Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-04-04
HOUSE.


The debate on the army appropriation
bill was continued by Mr.. Knott. He
spoke of the great and historical import
ance of the principle involved. He
characterized it as thegreat fundamental
principle of Republican liberty that
the ballot box should be protected from
the slightest approach of military power,
and that the voter shall lie left absolute
ly free in exercising at the polls the
highest prerOgative Of the citizen. He
quoted the English statute of George
III for the removal of the troops
from places where an election is to
held, and cited Blackstone, that
it is essential that elections
shall be absolutely free, and that there
fore all undue influences are illegal and
are prohibited. He had expected that
such a question would have been dis
cussed on the other side with calmness
and dignity, but in this he had been
grievously disappointed, particularly
in connection with the speech OF Mr.,
Frye. That speech, while it might
have been appropriate in the small frye
of his party at the cross roads or the
NllldGt bdiIODlllt was NllJ JuNb W llllt SNil-
tleman's genial and generous nature.
lie did not intend, and lac did not
think his party intended, to Se led away
from the great question under cOnsi Ter
alton 10 the discussion of any collateral
issue whatever, but it intended 10 move
right on 10 the accomplishment OF the
high purpose on which they were re-
solved. lie expressed his astonishment
at the statements that the obnoxious
words which il was now proposed to
wipe out OF the statute book had been
inserted on motion OF Senator Powell and
said Kentucky was proud Of many
of her sons, but of none OF them was she
proudcr than Oi Powell. Ii he had done
nothing i'm his long and usclUl career
except stand day after day and contend
manmlly-as he did-iOr the purity Of
the ballot box and for nOn-interierence
Of the military with elections, that act
alone would have secured To him the
affection of every lover Of liberty and a
memorial more lasting than sculptured
marble or moulded brass.
The Democratic party simply intend
eel when it captured the CAPITAL TO throw
off the chains that had been thrown
around the people, to plant its banner
on the dome of the Capital, emblazoned
with the legend of equal and exact JUS
tiee 10 all men and exclusive priyi-
leges to none" Ii intended 10 pro-
tect the purity OF the ballot-bOX, which
was the cornerstone of personal liberty
and of free government, and to see to 1t
that the military shall at all times and
under all circumstances be subordinate
TO the civil authority. Ii intended
to preserve the ancient birthright OF
the American citizen to trial by jury,
in all its purity. 1t intended that
all ringmasters and jobbers and knaveS,
who had fastened like vampires
on the body polite OF the country lor
years past, shall he driven forth as the
moncy-changers were scOurged from the
temple by our Savior. 1t intended that
every abuse of power should be ar
raigned, not only before the great bar of
public opinion, but before the cstab
iished tribunals of the country. 1t in
tended to preserve the rights, dignity
and equality Of all the States unimpalred,
as the safest protection To domestic con-
Germs and as the surest bulwark against
anti-Republican tendencies. Ii intended
to maintain the federal government as
supreme in its constitutional sphere,
and to let all the States, in the splendid
galaxy of an equal republic, move on
forever in their appointed orbits, with
the beauty and harmony that made the
music Of the spheres when the morning
stars sang together and all the sons OF
God shouted for joy. Applause on the
Democratic side.
Mr.. Knott concluded his speech with
a statement of the benefcent reforms
that would be effected when the Demo
cratic party had captured the capital.
as he firmly believed 1t to be IN the
plan OF Providence that the party OF the
people should so triumph.
lie was followed on the Republican
side by Mr.. Hook, who argued that 1t
was absolutely necessary for the pro-
lection of the lives and political rights
OF the colored and white Republicans OF
the South that the authority oi the
military 10 preserve peace at the pOls
should he maintained.
This speech. being made bya Southern
man, attracted much attention, and was
frequently applauded on the Repuhh
can side and jeered on the Democratic
side.
MIR. Robeson followed.
Mr.. Robeson confined himScl! 10 the
questions Of law involved in the discus
sion, and said: II is proposed here 10
restrain civil officers OF the United States
from keeping the peace at any election
i'm any State. By what means? BY
civil means, not BY military means; for
the right OF acivil officer lthe Marshal oi
a district, If YOU please, to summon q
poSx ooDaiidiiU is right to summon ordl'
nary military companies that may bt
within the body Of his baiir
wick. The right 10 summon
arne,l troops, II they be- within the
body OF the hailiwick, Is a civil, not
military right, aand is in the interest o.
the inviolabihty and strength OF th'
/ civil law. Can that be doubted by any
/ LAWYER? Can il be Contradicied by any
man? The jurisdiction of the UniteC
I States comes within the States when
/ ever il has any United States duty I,
| perform, That is not only sense, bu
good law. Whenever the Cnited State
has guaranteed a right, whenever 1
\ right comes by the Constitution, and d
I guaranteed by it, the the United Statet
has a right, and must have n night, 4
enforce and carry out that power.
Mr.. Kimmel-Where has the UniteC
! States guaranteed the right TO vote?
Mr.. Robeson-It has guaranteed tn
right 10 every man in Maryland, VIII
has a right to vote for the most numer
Gus branch OF the State Legislature
that he shall votest peaceable electioI
lfor members Of Congress lApplaus