The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-12-17

| to vote for Abraham Lincoln, and in 1874
none in the south would vote for James
| G.. Birney.
| Mr.. Mcmillan argued that intimidators
should be punished.
| Mr.. Ransom said he could persuade any
patriot to retire from the position held by
Blaine in his argument that free election
in the south was impossible. This reso-
luton had been supported by democrats.
They wanted this INVESTIGATION and had
tabled a proposition to abandon it. He
appealed to Mr.. Blaine if this opposition
to the amendment was not mockery. The
senator had called for the light of heaven
On these transactions, but when democrats
said turn it on. he exclaimed. "Oh, no;
put it in dark room; draw the curtain;
| light is an enemy Of fraud and corruption" :"
1t protects homes and allows no shadow of
suspicion as to the methods employed. 1t
would not be best for Mr.. Blaine to assai
the southern people. 1t was a mistake to
think that ANYTHING could be said to pro-
woke recrimination. Looking towards Mr..
Blaine he said, Senators. if you are to
have war with US, it shall be your war,
not ours. A year ago the southern people
acted patriotically and gave this country
peace instead of great trouble and revolu-
ton, They did not throw an impeachment
in the way of the present administration.
Southern men loved the country, loved its
peace and honor, and expected to deserve
its blessings, and if they had power would
not exerciseit oyer the people of the north.
The southern people desired to be let
alone, to build up their fortunes, for they
were as poor as sand on the seashore. For
ha har
heard his people abused, but his duty was
to bear it. Now, when it was proposed to
indict them they would meet their accusa-
light, see it all God forbid that it would
go out to the balance of mankind and go
down the stream of time forever that this
!, American senate declared that an investi
cation should not be made in the light of
day.
Mr.. Blaine, in reply, read from Raj.
eigh paper to the effect that this was a
white mans government and that white
men should rule 1t. but they did not intend
the negroes should be deprived of the right
of suffrage, as the south gained in repre-
sentation on account of such right to the
, negro. Continuing his remarks. Mr., Blaine
said he indicted the democratic party as
: the foe of free speech and as the lifelong
enemy of free elections in the south. He
Blaine) had heard good deal about pre-
venting trouble in the seating of president
Hayes and he desired to say that behind
congress was that same people who had
expended life without stint and money
without count, and for the fate Of thou
sand Mr., Tldens or thousand Mr., Hayes
they would not have gone to war. The
southern men in that court did but their
duty.
, MIR. Ransom-Yet in the face of that
the senator from Maine says now we will
! do our duty to our fellow citizens.
7 MIR. Blaine said that if either he or the
senator from New York should fail to dc
their duty the offender would be smothered
with the withering condemnation Of con,
stituency which knew what to expect
} After further discussion the amendment
, of Mr.. Davis was rejected-yeas %, nays
%, a strict party vote
D Pending discussion Mr.. White said there
3 were other senators who desired to speak
on this resolution. and he therefore NOV
t ed that the SENATE go into executive ses
sion.
Agreed to, and the senate after a brie
session, adjourned.
r HOUSE.
!, WASHINGTON, Dec. l9.-Bills were in
: troduced and referred:
r By Mr. Banning, to place James Shield
2 on the army retired slst as Brigadier Gen
+ eral
Il By MIR. Foster for the exchange Of stan
:, dard dollars for trade dollars
d By Mr.. Lathrop, to place silver coinag
of the United States upon the basis of it
intrinsic value. 1t proposes to make silve
!. dollars OF 4l23 grains and minor coins re
# latively of like weight and ineness: pro
r. vIdes for free coinage without limit an
|. makes all silver coin legal tender to an
e amount when not otherwise speci6edin tn
q contract.
Ie By Mr.. Fort, proposing a penalty c
$10O to be imposed upon any nations
banking association for each offence in re
tuslDg to receive or pay out standard silve
10 dollars the same as other lawful money.
u Mr.. Fort also introduced bill requirin
c. the secretary of the treasury to cause to b
J. exchanged, when in the treasury and nj
: otherwise appropriated, United State
notes for silver dollars when presented {
the treasury or assistant treasury In Ne
York, in sums of 81 900 or any multip
Dt thereof.
o. By MIR. Buckner, to amend section 5,2C
ty of the Revised Statutes SO as to read as fo
D. lows: mo association shall hereafter off
IN or receive United States notes, nation
D. bank notes or gold or silver coin as securit
ras collateral security for any loan of none
or for consideration agreed to, withho
the same from use or offer or receive Il
IL custody or promise of custody of sue
u notes or coin as security or considerable
. for any loan of money, any association o
~ Tending against the provisions OF this Sc
% ton shall be deemed guilty of misdemea
or and be lined no more than 1000 al
ay the further sum of - of the money
he loaned. The officer or officers of any ass
citation who shall make any such loan sh;
be liable for further sum equal to
quarter of the money loaned and any Fl
or penalty incurred by violation of this sc
. tion shall be recoverable for the benefit
the party bringing such suits.
By Mr., Gibson, for the improvement
the Mississippi and its tributaries from Il
head of the passes near its mouth to
rd head waters The bill proposes to appr
1t pirate S3,5O0,000 to be expended by Il
X secretary of war. OF this amount the b
Ow requires $4,000 to secure a depth Of q
AN IeSs tHdH e1gut ieot at Inc IoHeet stage
,se water between the mouth of the Ot
he river and the mouth of the Illinois rive
at and equal amounts are to be devoted !
I'D spectively for securing greater depth
at water between the mouth of the Illin,
ere river and the Des Moines rapids, betwe
TO the foot of the Des Moines canal and
bis Paul. between the headWaters of the M
he sissippi river at shoals, on the Ohio riv
1t aud at the lowest stage of water on I
ion | Misrn,,ri r;,rnr With fho r;nru .,f nnnr, =;