National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-04-15
FORTY-SlxTA CONGRESS-.
Debate on the Army Bill Opened in
the Senate.
Democrats Disinclined to Meet the Issue
They Prefer the Passage of the Bill
without Debato-AIr. Blaine Shows
the True Inwardness - Bill
Day in the House-New
Channel FOR Bills.
SENATE.


appropriation act of 1873 as provides for pay of mail
contractors in Southern States before the rebellion
By Mr.. MORGAN: To amend the Constitution In
relation to appropriations
By Mr. INGALLS,; For the payment of the Indian
war bonds of the State of California, and bill to
establish judicial district In the Indian Territory.
By Mr. WALLACE: For the rclief of certain ships
and vessels from compulsory pilot fees
Mr. ANTHONY, from the Committee on Printing.
reported a resolution which was agreed to, provld.
ing for the printing of tho observations of the tran.
sit of Venus in 1874, made under the direction of
the Navy Department, the copies to be for the use
of the Senate.
He also reported concurrent resolution, which
was agreed to, providing for the printing OF 5000
additional copies Of The aboye,named work-l'900
copies for the Senate 1000 for the House, and 500
for the use Of the Navy Department.
Mr.. CAMERON Owis.) addressed the Senate until
the expiration of the morning hour Zone O'clock)
on the bill for the relief Of the Winnebago Indians
In Wisconsin, aud to aid them to obtain subsistence
byGgricutural pursuits, and TO promote their civil
izntlon.
The bill was referred to the Committee OH Indian
AGhirs.
Tho Senate OF one o'clock resumed the consdcra-
ton of the army appropriation bill.
Mr.. WITHERs, in reply to a remark by Mr.. Blaine
said he did not understand that the Committee on
Appropriations had ngrccd to inaugurate political
discussion on the army bill but to consider the bill
purely in its business aspect.
Mr. BLAINE replied that he understood tho Sena'
tor TO mem that debate was not desired.
Mr.. WrTHERs said that the bill suited the Com.
mittee on Appropriations, who reported It without
amendment and recommended its passage. They
would prefer that the Senate should treat the bill
in business manner but they did not propose TO
throw any obstruction or impedmcnt in the why
OF discussion If Senators desired TO debate the bill
Mr.. BLAINE said that when the Senate adjourned
on Friday the Senator from Pennsylvania was
waiting to take the iloor, accordingto agreement
Mr. WITHERs could not agree to the remark that
the committee made any arrangement other than
that the bill should be considercd Individual
members might have expressed the desire that the
debate be conducted in certain order, but the
committee took no action.
Mr.. BLAISE replied il was true that the commit
tee took no formal action; but a list was laid be.
fore the NlcePresident, naming Mr. Withers as the
first TO address the Senate then Mr.. Wallace, and
next himself (Mr. Blninc). lie had no intimution
until this morning that the arrangement was to be
changed.
The senate then resumed the reconsideration of tho
army appropriation bill, the pending question be-
ing on the amendment offered by Mr.. Blaine, which
Is to add the following words Mt the end Of the
sixth section: And any military naval or civil
officer, or any other person who shall except for
the purposes herein named, appear armed with
deadly weapon of amy description, either concealed
or displayed, within a mile of any polling place
where general or special election for Representa-
tves to Congress is being held shall. on conviction,
be punished with fine not less than $500 nor more
than 5000, or with imprisonment for period not
less than six months nor more than five years, or
with both fine and imprisonment, at the discretion
OF the court"
Mr. BLAINE addressed the Senate. His remarks
at length will be found esewhercl
M, Mr. WITHEns said the statement slater Of the Senator
east of the Mississippi was futile attempt to divert
attention from the incts lying at the foundation of
our institutions Such remarks as those of the SEN
ator would not produce much cfcct.on either the
Senate or the country. II was not question to be
decided whether there were soldiers enough to
dominate and control elections, but whether, under
the operation of existing laws, 1t was not possible
for the Executive TO distribute and the soldiers
so as TO destroy the freedom of elections
1t was not TO confront present danger, but to re-
move from the present or any future President the
temptation the existing law would offer 10 destroy
Of aud tnn
OF the Republic n despotsm supported by arms. If
we look back on history we find, without solitary
Liberties they We're destroyed either by the leader V Of
armies or underline dctation of an ambitious prince
or ruler.
