Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-02-06
Senate.
NAVAL oBsERvATORY.

Senate.
NAVAL oBsERvAroRY.
WASHINGTON, Feb. "a bill was placed on
the calendar providing for q new naval observ-
atory and removal of present one.
THE ARMY.
A portion of Saturday next was set apart
for bills reported by the committee on military
affairs and tho Japanese indemnity fund.
The bill will be called up Monday.
CLAIMS AGAINST NICARAGUA.
Senator Matthews resolution providing for a
committee to inquire into the claims of citi-
zens against Nicaragua was agreed to without
discussion.
CREDENTIALS.
The Vice-President laid before the Senate
the credentials of John P. Jones, elected United
States Senator from Nevada. Placed on file.
CLAIM BILL PASSED.
The bill passed appropriating So, 933 to pay
the Richmond Female institute, Richmond.
Va, for the use of it's buildings by the army of
the United States from October 1865 to 1866.
U. s. COURTS.
Senator Morgan presented the joint resolu-
lions Of the Alabama legislature favoring pass
ing necessary laws to prevent excessive juris-
diction by courts of the United States in pro-
ceedings against municipal corporations of the
several States.
CANISTER SHOT.
Senator Hoar by request submitted resolu-
ton instructing the committee on military
affairs to consider and report whether it is ex-
pedient to authorize the secretary of war to Sc
cure q supply of canister shot of an improved
pattern. Agreed to.
LAKE NAVIGATION.
Senator Herman presented resolution Of the
New Yosk legislature asking an appropriation
for the removal Of distractions in st. Mary's
river, st. Clair river, and Detroit river. Re-
ferred.
BAYARD TAYLoR's FAMILY
Senator Hamlin presented a letter from the
secretary Of state saying that the family of the
late Bayard Taylor, United States minister to
the German empire, was not in atfluent cir
cumstances and recommending that the salary
of minister to Berlin be continued to Mrs.
Taylor for one year. Referred.
THE AMENDMENTS.
The Senate resumed consideration of the
resolutions of Senator Edmunds declaring the
validity of the thirteenth, fourteenth and
fifteenth amendments to the constitution, and
Senator Whyte spoke in opposition thereto. He
denied that the whole power of controlling
elections for members of Congress belonged to
Congress. It was for the State to protect it's
citizens in the rights of suffrage. It was under
the control of the State and must be protected
by the State. The United States had no right
to interiors except in case of abridgement of
that right provided for in the fifteenth amend
ment. The United States had no voters of it's
own, and there was no power to protect till the
State denied man the right to vote on ac-
count of race, color or previous condition of
servitude.
4o, J..
Senator Whyte, said the United States DOS
sessed all the power over elections for members
Of Congress that the States possessed.
Senator Whyte argued that the resolution of
Edmunds was toward the Capitalization of
power, which he would fight as long as be held
a seat on the floor.
Senator Garland moved to amend the SUBJ
stitute of Morgan, SO that it should read: 'sThat
although the thirteenth and fourteenth and
fifteenth amendments to the constitution we're
not adopted in legal Simmer, yet having been
accepted, recognized and acquiescad in BY the
States, they are as valid and binding,' etc.
Rejected.
Senator Cameron, Pa, moved the Senate
proceed to the consideration Of executive bust
ness. Rejected; yeas 26, nays 80, Cameron.
Pa. voting with the Democrats in the affirm
alive, and Republicans voting in the negative.
Senator Jones, Fla, referred briefly to the
thirteenth. fourteenth and fifteenth amend
lnents and then said there was question of
far more Importance to his people than dis
cnssing this resolution, and that was the ro-
peal of the test oath law. He spoke of the in
justice OF that law, and said the war ended in
1865. Everybody who had anything to do
with it had been pardoned, yet this unjust
test oath clause was returned. What he de-
sired to secure was impartial jury trials
throughout the length and breadth Of the land.
Under this test oath law any Judge could pack
r q yUn mot # bod lao~,
but strange things had happened.
Senator Morgan said that he would assert on
the floor of the Senate that the packing of iur-
les had been done in the South systematically
and persistently.
Senator Hill said that this discussion had
developed the fact that all accepted the
thirteenth, fourteenth and ffte nth amend
ments. The Democrats accepted them
and obeyed them. He trusted now his
friends on tae other side of the cham
Der would not go home and tell their people
that the Democrats did not accept them. He
did not think any good would come from this
discussion, and he thought it time to close II
now and with it close the door on the war. He
moved that the pending resolutions and amend
ments be postponed until the 9Th day of March.
next.
Senator Edmunds said it was better to vote
on the resolutions as they agreed in opinion
Senator Hill said the Senate had got into diff
FORMING
these resolutions, rather than their substance
1t was useless to take up the time of the Sen
ate in this discussion, and he did not see how
any good was to be accomplished by continuing
the wrangle over these resolutions.
Senator Edmunds said no one could have anv
difficulty in finding out what the resolutions
meant. They meant what the honorable Sena-
tors on the other side did not agree to. They
meant legislation to protect voters. he re-
ferred to the tissue ballots in South Carolina.
and said there was no law of the United States
to punish persons for using them, and the State
law seemed slow to vindicate the rights of citi-
zens.
Senator Hill said it must be conceded bv ev
cry Senator on the floor that no legislation con-
templated by the Senator from Vermont could
be matured at this session of Congress. There
were important subjects to act on, MANY of
which could not be acted upon if this discus
sion was continued. OF course, suggestions of
fraud in one portion Of the country, from one
side of the chamber, would bring forth replies
from the other side. The country could not be
benefited nor the Senate enlightened by the
opinions of gentlemen on these resolutions. or
the substitute Of the Senator from Alabama
(Morgan). He frankly confessed that none of
them suited him.
Senator Edmunds said the whole matter was
just this, that while the political party to
which his friend, Hill, belonged voted against
the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amend,
ments, they now declared them valid These
amendments had been adopted, although
every State having a Democratic legislature
had refused to agree to them, and some legisla-
lures which afterward became Democratic at
tempted to withdraw the ratification given by
the previous legislature. There had never
been any legislation to carry out any of these
documents which did not meet with the oppo-
sition of the Democratic party, and if that
party should be consistent to it's opinions and
come into power, all these amendments and
laws to enforce them would be swept from the
statute books under State laws. In one section