Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-03-31
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, March %.
HOUSE.


The point raised yesterday by Mr..
Z Reagan, that there were no rules gov
erhing the House, none having been
Formally adopted, was discussed at
length.
The Speaker said that under rule l47,
the rules of the preceding House were
( the rules of the succeeding House until
otherwise ordered, and quoted the ruling
/ OF Speaker Grow to that effect.
The chairman finally overruled the
point raised by Mr.. Reagan, holding
that the section was german. An ap-
peal was taken and the decision was
sustained by vote OF ll5 to 10Y. A
, general discussion was then opened by
Mr.. Garfield, the agreement being that
no vote he taken to-day.
The House then went into Commit
tee of the whole on the army appropriR-
ton bill.
Mr.. Stephens argued that the public
sentiment of the North and South was
against the employment OF troops at the
polls. There was no need for such a
thing. The country had got along with
out it for three quarters OF a century
and there would be no harm done, there
fore, by the repeal of the law.
Mr.. Garfield argued against the policy
of the Democratic party in Congress,
declaring it to be utterly revolutionary
and tending TO the submelsio OF the
Government. II the pending PROPOSE
ton was the simplest and most inot-
fensive, still, wien it was demanded as
a matter of coercion, it had to be re-
sisted. 1t was not against the PROPOSE
ton itself, but against the Democratic
methods, he spoke and what was the
law on the repeal of which the Demo-
Gratis now insisted ut the very peril OF
national life? 1t was the law proposed
bv the Democratic Senator Powell, OF
Kentucky, reported against by a Re-
publican committee and passed in both
Houses by majority OF the Democratic
votes. He named as voting for it Sena-
tors Hendricks, Davis, cf Kentucky,
Johnson, OF Maryland, Mcdowell, of
Colorado, aud among the Democratic
Representative Randall, of Pennsyl-
vania, Wood, of New York, Pendleton,
OF Ohio. We pick up the gage OF battle
which you have thrown down and will
appeal TO our common sovereign lthe
peOplel 10 say whether you shall break
down the principle OF free consent in
legislation at the price OF starving the
government TO death. We are ready to
pass these bills for the support OF the
government at any hour when you viii
offer them in an ordinary way, and II
YOU offer these other measures as sep
arate measures, we will meet YOU IN a
spirit of fair and fratcrnal debate, but
YOU shall not compel us, you shall not
coerce useven 10 save this government,
until the question has gone to the SOW
ereigns 10 determine whether they will
consent to break down any OF its vOlun-
tarv powers, and on that ground We
plant ourselves.
Mr.. Mcmahon said the gentlemen on
the other side improved every Oppor-
tunity that offered, to read the gentle
men on his side lecture as to their
past and present condition, and that the
sentiment was rc-cChOed by partisan
press. He wanted to know where
those gentlemen had received their
authority 10 hold over the southern
gentlemen the threat that the feelings
created by the war were not yet pacilied.
Ii il was not competent for Southern
men 10 be admitted to the floor of the
House with the full right Of
voting on vital questions as their
Judgment dictated, then the war
for the Union had been failure. 1t came
with i'll grace from any Republican to say
the provision was improper because it
was put upon the appropriation bill. The
Republicans themselves had passed
many measures in the same way. 1t
had never been considered revolution
arv; but, on the contrary, rs protection
against arbitrary power to attach legis-
latiun on appropriation bills. The
Democrats wanted the jury-box puri-
fled, the use OF troops at the polls pro-
hibted, and the repeal OF that most in
famous of all measures which put 1t III
the power of marshals and their depu-
ties To corrupt the ballot-bOx and IN
timidate honest voters,
A long political debate followed, in
which Messrs. Wood, Sparks and White
were participants The debate will be
resumed on Tuesday, Mr.. Beliord, OF
Colorado, having the floor.
Before the adjournment, the Speaker
announced the appointment Of the Gin
cinnati Committee, (Mr. Mcmahon hav-
ing declined TO act, as Messrs. Carlisle,
Kenner, New, Sanford, COnger, Brown
and Robinson, OF Mass.