With the reasons the Democrats give for seeking
the repeal they were willing to go before the conn
try. Their duty was TO strike from the statute
books the provisions authorizing the presence of
troops at the polls under the prctcnsc of preserving
the peace. The Democrats take the ground that
the preservation of peace at The polls is not the
business ofthc army. II was the peculiar province
ofthe State to preserve the peace and any depart
ure from this which would place the power with
the United States giving the latter supreme CON
troll, would be destructive of the liberties of the
States and the people as we'll
Nobody on the Democratic side, as far as he knew
had ever laid down the proposition that the Pres
dent should not exercise his constitutional power
to veto bill, The Senator from Maine said the
course of the Democrats was the audacity of rcvo-
luton, but how could this be when the bill simply
proposed to make appropriations for the support Of
the army with condition as TO the use of the
troops annexed? This was clearly in the power Of
the House, and the Senate approve. Here the
agency of Congress ended. The Democrats did not
propose to shape their course as to what may or
may not be the position of the President. He should
not attempt to take away particle of the spinal
marrow attempted to DO given to the President by
the Senator from Maine lie would not interfere
with any agency to iniuse strength to his spinal
cord.
Mr., WALLACE, In the course of his remarks, asked
whether the Senator from Maine or any other Sem
atOr denied the right to restore TO the people their
own system of free elections Would the Senator
deny that II belonged to the people? If not why
not restore 1t? IheSen0tor from Maine said, There
are many troops, and you have not been inter
fcred with" But there is a law which gives the
President the power to interfere at elections. No.
body contends that partisan control is right. The
Senator from Maine said that this bill was the die
tate of Democratic caucus; but he (Alr, Wei
Lace asserted that no caucus ever saw this bill ~
was the product OF the House Committee on Appro.
priatons.
admission came from the Senator from Kentucky
(Alr Beck that committee of the Democratic
caucus was preparing these measures. II was an
issue of fact between the Senator from Pennsyl.
yania and the Senator from Kentucky. Mr.. Blaine
read from the Congressional Record in support of his
assertion.
Mr. WALLACE, resuming, repeated that no Demo.
cratic caucus never saw the pending bill, and, in
conclusion repeated that its only object was TO re.
store to the people the rights OF which they had
been deprived.
Mr. LoGAS obtained the floor but gave way to Mr..
Ferry who moved thut the Senate proceed to the
consideration OF executive business II was now
fifteen minutes to four o'clock.
Mr. DAVIS (W. Va thought the Senate might re.
main in open session I'M hour longer. If any sen.
ator was ready OspeOk on the pending bill let him
do so if not, lot the senate vote
The Senate by vote OF 80 ~ II, went into cXecu.
tive session, and, when the doors were opened, adj
Journcd.
HOUSE or REFRES ENTA TITES.
The Speaker announced that the regular order of
business was the call of States for bills on leave and
Joint resolutions and that the call rested with the
State of Maine, All the mcmbers from Maine arose,
and the Speaker recognized Mr.. Ladd, who intro
duced bill putting the coinage Of gold and silver
Oh the Same footing.
MI CoNGER raised the point of order that under
Rule ll5 no bill on leave could be introduced with
out at least one days notice TO the House He had
never heard, during his ten years experience, of
such point of order, but he thought that this bin
would be good one To raise II on,
The Speaker said that during the sixteen years OF
his experience he had never heard of that noint OF
order
Rule 1870, which governed the morning hour Of
Monday, had been adopted subsequent TO the adop
ton OF rule ll5. lie then oyerruled the point OF
order.
MIR. CoNGER appealed from the decision.
Mr. STEPHENS thought that the decision was per.
fectly correct but at all events any member Who
desired to have bill referred could accomplish his
object by sending the subjectmater OF his bill to a
committee through the petition box. He had this
morning offered IN the nature OF petitions all the
legislation that he desired TO Introduce.
After some debate Mr. Cox moved TO lay the ap.
peal on the table, Agreed to--yeas, l39; nays, TO-
On the announcement of the vote,