Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-02-05
FORTHWITH CONGRESS.

FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
Senate.
POSTAL.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-Senator Maxey, from
the committee on postoffces and post roads,
reported an amendment to the postofice ap-
preparation bill, establishing steamship line
between New York and Rio via Norfolk, and
another between New Orleans and Rio via
Galveston, allowing a subsidy of 81 800, 900
per annum to each line. Referred.
coRB1N BUTLER.
Senator Cameron of Wisconsin, from the
committee on privileges and elections, sub
mitted a majority report signed by the Re-
publican members declaring that David T.
Corbin was duly elected Senator from South
Carolina and is entitled to the seat. Senator
Hill, from the same committee, submitted a
minority report signed by the Democratic
members in favor Of the incumbent, NJ, G.
Butler. Both reports were ordered printed and
placed on the calendar.
N1cARAUGUAN CLAIMS.
Senator Matthews, from the committee on
foreign relations, reported back number of
petitions in regard to claims of citizens of the
United States against Nicaragua, with reso-
luton providing for committee of five Sena-
tors to sit during the recess and inquire into
claims for indemnity for lives of relatives, i'm
prisonment, ETC., and to what extent Nicarau-
qua should make compensation. Placed on
the calendar.
Senator Morrill,, from the com mittee on
finance. reported with an amendment the
House bill to authorize the issue of certificates
of deposit in aid of refunding the public debt.
Placed on the calendar.
CLAIMS.
Senator Edmunds gave notice that at the first
opportunity he would call up the Joint reso-
luton proposing an amendment to the consti-
tuition prohibiting the payment of claims of
disloyal persons for property injured or de-
stroyed in the late war.
coLoRED MIGRATION.
Senator Window gave notice that Friday
next he would call mp his resolutions in regard
to the migration Of colored people, and sub
NIT remarks.
CHICAGO POsToFFICE.
Senators Oglesby and Davis, of Illinois, pre-
sented the joint resolutions of The Illinois leg
appropriation this session to complete the new
court house and postoffice building in the CITY
of Chicago. Referred.
LAND PATENTS.
Senator Oglesby, from the committee on pub
lie lands, reported favorably Senate bill to pro-
vide for the distribution of land patents to Ger.
tain States where local Offices have been closed,
Placed.on the calendar.
CLAIM DIsALLowED.
Senator Morrill, from the committee of
finance, reported adversely on Senate bill to
return to Faran & Mclean Cincinnati, certain
internal revenue taxes alleged to have been i'm.
properly assessed and collected, and it was in.
definitely postponed.
THE AMENDMENTS.
Senator Coke spoke at length in favor of con-
structing railroads in Texas to the Rio Grande
after which consideration was resumed Of the
resolutions of Senator Edmunds, Declaring the
| validity of the thirteenth, fourteenth and fif-
| tenth amendments, and Senator Bayard de.
ciared the first one to throw doubt upon the va
hdlty OF the amendments was the Senator from
Vermont (Edmunds.) The resolutions were
| not part of the legislative business of the Sen.
ate. They were accompanied by the odor OF
| the caucus and not that of the committee room,
They savored more of party tactics than true
| statesmanship, and did nothing to relieve the
| wants OF the people of the country. If it was
proper for this Senate to declare the validity OF
these amendments, then another party in
power could bring resolution declaring their
invalidity. To such doctrine he could neve1
consent. Armies arranged to overthrow the
government by force were not half so danger
GUS as this subtle attempt to place false con.
| struction upon the constitution. 1t was the
design to bring within the control of Congress
the civil rights of the citizen which had always
| been intrusted to the States. 1t was mos,
dangerous Capitalization of power to give te
the federal government that unlimited swa,
over the rights of citizens which had been left
wholly to the State government. 1t was against
every step in that direction that he now pro
tested.
] He referred to the cases to be tried in the su
preme court of the United States testing the
validity of the civil rights law, and said these
cases could not be tried too soon. If the power
claimed in that bill did exist then the political
party, whichever it be, that got possession Of
the government, had almost limitless and
crushing power to sustain itself forever TIL;
whole object of this resolution was to procur.
from the Senate an approval of unconstitu
tlonal legislation heretofore enacted, agains,
| which he struggled in vain at the time. He
would be of no party. He would aid in nc
legislation that did not recognize the right Of
every man in all parts of the country. There
| was an unwritten law which would crush every
man with indignation, who sought to secure
the demonition of party over the peace. the
security and the rights of the entire American
people.
Senator Edmunds followed in support Of
his resolutions in an argument of some length
concluding by saying it was for the Senate tt
say whether it was ready to extend its constl
tutional power for the protection of civil
rights that are essential to the existence Of
States.
Senator Whyte took the floor, but yielded to
Senator Garland for motion for an executive
session.
Senator Edmunds opposed tho motion, and
hoped his resolutions would be disposed of to.
day.
The motion of Senator Garland was agreed
to, yeas 49, nays Is; and the Senate went into
executive session, and when the doors were re-
| opened adjourned.
House OF Representatives..