Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-04-17

lherc were but two counts i'm that in.
dictment upon which IL was proposed
to impeach the Executive IL was the
exercise Of the veto power. and il was
his interference, not in elections. but his
interference to prevent the interference
oil the armed power Of this Government
IN the elections of this country. Was
the denunciation still ringing in that
Rentlemans ears which the then Presi.
dent had employed in his interview
with Gen. Emory, desouncing as sub
versive OF all the principles Of free gov.
ernment the interference of the mill.
tary with the rights of suffrage at the
polls2
But, Mr. Chairman, these counts in
tins indictment were voted on more
than once. The gentleman from Ohio
Is recorded every time as voting in their
favor. And may be permitted to re.
mind this committee that the record Of
that Congress shows that he WAS sup
ported in his action, that he had stand.
ing by him, voting side by side with
him to impcach the President for the
legitimate exercise Of the veto power.
one who was then comparatively obscure
and who but for combination Of acci.
Af1NH "bhih nave IftilhlIletl 10 tllh flNf
and until his dying day in that ohscuri.
ty for which nature and his Creator
seemed 80 d.signediy to have fitted him
that side by side with the gentleman
from Ohio stood and voted with him
Mr.. Rutherford Is. Hayes, with whose
prospective veto NC are threatened.
Applause and laughter Nov, sir,
beg you to tell me 10y what rule Of con
sistcncy does the gentleman from Ohio
come upon this floor To faunt in the
face Of an American Congress an aniici.
pated exercise by this Executive Of bis
veto when he and tint Executive both
stand committed uIon the record to III.
| impeachment if he dArcs to employ it?
And while ! am at this point might
ask by what sort Of authority either that
gentleman or any other comes upon
this H)or TO threaten us with the Iroba.
bic or possible action of that Executive
mt all What provision Of the Federal
Constitution, what law enacted by any
preceding Congress TO clothe anybody
either that President himself or one Of
the privy council. even including his
premier, his Secretary OF State. to sit as
he did on the floor Of this chamber on
Saturday Of last week and by his pres.
ence and his indications OF approval
seek to intimidate. overawe cries Of
"Oh ~ on the Republican side and
browbeat an American Congress Who
commissioned the gentleman from Ohio
10 tell Us that we had best be careful
because the issue was made and the
Executive would not be cocrced into n
message Of approval?
| would ask, does the gentleman
from ohio, or does any other gentleman,
put 10 low an estimate upon the self.
respect, the integrity, the courage and
the manhood Of this House. without re-
gard 10 party, as Ia believe that such a
! threat 70 hsunted il to intimidaie the
/ law.making branch OF this Government
/ to shape its action on measures Of legis-
lation7 ! cannot think that we are
measured by 30 short a standard.
But. sir, ! am not through with the
/ speech which the gentleman has made.
. lie tells us:
The proposition now t.. that after four
teen years have passed, and not one petit
I tion from one American citizen hss come
10 us asking that this law be repealed
while not ono memorial has found iu WAY
{ 20 our desks complaining of the law, 80 far
as ] have heard, the Democratic House OF
Representatives now holds that II they are
not permitted 20 force upon another House
upon the Executive against their con sent and
the repeal of law that Democrats made,
this refusal shall be considered q sufficient
ground for starving this Government 20
death. ThAt IL the proposition which We
denouncc NJ revolution.
And tha, was received with applause
on the Republican side.
Does the gentleman from Ohio mean
to stand upon that declaration BY
that significant nod he says that he
does. Does he not know that the Con.
gress just expired bore upon it's fles
/ petition after petition, memorial after
memorial. in contested election cases,
sent by the house to its committee, pro.
testing against the presence Of the mill.
/ tary at the polls, and denouncine the
usurpation, demanding it's repeal. in
order that n free ballot might be had :
Does the gentleman fail to remember
that the state OF Louisiana, a sovereign
state Of this confederacy once more,
thank God, sent her memorial to these
/ halls, in which in thunder tones she
uttered her ansthcmas against the very
| practice which this amendment seeks to
/ correctp
| But that gentleman did more he
went further, and, If possible. he did
worse. mean to deal in exact fairness
! even mean TO be liberal in the con.
struction put upon his utterances.
Mr.. Chairman, 1t Is generally true
that the grave suffices 10 silence the
tongue Of detraetion. II il not often
that its darkened portals are invaded to
pronounce severe criticism, even though
richly deserved. IL il is 20 be pronounced
upon the dead. But the gentleman
from Ohio, forgetting himself in bis
speech on last Saturday, forgot also to
observe this manly aud maenanimous
rule. BY that speech he certainly must
have sought, or, IL not seeking. he was
unfortunate in producing the impression
that distinguished dead senator from
the state Of Kentucky had introduced