The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-05-12
XLvICoNGREss-1sT SESSION
SENATE.

WASHINGTON MAY 10.
Senator Eaton today introduced bill relat-
ing to telegraph communications between the
United States and foreign countries. 1t was
referred to the committee on foreign rela-
TONS
A message was received from the House an
nouncing that the Speaker had signed the en-
rolled bill to prohibit military interference at
elections and returning the bill for the sigma
ture of the President pro tenn of the Senate.
The legislative bill was taken up.
Mr.. Beck said that the bill was substantially
the same as agreed on by the committee at the
former session with few exceptions
Mr.. Edmunds inquired whether what is call
ed political legislation is the same as that pro-
posed last year, or did it differ by enlarge
ment or diminution.
Mr.. Beck replied that he was not prepared
to answer as he had not compared the two.
Mr.. Beck moved that the reading of the bill
be dlspened with in order to afford Mr.. Hill CT
Georgia an opportunity to address the Senate,
as he intended leaving the city and may not re-
turn before the end of the present session.
:. Mi. Hill said that the South had been ma
ngned III hundred different shapes and forms
for the purpose of antagonizing the North and
to secure Republicans in possession of power.
There was persistent earnest arbitrary and
d1ctatorial purpose to induce the President to
veto the bill prohibiting military interference
at the polls. lie never believed the President
would veto the bill. He said if it was true as
stated by Conkling and others that confeder-
ates were in Congress who were enemies of the
Union, they had no right in Congress and
would, if honorable men, leave. But he con-
tinued, the representatives of the South are
not enemies of the Union. He claimed that
the South was driven into secession by the ex-
tremists of the North Of nine Representa-
tives and two Senators from Georgia eight OPP
posed secession, and of 90 Southern Represent
tatives and Senators about 70 were opposed to
secession.
He then went into long explanation of his
own course showing that he opposed secession
personally, and made the last speech in Geor-
gia against the resolution by which that state
seeded. He alleged that when efforts were
made to hold convention in Virginia to avert
war, Northern Republicans objected and he
read letter from Zach Chandler to Governor
there had not been any Republican party there
would have been no secession nor war South
ern men sought to avert war while the North
tried to bring it on.
Mr.. Chandler said this was the thirt;esh time
the letter had been read. 1t was written
when there was treason in the White House,
in the Cabinet, in the House of Representa-
tives, and when secession was an accomplished
fact 1t was no time to compromise with trail
tors, and he stood by the letter now as he had
always heretofore, and let the most be made of
it. He said the South was solid only that it
might rule or ruin the nation. The men have
changed since 1857 but not their measures.
The other side then fought to overthrow the
SoNClHuOuo, IOW tHty NOlo duu ttlk lOr luG
self-same purpose. You are to-day as you
were then, concluded Chandler, determined
either to rule or ruin this government, and you
cannot do it.
Mr. Hill denied that he ever had stated that
he (HilD was Union secessonst as charged
by Mr.. Chandler.
Mr. Winter, in referring to Mr.. Hiss
charge that the war was brought on by North
ern extremists, cited the fact that President
Lincoln's first inaugural distinctly assured the
hot Tho
by them that the accession of Re-
publicans to power would menace their
property were groundless and that interference
with slave olders was not contemplated.
Ample proof OF the correctness of his assurance
| was open to inspection. That was the manner,
said Window, in which the extremities of the
North compelled the people of the South to Sc
cede, because they feared they would lose their
property.
Mr.. Window gave way for motion to ad-
Journ by MIR. Beck, who suggested that Mr..
Window continue his remarks at 1870 Mon
day, by which time he thought the political
provisions of the bill would be reached, and
with this understanding the Senate at $50 adj
journed until Monday.
HOUSE
A bill was reported from the committee and
passed, amending the law relating to writs of
prohibition and mandamus. Also the bill
relating to widows of pensioners of the war of
lo12, so as to give penSi onS to women who are
second time widows. Opposition was made
to the bill as an entire change in the pension
laws, and on motion of Mr.. Garfield it was
referred to the pension committee.
The bill prohibiting the presence of the
military at places of elections was presented as
enrolled, signed by the Speaker and sent to
the President pro tenn. of the senate.
At the expiration of the morning hour the
House resumed the consideration of the War
ner silver bill and was addressed by Mr.. KEEL
ley.
He submitted that it was not specially dis
creditable to him that he did not know that
the purpose of the law of 1873 was to demone-
tie the standard silver dollar when neither
the President who signed the bill nor the
members OF his cabinet were aware of it.
Mr.. Reed OF Maine applied himself tc dis
slpat1ng the preludices of the gentlemen who
believed the demonetiZing act would be a
fendish outrage, and who talked about the act
taking away the legal tender qualities of the
trade dollar as trick -
Mr.. Bowman opposed the bill and character
lied 1t as onesof the most vicious bills ever
reported in Congress- bill not aimed at
capitalists alone but at the laboring classes 1t
was scheme of boundless initiation 1t would
place in the hands of foreign bullion holders
the power of contracting or initiating the cur
rency, and would give them now profit of Is
per cent on the silver they might sent for coin
age.
Several bills were introduced and referred,
including the following
Relating to public lands; for appointment of
the Mississippi river commission; for the reduc-
ton and reorganization of the army.
The House at 425 adjourned