The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-16
CONGRESSIONAL.
Silver and the Election Laws Under
Discussion.
Thurman Exposes the Federal Election
Laws.
A Lively.Time 0ver.theiWarner Silver Bill
In the House.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, May 15.-Mr. Cockrell intro
duced q joint resolution to authorize the
President Of the United States to open cor
respondence with France, with view to the
tween the two nations, and also to appoint a
commission to represent the United States In
that negotiation. Referred
Mr.. Davis, Of West Virginia, reported back
the resolution introduced by Mr.. Coke, to en-
able the committee having In charge the con-
dition Of the Northern Cheyenne Indians to
sit during recess. The resolution was adopted.
The consideration Of the legislative appro-
priation bill was resumed.
Mr.. Beck made statement showing the In
crease Of expenditures In the bill. There Was
about $4,000 appropriated for the Senate and
S260, 900 for the House OF Representatives.
This was slight Increase over the expendi-
lures for the present year, because the session
of next year would be a little longer. There
were other increases In the bill for a number
OF Items, among which was for the mint at
New Orleans, and for the salary of an addi-
tional associate justice OF the supreme court
OF the District OF Columbia. He said that ex-
travaganes was charged upon the present
down to low water mark. He. pro
duced an official statement Of the
cost OF maintaining the custom-houses OF
the country; there are lis OF these In the eoun-
try. twelve In Maine. These last In one year,
collected $4,000 OF custom duties, while the
cost OF their maintenance was $685. There
were many phases OF absurdity connected
with this custom-hou5e system, all OF which
was full OF extravaganza and corruption. He
asked to have the entire list published In the
Record.
Mr. Thurman obtained the floor to speak on
the political clause of the legislative bill,
when Mr.. Hampton asked leave to make a
personal explanation. The Senator from
Minnesota had said 10 his speech, few days
ago, that In 1868 he (Hampton) had, In pub
lie speech, spoken OF the reconstruction acts
az unconstitutional, revolutionary and void,
and that was his platform. He said he had
frequently denied this charge.
Mr.. Window said his authority was a news
paper clipping, which he at once proceeded to
read from.
Mr. Hampton said that he might have made
the remarks. He did not rememberas to that,
but he had not put 1t into the platform OF the
State Democracy.
Mr.. Thurman, resuming, said there were
which he considered OF the utmost import
ance. They were very obnoxious to the Re-
publican Senator's In all the debates on
these questions he had been surprised at the
fact that so little had been said on the merits
OF these provisions The discussion had not
been calm and deliberate, but fiery and pas
sionate, and calculated to array one section
against the other-tO stir up bitter partf-
san feeling. The objection to the form OF
this proposed legislation was frivolous. IWo-
billtS III IklC Id dWS I'll ti1C 0SesrAs-
the subject OF elections, were placed as rlders
on appropriation bills. Referring TO Lne con,
duct OF John /. Davenport, Id arresIIng aIu
putting in prison the voters OF New IoEk, he
said that It was too atroeious 70 speaK OF
with caImness. He had nerves and heaTt
and could not repress his feelings in recalling
Thurman then went into the. jury. system,
going back to the Engisa, origin q tn the iary
1ish Constitution to show that this system
had for is principal eosst iagvRdss tna 6e
repeaI of sections $40 and s21 OF the Revised
Statutes would not, however, remoTs Tba the sd Ioos
been abuse 10 the choosing OF jurors Tor a
long period Of years. The bill remedied that
i,onertiaI M pd and equitable plan. The test oath
law was cruel and unnatural, In that 1t would
not allow father to serve on the jury be-
canse he had given aid and comfort to the re-
bellion in having placed cup OF cold water
fn the Iips OF his own son, who might have
been Be Confederate soldier. These laws are
supposed to bring about purity In elections.
The fact was that they were the very axes OF
corruption. No Federal Law could confer the