The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-04-02

tney C0ulu 70 10 MIN Win pIstOl III uhH(
and demand all they wished, Laughtel
on the Democratic side,
Mr.. Hooker said that the gentleman
from Maine had expressed his regret tha
the half dozen colored men who had sal
in the last Congress were not here now
Would not that gentleman admit the fac
that In the States OF Maine and Massa
chusetts there had been reared and edu
Gated some OF the most intelligent colored
men in the country, and how did II hap,
penthat in oil the history oithecountry the
people Of these States had never thought
enough OF the colored man to elect him to
Congress. ur,r.t1 t.rT-.fh
Mr.. Frye-The people simply preferred
TO elect somebody else. daughter on the
Democratic side).
Mr. IIurd said that II anything had
been settled by the legislation Of the last
quarter century II was that general legis-
lation itself might be attached to appro.
priation bills, aud certainly no one would
dispute the proposition that measures in
regard TO economy and bearingon revenue
we're required to be originated IN the
House. The House was right In insisting
that the objectiOnal measures should be
repealed. The House was right, first, be.
cause the provisions OF law were uncon.
stitutional: they interfered with the right
Of suffrage, and with State laws. The
second section OF the constitution
declared that the House should
be composed OF members chosen by the
people Of several States, and that tho
electors should have qualifications requis.
lie for electors Of the most numerous
branch OF the State Legislature. It was
therefore the most Numerous branch OF
the State Legislature that determined the
qualifications OF electors and not the Con.
stitution Of the United States. There was
no such thing as right Of suffrage for
citizens OF the United States. The right
of suffrage was possessed and enjoyed
under the laws OF States, expressly recog.
nized by the fundamental law OF the land.
The Supreme Court had recently so de-
cided. On what theory then, did this rest
onP What theory did the Government
send troops to the polls at State elections?
Only on the theory that the right OF suf-
frage was right guaranteed by the Con-
stitution Of the United States, and that
it was the business OF Congress to protect
that right. He had shown, however, by
the express phraseology Of the Constitu.
ton and by the decision Of the Supreme
Court, that no such right did exist under
the Constitution, and therefore in conSe-
quenCe it was inevitable and irresistible
that any legislation on the subject was
unconstitutional. He alluded to the fact
that the measures which it was proposed
TO repeal were from their very nature dan
gerous and destructive to civil liberty, and
said that all history is full Of warning on
this subject. No republic has ever gone
into its grave cave through military
interference. Shall we escape the force
md application Of an universal ruler Is
the power less sweet, are the rules more
sacred? Is liberty more secure that we
can dare withhold harm to tamper with
the danger that has wrought ruin every
where before, from lands where republics
have perished, where monarchies have
been erected on their ruins, from lands
where contests for liberty is going on all
verthe world. from lands where the shad.
Owofdespotism overtIrns every household,
and to seek shelter in foreign lands help
TO free himself at home, there came SOL
emn notes Of warning against military in
reference. From the presence OF troops
at the polls to the control OF elections
is asingle step, and in that step free eIec.
tons fall, and free elections arc originals
Of the power OF free government. Troops
at the polls mean intimidation Of voters.
They mean the substitution OF the bayonet
for the ballot; the encroachment Of the
COmmander-in.C Chief OF the domain ofthe
President. ] was astounded, and regretted
to hear from the other side arguments in
favor Of the use OF the army, but my regret
is lost in joy when l recolleCt that the
party of the army has not any power in
this Congress. [Applause on the Demo-
cratic side. Ithas been said that it means
revolution for US to pass these bills rs we
propose. From the beginning OF the
has not the House origin
lted the appropriation bills? Has 1t
not been competent to pass bill repeal
ing law on the Statute books? Tho only
question is whether we can make u repeal
on appropriation bill revolution to
pass an appropriation bill, revolution 10
repeal an Objectionable statute. No, in
the exercise ofthe inherent constitutional
power, the House does all this. II there
be revolution, it Is in thesuggestion which
has come from the gentleman from Ohio,
MIR. Garfield; il there bo revolution, it is
in the suggestions which have come from
others Of the distinguished leaders OF the
party in this House. It is
revolution against every theory OF the Con-
stitution to the overthrowal, absolutely OF
that instrument, for a member OF this
House, be he an intimate friend
Of the President or not, 10 threaten the
House with veto from the President il
you dare do right. Applause ON the
Democratic sidel. l do not believe that
the majority Of this House will be intimi-
dated from its duty by the threat Of the
vetobmuch less the threat OF the
President whose title to theofiice is doubt.
full, and whose tenure OF the Office is yet
[Applause on the Democratic
side, followed by derisiye laughter on the
side, and cries OF Explain"
Mr.. Hurd concluded: II the power OF
Withholding supplies shall be exercised,
then, in all the contests for liberty in Eng.
lish history, never in all the victories
which have made that little, stormy island
The center OF civilization for the world,
never in all the struggles for the rights Of
man, was the power OF Withholding sup.
plies exercised moro wisely than it will be
when We exercise it to preserve the free.
dom OF elections, TO subordinate, in time
Of peace, the military power to civil au.
thority, and to preserve pure and uncon-
taminated sources OF free government.
Mr.. Williams, Wis, obtained the floor,
but preierring not to speak until to.mor.
row, moved that the committee rise.
Themotion was opposed by Mr.. Sparks
and rejected by party vote, .whereupon
Mr.. Williams yielded part OF his time to
Mr.. Haskell, who argued from history
that the border.rutIian struggle in Kansas
was necessary for the federal protection Of
the right Of suffrage.
AT the close OF his speech the commit
tee rose and the House adjourned.
CHICAGO ELECTION.
Three Tickets In the Plsld-A Large Vote