Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-02-06
CONGRESSIONAL.
WAsHINsroN, ID. c., Feb. 5.
SENATE.
Claims Against Nicaragua


Mr.. Mathews resolution providing
for committee to inquire into the
claims of citizens against Nicaragua was
agreed TO without discussion.
Senator Jones.
The Nice-President laid before the
Senate the credentials Of John II. Jones,
elected U. s. Senator from Nevada.
Placed on file.
Family Of Bsyard Taylor.
Mr.. Hamlin presented q letter IRON
the Secretary of State saying the family
OF Bayard Taylor, United States Minister
TO Germany, was not in affiuent circum-
stances, and recommending that the pay
Of Minister to Berlin be continued TO
Mrs. Taylor for one year. Referred.
The Amendments Resolutions.
The Senate resumed consideration OF
the resolution of Mr.. Edmunds, declar-
ing the validity OF the thirteenth, four
teenth and fifteenth amendments to the
Constitution OF the United States, and
Mr. White spoke in opposition thereto.
Mr. Hereford said the people of this
country were expecting something else
at the hands of Congress than the dis
cussion OF this abstract question. Con-
gress was here to legislate to give the
people bread and butter and not here TO
lay down platforms for one political
party or another. He moved that the
resolution be indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. Elmunds said that when any
laws were proposed TO carry out consti-
tutional amendments the Senators on
the other side always said il was too
early, or it WAS too late, or too something.
They were all in for constitutional
amendments but not in for putting their
names on record.
After further discussion the Chair
(COckrsll) ruled that the motion OF
Hereford embraced that OF Hill which
was to postpone the matter until March
1, after the expiration OF the present
Congress, and the motion OF Hereford
was rejected by vote OF yeas, 10;
nays, 32.
The question being on the resolutions
as submitted by Mr.. Edmunds, he
demanded a separate vote bon each rcso-
luton. The first one was agreed TO by
vote nj yeas, %; nays, IL.
The second resolution was agreed TO
by similar vote, and as agreed to the
resolutions were read:
RssDlred, As the judgment of the Sem
ate. that the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and
Fifteenth Amendments To the Consti-
tuition of the United States have been
legally ratified, and are as valid and Of
the same paramount authority as any
other part OF the Constitution; that the
people Of each State have common in
terest in the enforcement OF the whole
Constitution in every State OF the
Union, and that it is alike right and the
duty OF the Congress to enforce said
amendments, and 10 protect every citi-
zen in 1.-THE exercise all rights thereby
secured by the laws Of general charaC-
ter already passed for that purpose, and
by further appropriate legislation ~ far
As such enforcement and protection are
not secured by the existing laws, and il
is the duty Of the Executive Depart
ment of the government 10 faithfully
and with diligence carry such laws into
impartial execution, and OF Congress TO
appropriate all moneys neediul TO that
end.
Rssolred further, That il is the duty Of
Congress 10 provide by law for full and
impartial protection to all citizens Of
the Unitea States, duly qualified, in
their right to vote for Representatives
in Congress, and to this end the Com
mittec on Judiciary be, and ID is hereby
instructed to prepare and report, as
soon as may be, a bill for the protection
of such rights and punishment Of in-
fractions thereof.
On motion Of Mr.. Efmunds the Sen
ate took up the House joint resolution
proposing an amendment 10 the Con-
stitution prohibiting the payment Of
claims OF disloyal persons for property
injured or destroyed in the late war oi
the rebellion, So it would be unfinished
business.
The Senate, at II o'clock p. W., al
iourned.