New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-18
WORK IN CONGRESS.
ADAY OF HOT AND HARD DEBATE.

Army bill at much length yesterday. MI.
COnkling placed Mr.. Withers in an embar-
RAISING position by pressing him to explain
the real objects of the bill. He moved
an amendment to it. Mr.. Blaine moved
to amend so as to forbid anybody to
bring weapons to the polls. In the
House there was a strong contest over sew
eral political measures, and the Republicans
filibustered for two hours over one of them.
General Stanley has been admonished in re-
gard to his charges against General Hazen.
The Democrats of the Senate held caucus
on the silver question, but reached no con-
clusion.
THE ARMY AND THE ELECTIONS.
THE DEBATE IN THE sENATE-MR. CONKLING
sHAMEs wITHERs AND EXCITEs THE TEMPEs-
TUOUs voORHEEs--MR BLAINE DEMANDS FAIR
PLAY
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUYE.I
WASHINGTON, juno Ex-senator Withers. Of Yr-
ginia. presented ptiful spectacle this evening as
he sought by every little subterfuge which his in
genuity could suggest to avoid making an in
teligent reply to plain and proper parliamentary
question addressed TO him by Senator COnkling.
The Senator from Virginia was in charge of
the Army Appropriation bill, a position which
made 1t his duty to explain the pro-
visions Of the to other Senator's The polit-
zeal feature of the bill contained in the fifth section,
as amended by the Senate Committee, alone re-
NAMED for consideration. Senator COnkling called
upon the Senator Charge of the bill to explain the
meaning and intended operation Of the phrase 'to
be used AS police force to keep the peace at the
polls"
Mr.. Withers replied that IL was a work of super
erogation for him to attempt to enlghten the Sem
ator from New-York upon tho legal meaning of the
provision. He believed, however, that it was In
tended to forbid the use of the Army as police
force TO keep the peace at the polls.
Senator Conkling asked if it meant that although
the Army could not be employed to keep the peace
as police force at the polls, it could, nevertheless
be employed to keep the peace at at the polls.
Mr.. Withers replied that if the Army used IN
any other capacity than police force there was
no inhibition.
Again and again Senator Conkling explained that
he was not asking what words were contained in
the section referred to- "a he could read them for
himself, but that he wished to know which one Of
two meanings was to be gwen to the Ambiguous
phrase Ito be used as police force to keep the
peace at the polls"
Mr.. WitheTs, with look of shame, reiterated
over and over with slight variations the substance
of his reply. His wit suggested no more creditable
method of evasion, and his independence and Sena-
tOral dignity Were 1uSllfClenJ lHlpei MIN
more manly course of making distinct ayowal
upon one side or the other.
Mr. Conkling sarcastically said that he was sure
the intelligence of the Senator from Virginia was
more than sufficient to comprehend his question
and frame a reply. He did not understand that the
section was designed merely 10 make 1t unlawful
the soldiers Of the United States for watchmen, pa
tromen agistTatcs and civil policemen election
day. II that was fits meaning there was no obJec.
tp m WI
he believed 10 was intended to deny, in the only
sense in which 1t has ever been called right. the
right of the President to employ the armed forces
to keep the peace. In conc luslon, he proposed an
amendment to be added to the section as follows :
Except in aid of the civil authorities"
The puerle course of Senator Withers was too
much for Senator Voorhees,. He manifested his i'm
| patience by attempting to answer for himself at
least while the colOqny was in progress. When
stormy manner made distinct avowal that for his
part the Interpretation of the phrase should be the
forbidding tho President to make any use of the
troops whatever to protect American citizens from
| themselves on election day. He let himself out IN
his grandest style, His arms swept around
emotion as he depicted the ability of the
| dear people to take care of their own affairs, and
dared any Senator to get up there and say hat the
constituency which he represented would be unable
| to maintain the peace on election day. He relt-
Grated that never should his vote be gwen for any
| measure which would empower the President 10
| array armed men around the polling places on cleo
| men of their choice.
After some goodnatured sparring without i'm
| portant results, between Senator Carpenter and
Senator Voorhees, Senator Blaine took the floor, and
said that the thing which earliest arrested his at
! tentIon the attempt to legislate against an
utterly baseless and imaginary evil, while on the
other hand an evil patent to all mankind received
! DO attention. He SAID he believed that no Senator
in the chamber could mention of his own knowledge
| an instance where any duly qualified American
citizen had been proven by United States soldiers
| from exercising his right OF v0tlng' ,.
! Senator Withers mentioned the Petersburg case
| but was compelled to admit that he had no know-
| edge upon the beet other than that which had
been gathered from allegations filed III acontested
| election case, and they had never been proved.
Senator VOORHEES, referred to the much-quoted IN
| stance of the alleged interference by a Massa-
| chusetts regiment with the voting IN indianapolis
| at an election held during the war.
| senator Blaine said that this Massachusetts, reg.
| ment had accomplished more work III one DAY, IL
reports were TO be credited, than any
| other regiment mentioned in history. That
| one regiment had been heard of On that
election at pretty nearly every poliing-place
| in Indiana Foreseeng a controversy, he prom
| ised to give way later, aud proceeded with his
speech. He said that it was matter OF 2ihcial
record. and had been sworn to 10y lnnuneraDle WIZ
nesses, that thousands upon thousands OF voters
bad IN certain sections OF the country been i
driven from the polls by violence. Red
shirted regiments armed with United states
weapons had surrounded the polng-places
| whose right TO vote was unquestioned lie wanted
fair play and he asked that If the soldiers OF the
United states were 10 DE IOrOluueh lrOn pIotcCtuB
| voters III the exercise of their rights, no other
| armed men should be permit ed to go near the
polls to disturb The peace. He closed by intro
ducing the amendment proposed BY hn TO the
| original Army bill making II unlawful for any
person to carry arms to the polling place on cleo
| ton day.
Senators Voorhees, and Mcdonald then joined
| forces in an attempt 10 make a grievance of the
affair in Indiana already referred TO.
Mr. WIthers gave notice that he would ask for a
vote on the bill tomorrow.
A LIVELY DAY IN THE HOUSE.
A CLASH OF ARMS OVER SEVERAL IMPORTANT
MEAsUREs-THE gEPUBuCASs HOLD THEIR OWN
REMARKABLY.