The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-01
DEMOCRATS STANDING FIRM.
HIYES'S VETO MESSIGE DISCUSSED IN
IHE MIJORITY'S CIUCUS.
A General DEPOSITION 10 Insist Upon the RE-
peal of the Odious I.nws-The subject
Referred TO the Caucns Committee.


pursued by the party in both branches Of Con-
gress with reference to the veto OF the Army
Appropriation bill. The veto was briefly dis
cussed by the Democratic Senators. and II was
decided 10 refer the subject to the joint caucus
committee appointed at the beginning OF the
present session of Congress. For that purpose
the caucus committee on the part OF the Senate.
composed OF Messrs. Thurman. Salisbury.
Herman. Bailey Jones Of Florida. Lamar.
Voorhees,. Whyte. and Vance was revived
and empowered to act In conjunction with tho
House caucus committee. The general sent-
ment Of the discussion was that ns Hayes in his
veto message had objected to the manner In
which the repeating sections were passed. it
would be proper to enact the repeal OF the
statutes authorizing the use OF troops nt the
polls imposing the Jurors test oath. and
modifying the Election laws in separate bills.
sending them in that form to the Fraudulent
President for his approval or disapproval.
Very little was said as TO the plan Of
action to he pursued in the event OF n
veto OF the separate legislation. There was no
disposition manifested to back down from the
position taken by the majority in the Senate.
Some OF the Senators who have been considered
weak said that while they had not approved OF
the manner in which tho lght was begun they
would not retreat at the present iuncture.
II Is Shlu lO-ulkNl llhl u nnilon wis ulNuf III
the caucus to strike from the Legislative EN-
ecutve. and Judicial Appropriation bill. when
It comes before the Senate. all the so-called po-
litical legislation. but that the motion WAS lost
| This rumor cannot be confirmed. The caucus
decided that the Legislative bill should be passed
| Immediately substantially as It was adopted by
the House. This bill will be- ncted upon by
| Hayes before the separate bills 10 accomplish
| tho repeal OF the vicious statutes are intro
| duced
The Democrats Of the House were in caucus
! about three hours. The discussion was heated.
| and the votes taken indicated plainly the feel
| ing OF the members hs 10 the future policy oi
| the party in Congress- on the pending political
questions. There was an overwhelming ma
lority IN favor OF standing nrmly Tor the rights
| Of tho people and Withholding supplies until
grievances are redressed. There were iive
| men who evinccd willingness to abandon the
principles for which the party has contendod
| rather than vote not TO make Appropria-
| tions until tho laws permitting military
| Interference with elections are repealed.
| The names OF these men are az follows: Alex
| ander II. Stephens OF Georgia. Emory Speer Of
| Tilman OF South Carolina. and Casey Young Of
| Tennessee. Leopold Morse Of Massachusetts,.
on the Legislative bill. is out OF town. and II is
| not known what he will do concerning the
Army bin. There is no doubt that there are
enough Democrats opposed TO withholding sup
| pfes who. by combining with the Republicans.
can strike from the appropriation bills the leg
islation engraited upon them by the majority in
When the House caucus was called to order
| the Chairman Mr.. House. presented the reso-
| luton by the Senate caucus revlving the caucus
| committee. Mr. Knott moved that the Fraudu-
| lent President's veto message be referred TO n
| public a statement showing the falacious
grounds upon which HAYES, upholds the pres
encc OF troops at the polls. Mr. Converse of ONO
| moved to amend Mr.. knotts resolution to refer
the message To the Judiciary CQmmites; He
that the judiciary Committees could easily pre-
pare criticism Of the message which would
give the pssoopl- 4 correct nndrrstand,ng OF the
| reference TO the arguments advanced 10y Hayes.
| After considerable discussion MIR. Knots mo-
| ton and Mr.. ConVeTses amendment were voted
Gen. Singleton Of Illinois offered resolution
| proposing. under Joint rule ii, an address 20
| Hayes by both branches OF Congress. He
| thought II the Democrats addressed Hayes
| directly and personally insisted upon the repeal
OF the law oi 1860 that II might lead TO satsiac-
| tory results.
