, 1879-04-03
THE CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE.


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THE CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE.
The debate in Congress over tho Dono-
cratic projeut whiolr forced tho calling OF tho
extra session las progressed far enough to
show that it will DO long and bitter. Since
Democratic intrigue and folly have com.
PEELED tho country to viow the exponso and
anxiety incident to this extra session, tLo
timo probably cannot be batter employed
than By debate which ehalf develop tho
rea character of tho legislation which
tho Democrats propose and tho mo-
tives which nctunte them. Tho dobato is
not sought nor desired by tho Democrats,
nor do they tolerate it through my Benss Of
justice to the minority; but they cannot
avoid 1t, because their minority is not large
enough to shut 1t oil anil carry through their
scheme. This debate ID developing and will
continue to develop the live mud uurcpontaut
arrogance Of tho Southern lictators, aud tho
trucking disposition Of the Northern dough-
faces. Gen. CuALMEns aud Mr.. HUM rela.
lively exhibited the characteristics Of tlleso
two elements Of Democracy in thoir speochos
on Wednesday. Every n!lusion to the Robell-
ion Of tho South brought out from CuA1M.
ERs yindication and n outogy, md Hum,
after tho most sosvile tributca to tho supreme
doctrine of State Sovereignty, gavo notice
that the Democrats hare not yet abandoned
tho dosiro OF tho hope Of crowling HAYES
ont Of Office, by referring to him as pres-
dent whose "tennre Of offlco is uncertain"
The Democrats nra on dangerous ground all
the timo, md their past record aud future
ambition ars both so vulnerable that eYen
more discreet men under the same circum-
stances might be betrayed into damae!ne
admissions. 1t is safe to predict TINT scarcc-
ly day will pass during the pending debate
without disclosing Democratic characteristics
which will alarm conservative people. Tho
result may be q warning to tho American
people that will compensate for tho other
wiso ina1cuaablo imposition Of tho extra scs-
sion.
Aside from tho partisan advantages which
tho Democrats 1opo 10 secure III tho lnrgo
cities OF tile Union and many Of tho South
crn atatcB by removing ail National protec-
tion for Congressional elections, their p,tr.
poHe in Insisting upon tho passage of their
po!itical legislation is to reaasert tho domin-
ion Of Stato Sovereignty. There ia no real
tlnngor, for instance, Of my interference
with elections from troops which nro not
oven adequate to tho disolplining of tho
Indians and the protection Of tho American
frontier, and which aro scattered in tho Roc-
tions most remote from important political
contrea. There is sill iesh danger of any
Injustice to DO approhonded from the
supervision OF National elections by officers
Of the United Statea Oourts,-the most
| nnpartisan Of all American institutions, and
especially whom boil, political PARTIES aro
equally represented In tho supervision. but
SO long as these laws remain on tho statnte.
bouka thore is M assumption Of National
power on the part Of the United Htatca Goy.
orunent which frots tho Democrats. "Thu
South Ind claimed tho right Of peaceful &c.
ceaalon," said GuA1sEns, "and hatl Mt,
tempted to peacefully aocede,"-and than he
proceeded to berate tho Republican party bo
cause II would not submit to this logical out
come Of State Sovereignty. 1iunp wont te
the very vorge Of denying any such thing a.
American citizenship, and demanded tho 70
peal Of tie existing statutes for tho protee
tion Of such olt'zonship on tho broad grount
that the United Ssatos Government has NJ
right to assert any authority in any Stats
which Ia calculated to protect oyon th.
National Legislature from any frand or yio
lenco which such State ,nay SEQ lll to On
eourage or tolerate. Tho illogical aud perni