Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-03-31
FORTY-SIXTH RESS.
W AsHINGToN. March %.
Ifeusc.
Extra Session.

The question raised by Regain yesterday
that there were no rules governing the action
of the House. (nonc having vet been formally
adoptedD, was brought up by the Speaker i'm
mediately after readin. the journal.
Tn" Speaker said he was not present yes
terday at the time the point was made in
committee of the whole and stated that un-
der rule IA the rules Of the preceding House
were the rules of every succeeding House un-
til otherwise ordered.
He quoted the ruling of Speaker Grow on
that subject, and said he was ne: aware Of
any other ruling at variance with it, Its rca-
sons and object were to furnish the House
with set of regular rules, instead of com
hitting il to general parliamentary law.
The subject was discussed at considerable
length
The House went into committee of the
whole on the army appropriation bill, and dis
cussion was resumed, Stephens of Georgia
opening it, speaking OYER twenty minutes in
clear voice. attracting much attention. He
argued in favor of the relevancy and admiSsi-
bility of the section in the direction of re-
trcnchment, but minated his dissent from
the theory that the rules of one House gov
crncd the succeeding House, unless rc-adopt-
cd. He spoke at length against the presence
of troops at the polls.
General discussion was then opcncd bv
Gen Shields, the agreement being that no
vote be taken to-day.
Mr.. New offered an amendment providing
that nothing contained in the section should
be held to abridgc or effect the duty or power
of the President, under the fourth article of
the constitution, to send troops into States.
on application of the legislature orthc cXecu-
tive.
The amendment was allowed to stand over
for the present.
Mr. Garfield said that fourteen wears have
passed since the war. and not one petition
from any American citizen has vet been re-
ccivcd, asking for the repeal of the law, and
now the democratic House of Representatives
hold that if they are not permitted to force
the repeal of law made by democrats il
shall be sufficient ground for starving this
government. He considered this method of
revolution against the constitution. He re-
ferrcd to the Withdrawing of members from
Congress because Abraham Lincoln was elect
ed President. and the effort to shoot down the
| Mon. which was a courageous and honora-
bic effort. But all know how that conflict
ended. Now on rcganing domination the
same party signalizc their return to power bv
reading Il second chapter. not an heroic one
this time. declaring that unless allowed to
dash out a statute they will not shoot the L n
ion to death, as in the first chapter, but >tarye
II to death by refusing the necessary appro-
prations.
He turned to the democratic side of the
House and said As accepted the gage
of battle iii 1851, we now again pick mp the
gage of battle. and will appeal to our com
mon sovereign public opinion, to say wheth-
or YOU shall break down the principle of free
consent in legislation. at the price of starving
the government to death We are ready to
pass thcsosblls for the support of government
at any hour when YOU will offer them in the
ordinary way, and If you offer these other
measures a. separate measures, we will meet
YOU in tho spirit of fair and fraternal debate
But you shall not compel us-you shall not
C0erCc Us, even to save this Governments I'M
til the question has gone to the sovereign to
determine whether it will consent to break
down any of its voluntary powers. And on
that ground gentlemen, we plant ourselves.
Great applause on the republican side and
in the galleries.
He reminded them of the time when United
States Marshlls went into households in
search of fugitive slaves under their laws
before the war. and which laws empow ered
the bystandcrs to be called upon to ion in the
chase of negroes, and the democratic Attor-
ney General in 1854 declared that the whole
army and navy could be called on in that SER
WV II lHtN tuultl lHtH use AuTsHalS IN tle
interest of slavery. by what face or grace can
they now oppose the use of the same Mar
shalS to secure the freedom of elections
Mr.. McMahon said that Garfield took every
opportunity to lecture the democrats as to
their past and present conduct. II Southern
members could not vote a> their judgments
dictated, then the war for the Union had
been failure, and because the gentlemen did
as their Judgment dictated, their conduct was
revolutionary. He claimed Ethat such bills
had been passed on appropriation bills by the
republicans and were never considered rcvo-
luiionary.
Fernando Wood followed in favor of repeal
of the bill, arguing that the power to use the
troops had been greatly abused.
After Mr.. Woods remarks the debate
closed, and the House adjourned until Tues
day. when debate will be resumed. Mr.. Bel
ford of Col having the floor