Mr.. Goode offered resolution that the House
| tomorrow should. without dobate. take a vote
on the passage Of the Army bill, notwthsmnd-
ing the veto Of the President This resouti II
was adopted 10y a vote Of 80 to so Those who
| wanted the message referred TO tho judiciary
| Committee voted IN the negative.
Pending the disposition. OF this resolution,
speeches were made by Mills and Reagan OF
Texas Goode and Cabel Of Virginia Morrison.
| Converse and Hill OF Ohio. Speaker Rainfall
Singleton Of Mississippi Blackburn and Knott
| Of Kentucky. Stephens, Speer. Chalmers. and
others. Mr.. Mills said that tho Democratic
|
position ii had taken with reference To the
use OF troops at the polls. To back down would
make the party the laughing stock of the coun-
try He was not willing TO concede TO Hayes
the constitutional right To veto bill Of the char
arter Of the Army APPROPRIATION bill. He de-
| nOunced Hayes as mere partisan. and his ac-
ton as inspired 10y the dict"tion OF the kepub-
| llcAn party.
make n square fight on the issue presented. He
appealed To- the members not to yield one lot or
title OF tho principles contended for. His
ha
caucus.
Alexander stephens said that while he be-
lleved IL was right 10 repeal the law authorizing
the use OF troops at the polls, yet the duty OF
Congress was to make appropriations. He be-
lieved that the Democratic party could not
hnurd 10 adjourn without granting SUPPLIES Ia
the Government. The salaries Of the ON rers Ot
the Government and Of the Federal Ju iges
would DO stopped II appropriations wero not
made.
II the Government was fixed by law. unless
provisions were made for their payment. II
would be impossible 10 enforce the laws Of the
United States. He had nothing to r"tract so far
Hs the repeal of the obnoxious law Of 1865 WAS
concerned He was heartily in favor OF that.
In his estimation II was the first duty OF Con-
grrss TO make the needful npproprHtion.
Speer OF Georgia. who IL Strphens's factOtum.
made speech similar in tone to that OF his
chief. He thought the country would condemn
the course OF the Democratic party IL 1t with
held supplies and sustain 1t II u passes appro-
prlhtlon bills Tree from the political measures.
Mr. Stevenson of Illinois qlso spoke in favor
OF passing appropriation bills without clauses
which are Objectionable To Hayes
Gen. Singleton of Illinois made a strong
speech In favor Of maintaining the position
assumed by majority Of the two Houses Of Con-
gress He said that the Constitution provided
that majority of quorum of the two Houses
could pass laws The. posltion assumed by
Hayes, however, made II necessary to
accomplish any legislation that was objec-
tionable to the Republicans that 1t should
receive two-thirds Of all the votes upon the
pending measures. This. he said. would de-
feat all Legislation tho representatives OF the
people had been sent there to accomplish
Tor the relief OF the people. He further
said that II they permitted these stat
ules TO remain upon the statute books,
authorizing the appointment Of marshas
and supervisors OF elections. the result would
certainly be the election Of whoever the Repub-
llcan party might nominate Tor the resdrncy
in 1850. 1t WAS. he assorted, u foregOne conclu-
sion that tho Democratic party could never se-
cure the Executive Of this Government as long
rs these laws remained upon the statute books.
| He added that II they tmeannK the Democratic
| party were to be defeated. they had better 10
down in their own boat and upon their own
measures than TO be ignominiously sunk
by measures Of the Republican party,
| IT would be ignomniOus in them TO
| back down after having done what they
| had and after having assumed the position
| they now occupied. They believed they were
| right, and it WAS their duty to stand by what
| they hnd declared to be right.
| Mr.. Morrison made very strong speech
| maintain NJ tho same ground. HI WINS obungpI