The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-03-04
XIV CONGRESS.
SENATE.

w ASHINGTON, March An the course
OF the debate on the appropriation bills at
last nights session of the Senate, Senator
Thurman replied to a speech by Senator
Conkling. The question was on the repeal
of that section OF the revised statutes pro.
vidiue for federal supervisors at election.
We give a resume Of his words. The Sena-
tor said:
No more important question in time of
peace was ever brought before the Ameri
can congress, for it involved, not merely
the merit or demerit of the law which the
House bill proposed to repeal, but also the
rights, privileges and powers Of the two
branches of congress and of the president,
1t was a question which had never been
brought so sharply before the American
congress and the American people as 1t
might be now. 1t was one which sooner or
| later, must be decided We we're at the
beginning, perhaps, of a struggle that
might last as long in this country as it did
iu the mother country where 1t went on for
| two centuries before it was determined, 1t
was not likely to last so long mere, but it
might last so long that every man in that
chamber would rest in his grave before it
was completed. 1t was question whether
the house of representatives had right to
say they would grant supplies only on con-
dition that the grievances were redresscd.
They would say, we represent the tax
payers of the republic, and Gae 0Rsg have
the right to originate money bills which
grants the money of the people; the SEN
ate represents the state; we represent the
Taxpayers Of the republic, and We claim
the right which the English house of COM
mons established after a contest lasting
two centuries" Now this had been styled
revolutionary, but he was not to be fright.
lened from the consideration Of these
measures by unjust denrnciation.
Senator Thurman then gave brief re-
sumo Of the struggles in Europe to make
the voice of the people heard. aud pointed
out that the contest in England was not
against the monarch only, but against the
, house of lords, and they established rule
that the house of lords had no right tC
amend the money bill, but must accept Oh
reject il in toto. The power of the house
to demand conditions on WHICH to grant
supplies is mo3e K&ely to eTow than di
minish. No danger is likely to result trou
lit, bat on the contrary it was much mOrt
: likely to make the government acceptable
to the people, and to become government
OF the people administered tor the benefit o
= the people. With regard to the law in re
gard to jurors, it was a disgrace to civil
zation; it made selection Of fair lur.
+ impossible. The house now asked that
; mode be adopted by which :. fa::, neq
partisan Jury could pe- procured.
. "a more disgraceful scene has never oc
! Cured iu the American capitol than tina
Of the last hours of the Republican Sen
: ate. The deliberate determination to Gle
the wheels Of the government by re'usln
to concur in the appropriation bills-th
loading of these bills with millions of do
lars in the shape of appropriations, ths
were but deliberate attempts to steal trol
y the treasury in the last hour Ct the |; 10 {
ry the Republiccr Senate [hc a1atIdped Il
9: iibustefing dprths paFt of such b.liiial
~ tights as Conklioc, Blaine, noar iBl u fe
- other choice spir!ts-hGs made the clcsir
hours Of the Senate Of the ALN coDgre
a disgrace to the body polite Truly Il
= Republican Senate will adjourn SINE lie"
- ED. ARGUs)
HOUSE
WASHINGTON, March 4.-tFhe mig
IN session of the house was mainly oeoupi
on, bv the Democrats endeavOrlng to pass t
Iot various bills that gather at the close OF t
session, while the Republicans refused
- vote in almost every instance, thus Ieavi
the house without quorum. Garfield
or Banks were the leaders IN this 4lllibVst
We log campaign, ana deserve great credit
es the ability 70 do nothing, which they 8;
y y evidence Of possessing We reiraiO fr
boring our readers with the moDoton;
repetition of the report OF no quoruu
Q. and will give only that which Is OF Int
fac fac est.-ED ARGUS
! in Mr.. BGount, from the conference o.
postoffise appropriation plft, fnade 81
"a. Elementary report, with q provision
= double postal cards; agreed to.
The senate bill for the appointment
James Shields brigadier general on
EIretired list, was taken from the speak
= table and passed-yeas. ll3: nays,
zs'1' The speaker voting yea to make the
and essary tYo-thirds majority.
the Mr.. Knott, from the judiciary conn
els, tee, presented report IN the biod!
the case, with resolution that the Chal
Hca- against II. W. Blodgett, United 81
LES Judge for northern Illinois, be laid Oh
ED table, aud that the house take 10 &c
y are thereon
Mr.. Bragg insisted on having the re-
nless read In full, which was done, aud the r
anS tnS luton adopted.
each. @ The bill to allow thirty days extra
g the to pages was passed
rk E ,tor,or and agcitin0 scena
The delivery of strong political speeche
both sides, the speaker delivered his
- q well address, and the house adJoul
| without day.