The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-04-10
The Debate on the Army ApproprI-
alton Bali.

4 Z
, Objection was made to sll these prop
ositions, Conger of Michigan stat.
Ing that q number of gentlemen on
both sioes have given notice oi
their desire to speak; also that many
have prepared speeches and would mol
like to be restricted to fifteen minutes,
and also that but few members would
be present at the night sessions on both
, sides. II was declared that there was
no desire TO shut eff debate. The
Speaker gave it his experience that an
unllmited debate was the shortest de-
bate. That opinion was endorsed by
Kelly, of Pennsylvania, who quoted
the proverb that "the shortest way
round is the shortest way home" AID
who also suggested, as this session was
self-lmposed luxury, there was no
reason why that luxury should be cut
short. The opinion of Hawley, OF
Connecticut, wss that, as the subject
was of an important character, it would
be ungrscIous to cut debate short or
to compel members to attend night ses-
sioas.
The motions by Stephens Of Geor-
gis, that the vote be taken at 2 o'clock
Saturday, was voted down.
Finally on motion of Duunell, OF
Minnesota, all general debate was Or
dered to be closed at o'clock Friday,
leaving the three minute debate still
open. The House then, at 10 :35, went
into committee of the whole.
The debate was opened by Williams,
of Wisconsin, who stated that two
things were absolutely Indispensable
purity of the ballot b and peace at
the polls of which it required all the
power of the general government,
thatshould be exec sed whether It be
put forth under national or under
State jurisdiction; he had hesrd much
talk about bayonet COVE nment, and
he knew of no government which
did not rest ultimately on the bayC-
net; whoever talked about the gov
ernment without final ultimate re-
sort in case of resistance to civil law,
talked about Utopia.
Townsend, of Illinois, next spoke on
the Democratic side of the question.
He did not know by what authority
MIR. Garfield spoke when he intimated
that these bills would not receive the
sanction of the President, but if that
prophecy was to be verified, there was
no man 80 blind or prejudiced as not
to know chat their failure was due to
the President. If the government was
to stand the responsibility for that, it
was not to be laid at the door of the
Democratic party.
1t was ordered that the debate on
the army appropriation bill should
close at 3 o'clock Friday. The discus
sion of that measure was renewed in
the committee of the whole without
any especially new features of interest
and without the animation or excite
ment which attended yesterdays de-
bate.
The House debate on the army sp-
preparation bill was opened by Kuott,
of Kentucky. He spoke of the great
and historical importance of the prin-
ciple involed in this question. He
characterized it as the great funda-
mental principle of Republican liberty /;
that the ballot box should be protected
from the slightest approach Of military
power, and that voters shall be left
absolutely free in exercising at the
polls the highest prerogative of citi-
zen. He quoted the English statutes
of George III. for the removal of
troops from the place where an
election is to be held, and cited
Blackstone as wrltiug that it
is essential that elections shall be alb
solute, and that therefore all undue
influences are illegal and are prohibited.
He had expected that such question
would have been discussed on
the other side with .calmness
and dignity, but in this he
had been previously disappointed.
particularly in connection with the
speech of the gentlemsn.from Maine
Frye). That speech, while it might
have been appropriate In the small
fry of his party at cross roads or vii
lsge bar rooms, was unjust to that
gentleman's genial and generous ma.
ture.
Robeson, ex Secretary OF the Navy,
then addressed the House. He in
tended to confine himself to the ques
tion of law involved in the discussion
It is proposed, he said, to restrain the
civil officers of the United States from
keeping the peace at any election il
any State, by what means? By civi
means, not by military means, for the
right of civil officers - the marshal o
the district, If you please-to summon
the posse cOmitGtus is right to summon
the ordinary military companies tha
may be within the body of this bsili
wick. The right to summon armed
troops, if they be within the body o
the bsiliwick, ia civil, not military
right, and Is IN the interest of the in
Mobility and the strength of the civi
law.
There was considerable controversy
between the speaker and McLsne, o
Maryland, as to whether there haC
ever been any rulings of the Suprem,
Court recognizing the right of the Uni
ted States to keep the peace.
Robson said he had never known
that question to arse in that form, bu
there have been rulings of the Su
preme Court to the effect that wher
ever there was q power given anG
guaranteed or secured by the Constitu
tion of the United States, then tn,
power resided in the United States tt
enforce and secure 1t. He continued
at considerable length ir a legal argu.
ment upon the points now involved
Robeson said. s'My friend from Ohic
[Mr. Hood) had said it becomes us to
look sharply and keenly as too the use
of the military power, for that by il
republios have al~ays diod. I take is.
sue with him there. The last final
blow at tue liberties OF republics has
come by tho sword, but it has not been
until some breach of government,
usually breach claiming more special
ly to represent the popular will, has
usurped to itself powers that
did not belong to it. 1t was
only after the long Parliament of Eng
Iaud had disgnsted the country by its
disregard Of civil and personal rights
and by its assumption Of everything
that belonged to the government that
the stern soldier Oliver Cromwell
dared to go 70 that house and dissolve
it with military power. Il was only
after the French Assembly had made
France, its fair fields and lite Yins-clad
bills run red with the blood Of lis best
citizens. Not until Europe was
appalled, st scenes of murder perpe-
trsted there; not until the world itself
stood sghast At the crimes thar were
committed IN the name Of Ebery thar
the young Napoleon. with his armed
force, WIS able To seize upon the gov
ernment We belong 10 q system OF
government with coordinate and