The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-04-17

bl.! the moment that any minority, now
ever large, said no to that proposition
If not, then they were in the midst of
parliamentary revolution, out of whiet
there was no legislation of any sort pos
sible forevermore until that proposition
was abandoned. He regarded it as mos
unwise and unfortunate that the gentle
men on the other side of the House hat
seen 6t to say that unless this amend
ment were struck out this great public
measure, without which the government
could not 60 on, could not become law
He would never give way in any form o
compromise until that assumption wa!
utterly abandoned. He recognized thu
right of dilatory motions where a mi
nority was being oppressed by any un'
parliamentary proceedings, but where
the proposition was to proceed according
to parliamentary law, and where the mi
nority said that should moi be done, then
if the minority was to prevail there wa:
the end of parliamentary government
1t was a simple, plain denial of the right
of the American people tG make laws
speaking through the majority of theil
representatives.
''N1r. Brooks made the suggestion thai
the enforcement bill was unconstitu
tional, and was proceeding to establish
that point by reference to the fourth
article of the Constitution, but was in
terrupted by Mr.. Bingham, who had OBJ
tanned the floor, and who insisted upon
proceeding with his remarks.
"An exciting scene ensued, during
which Mr.. Bingham had to withdraw
offensive words and Speaker Blaine to
apologize, when the matter was recon-,
mitted to the conference committee
Several hours later Mr.. Garfield, from
the reconvened conference committee,
reported an inability to agree and moved
new conference. This was merely q
technical proceeding, but gave the Re-
publicans way out of the dilemmas into
which the speeches of Messrs. Kelly,
Garfield and Bingham had placed them
and a new conference committee was
ostensibly appointed, but it consisted Of
the former members of the first commit
tee. Meanwhile the sessions Of both
Senate and House had been prolonged a
few hours by joint resolution, and the
Republicans had agreed to take out the
enforcement clauses which the Senate
had inserted in the appropriation bill,
and the Democrats agreed to withdraw
'6libustering.' This left merely the Da.
venport amendments, with a withdrawal
from supervisors of the right to arrest
without warrants. Upon the new report
being presented, Mr.. Garfield explained
it. He said:
"The effect of the proviso that super
visors shall not have the power to make
arrests was that those officers should
stand by and witness any proceedings of
the election and should have the official
right to do so, so that if frauds were per-
petrated the United States government
might have witnesses. In answer to a
question by Mr.. Brooks, Mr.. Garfield
stated that the supervisors of election
would have nothing to do officially with
challenging illegal voters or deciding
such challenges or with giving or with
holding certificates of election or returns.
Mr.. Kerr asked Mr.. Garfield whether
there was anything in the enforcement
of the amendment which touched the
matter of the qualifications of electors.
Mr.. Garfield replied in the negative and
said that there was nothing in it that
could touch or change the qualifications
of electors as now provided by law. MIR.
Niblack, the Democratic member of the
conference committee, made a statement
as to the enforcement amendment. He
had declined signing the report solely on
the ground of his objection to that
amendment as interfering with the Staes.
But the compromise reported was he con-
tessed mere sketch of the original SEN
ate amendments. The supervisors pro-
yided for were to be mere official witness
to elections with no other power than 10
make complaint if the election laws were
violated. Although he was opposed to
the amendment in any shape he did not
feel justified in carryiny on factious op-
position to it, but was disposed to let the
vote be taken on the proposition. He
believed that was the best policy, and he
said so frankly to his friends.
"AIr. Kerr said that he looked with
complete adherence on any attempt on
the part of the Federal government to
extend its jurisdiction ever the conduct
of elections in the States, as he thought
it a most dangerous innovation in the
rightful power and jurisdiction of the
State. Still the amendment was so far
clipped of its dangerous influence and
power as that these additional super.
visors, in the language adopted, should
have no power or authority to do any
thing except it be in the immediate
presence of the election officers, and to
witness all their proceedings, including
the counting of the votes and the making
q return thereof.
"Mr. Potter regarded the amendment
as unconstitutional, dangerous and un'
called for, but still he did not feel justi'
fed in resorting further to dilatory mo-
tions, but would submit to have the vote
taken and would record himself, as he
was most heartily against it.
"Mr. Holman undertook to initiate
dilatory motions, declaring that this wa:
the most fatal project ever brought be-
fore Congress and that it was infamous
in its character. He had not, however
enough supporters to order the yeas anc
nays, only fourteen members voting tt
order them.
"Mr. Garfield moved to suspend tht
rules and vote Immediately on the con
ference report. Agreed to by 1872 to %
"The conference report itself was theI
agreed to-yeas, 1O2; nays, 79-a party
vote. 1t only remains to add to thes'
references to history that the same Gen
eral Garfield who in 1872 so strenuousl.
insisted upon retaining amendments tt
an appropriation bill is the same Genera
Garfield who is now leading the sam
party on platform that to repeal thos
amendments in an appropriation bill i
revolutionary"
ABOUT GoLD.-It is now just thirty
one years since the grand discovery o
gold was made in California. During
that period there has been produced in tn