National Republican., 1879-04-04
HOUSE or REPREs ENr4TIvEs.

MUSE OF ffsfIt f[1s
The House. at 1905, went into Committee OF the
Whole (NIr. Springer In the chair OH the army ap-
preparation bill.
Mr. KNOTT took the foor and said that the ques-
ton under discussion involved the most important
principle that had challenged the attention of
the American Congress-a principle paramount TO
every conceivable consideration Of party eXpedi-
cncy-a principle In which every freeman in the
country, whether Republican or Democrat had u
vital inerest-a principle which lay at the founda-
ton of all political institutions and upon which
their purity and perpetuity depended in word,
n great fundamental principle of republican lib
,rty that the ballOt-box should be protected from
the slightest approach of military power and the
voters left absolutely free IN exercising at the polls
the high perOgatve OF sovereign citizens.
He quoted from law enacted in the reign of
George H. prohibiting the presence of troops at the
polls, to show the desire WhiGh @ had always been cen
had hoped that a question Involving such great
principle would have been debated with calmness
and fairness, but he had been disappointed, pnrtic-
ularly with the speech Of the gentleman from
Maine Mr. Frye He adneNcr listened to a speech
with feelings of prOioundef regret. He regretted IT.,
not becauseit injured him or his party, but because
Of the high estimation he had OF that gentemnns
legal mind, and because Of the extraordinary per-
sOnal attachment which he entertained for him
But he must be permitted 10 say, In sorrow and
not In anger, that while IL might have been appro'
pirate for Inc small fry of that gentlemans party
bar.rooms, It was unjust 10 his Mr.. Frye's genial
aud generous nature as man, to indulge in u line
of remark which could have had no other purpose
than to wound the feelings of gentlemen VINO had
always entertained friendly feelings toward him,
II was unjust to his character as n statesman TO
assume that the idle vagares of nm obscure country
editor was reflex of the sentiment Of the intelli-
gent portion of the country In which he (the EDITOR
lived whether he was native Of that community
or had recently moved into II, with the intention
of fmisTepresenting the sentiments Of its people.
II was unjust to the high standing gentleman
from Maine for him 10 abandon the discussion of a
question involving grave principles of constitu-
tional law as well as public policy in order to de-
question having no more bearing on the issue un.
der consideration than the ancient fights between
The cranes aud the lilipuuUns II was unjust to
his own merits for that gentleman to dig among
lie dry bones Of the past aud bring up transactions
long since buried out Of sight, inorder TO rekndle
The fame OF sectional STRIFE, when he (Mr Knott
had hoped had been allaycd, ava alayed forever
For those reasons he felt profound regret that ihal
speech, which he did not intend to answer, had
been delivered .
lie would as soon think OF answering the roar OF
the ocean on the TOCk-bOund Cuast OF Name hG
did not intend, and he did not thhk his party IN
tended to be led away from the great question un,
der consideration 10 tile discussion ofany collateral
issue whatever, but II intended 20 move right on to
the accomplishment of the high purposes upon
which they We're resolved,
Like the PontiG sea,
Whose Icy aud prOpusivo force
Knows no retiring ebb, but keeps due on
To the prUpOutlC and the llellCspont'
1t was Il clause that pulpofted to authorize the