into two classcs-thc government of laws
and the government of arnis---and all free
people ought to sec that the laws arc executed
and enforced; otherwise they must id the
end havo government of arms But l
think in the South GENERALLY the clcctions
were as free from illegal idterfeteuco as in
any part of the United States In Georgia
| never knew or heard of more quiet
election If in any of tho recent elections
to Congress State laws have been violated,
North or South, the proper remedy ought
to bo enforced through tho State judiciary.
If any Federal law has been thus violated,
the wrong should be rightcd through the
Federal judiciary, and as it is tho duty of
the Governors respectively to sec that tho
State lnws, as cxpounded by tho State courts
arc enforced, SO it is the duty of tho Prcsi.
dent to SEQ tho Federal laws, as cxpoundcd
by tho Federal courts, arc enforced. But
moot of those questions, it seems to me,
properly belong to tho House of Rcprcsen--
tatives, which is tho solo judge of tho cleo
ton an1 qualification Of its mombcrs.
There arc signs here showing that lead
ing mon 10 both parties think it useful to
their selfish ends to keep alive tho Southern
question. Some Democrats think this the
only way to make sure of the Southern
States for their party in 1880, and aomc
Ropubli'cahs, on tho other hand, believe
that they cannot kcop tho Republican party
alive until that timo except by getting up
and Keeping np'a now quarrel and alarm
about tho South Thus these nartv loa dora