Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-06-28
From Yesterdays Second Edition. |
CONGRESS.
GarfieId's Speech Against a Bill
Now Pending.
Vests Silver Resolution in the Sem
ate.
The House judicial Expenses Bill Before
the Senate.

MI. Vests resolution declaring in
favor Of free coinage and the remone-
tization Of silver was taken up. During
the debate Messrs. Herman, Ferry
and Allison protested against this
method of instructing finance. There
was not time this session to mature a
measure vitality affecting the whole
financial system and Indirectly the
industries of the country hence the.
silver bills had been postponed, but
not indefinitely. The committe was
pledged to act on them carly in De-
cember.
Mr.. Vest called attention to the fact
that the resolution was solely an ex-
preston of opinion to show the coun-
try how the senate stood. 1t required
no present action.
Mr.. Houston advocated the resolu-
ton, while Mr.. Allison moved to refer
the resolution to the finance commit
tee. Mr.. Maxey opposed the motion
to refer. He said this was a mere
expression of an abstract opinion, and
the finance committee had nothing to
do with it, and could not report on it.
Mr.. Allison further objected that the
resolution looked to an unlimited
coinage which would drive all the
gold out of the country and food the
United States with European bullion.
After further debate Mr.. Vest Of
fered the following as a substitute for
his first resolution, to obviate any crit
icism as to its wording
Resolved, That a complete remone-
tizatiOn Of silver and its restoration to
perfect equality with gold, both as
coin and bullion, are demanded alike
by the dictates Of justice and wise
craftsmanship.
The morning hour having expired
the resolution goes over until to-mor-
row.
The resolution providing additional
pay for the congressional employees
was again taken up. The amendments
of MessrS. Wallace and ingalls,, form
ing the old judicial expenses bill, the
political assessment bill, etc, we're
withdrawn by unanimous consent.
The resolution passed as reported
from the committee with a slight
amendment. Mr.. Eaton reported from
the committee on appropriations,
without amendments, the judicial ex-
penses appropriation bill passed yes
terday by the house. He said there
would be no attempt by the majority
to shorten the debate, and the night
session would not be forced. The bill
was then considered.
HOESE.-The morning hour (pri-
vate b~usiness) was dispensed with and
the house went into committee of the
whole on the bill appropriating $780,
600 to pay the fees Of United States
marshals and their general deputies.
General debate on the bill was limited
to- one hour. The debate was opened
by Mr.. Garfield, He grouped some of
the leading points made during the
present session on the Democratic side.
These propositions were that there
are no national elections; that the
United States have no voters; that
the States exclusively have the right
to control members of congress; that
senator's and representatives are State
officers, agents or ambassadors that
the United States have no authority
to keep peace within a State, and have
no peace Ia keep that the United
States is not a nation but a confede,
racy Of States, and finally that the
States are sovereign. lie declared
that these propositions constituted tn,
body of a doctrine more extreme thar
had been heard before, except at Tho
very crisis of secession.
He believed these doctrines to b.
erroneous and vicious, and he pro.
eeeded to lay down and to support BY
argument the epHnter propositions
Mr.. Garfield went an to show tn,
fallacy that the idea that States
are sovereign, and declared that tn,
question had been decided in the
negative, not only by the Suprem,
/, Court in a long line Of decisions, bu
t also by the great arbitrament Of war
but now it seemed thai Mo question
I vas MT Ia hs allowed to stay settled
! Tor the people had been told recent,
in the South that the "Lost caus,
was not lost, but that the mel
. who had fought against th.
! Union were not in conspiracy agains
, IT. Nv conclusion he predict
, cd that the bill which had been befor,
wrecked in another hulk, was abou
! starting out on a short, disastrous an,
/ iguoble voyage.
! Mr., Havd tbed took the floor 0
! reply to Mr.. Garfield. lie recapitula
i, ted the principal points Tor which tn
Democratic party had been contend
:, ing, and in conclusion appealed copa
{ IDENTIFY to tho patrlstlsm Of the coup
! try. II ON thege issues the Ronubli