New-York tribune., 1879-06-06
THE WORK OF CONGRESS.
AN ATTACK on THE JURY LAW.

The United States Senate engaged In an
animated debate yesterday on the draft OF
new Jury law, dictated by the caucus MI
Fdmunds and Mr.. Conkling stroye to nave
the bill amended so as to provide against
determinations against the coored man, but IN
vain. Mr.. Blaine and Mr.. Hill also took part IN
the debate. The Legislative bill was introduced
IN the House. and Mr.. Atkins was very much
6isconcerted bv an effort by General Hawley
70 have it amended. The papers in the fltz
John Porter case have been sent 10 Congress
The friends of General Ewing say that the
tables are turned on the hard money Demo
Gratis. and that he will beat Mr.. Thurman IN
the race for the nomination OF 1850.
THE CONTEST OVER THE JURY BILL.
A AprB,rF IN THE SENATE WHEREIN THE REPUB-
I1cI>s CARRY ALL THE WEIGHT OF WIT AND
LOGIC.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON. June 5.-Several amusing and In
teresting contests of wit and logic took place to-
dav IN the Senate during the discussion of the bill
Introduced by Senator Bayard. known as the repeal
of the test oath. 1t Will be remembered that Dill
repeang sections $50 and S21 of the Revised Stat
utes WAS introduced several days ago by Senator
Bayard and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
that the entire BILL except its enacting clause, be
stricken out. and scheme providing for entirely
new method of drawing jurors and repeating all
laws inconsistent with itself be substituted. Thls
then, was the Dill under discussion.
After a formal speech by Senator Bayard ex-
planning and supporting the measure. Senator Ed
munds moved to amend by providing that no citizen
possessing all other qualifications which are pre-
scribed by law for service jurics shall be dis
qualified from such service in any United States or
auy State Court on account Of race color, or pre-
vIous condition of seryitude.
Nh Thurman at once expressed his opinion that
If the words cor any State" were stricken out
there would be nothing Objectionable in the amend
ment.
Mr Hill also rose and, with his usual appearance
of great fairness. said 1--WE would be willing
tovote for that if the State Courts were excepted
from its provisions"
After the amendment had been vot ed down Mr..
Conkling moved to strike out the Objectionable
words in ordcr he sad to allow his friend, the Sem
ator from Georgia, an opportunity to vote for the
amendment. He would not on any account deprive
that eminent Senator from conspicuous an Oppor-
tunity of showing to the country his preeminent
fairness. and perhaps his colleagues might follow
his illustTious example.
Mr.. Hill wanted Mr. COnkling to say If there were
any States where the law does not now put whites
and blacks upon equal terms. If there are any
such, then he would vote for the amendment. But
as it was he thought there was use IN doing it,
as it would be superhuOus legislation.
This was the sort of answer Mr.. Conkllng ex-
pected and after a few well-conceved phrases OF
overdrawn compliment. he exposed the real mo tive
of Mr.. Hill and his friends. The Senator wanted,
he said to gld the pill his colleagues offered the
rnblio Tho vota which lxiiIed tho arnendment was
hurtful to the Democratic party, and so Mr.. Hill
had said: 40 change it q little; strike
ont State Courts, and We will vote for it," That
would have gone to the country and the Democrats
would have made great capital of IT. They would
have represented themselves as frank, open. and
fairly gushing with the milk Of human kindness,
ready and painting to do good turn for the poor
African and only prevented by the willy cunning
and diabolism of the Senator from Vermont, who
had so framed his amendment as that, while it
seemed fair enOIgh tOthe blacks was yet aimed
against them. Mr.. COnkling's manner was never
more lofty OF his more pointed than In this
mock-heroic arraignment of Mr.. Hill and his COM
peers. He belabOred them numerically, and made
their show of fairness appear in all the Gttleness OF
It's real proportions.
Mr.. Hill attempted no reply beyond feeble dis
claimer that he had promised to vote for the
with "a vehemence which was intensely ludicrous
be accused Mr.. COnklng and Mr.. Edmunds of I'M
fairness in presenting their amendment. lie said
they might have done that while the bill was sui
IN the Judiciary Committee, of which they were
members.
The amendment having been disposed Of and
voted down, Senator Blaine, although notattempt-
Ing a speech, propounded number of amusing
quenes which no one seemed to be able TO answer,
with regard 10 the new method of drawing
Jurors. TINS method is in brief that the
names shall be drawn from box. where they are
to be placed by the clerk of the court and jury
colnnlss sioner, who must belong 10 the principal
political party opposing that to which the clerk
may belong. The Senator said that this was bring
ing politics into the jury-bOX with vengeance !;
Its tendency would be to cause the selection by the
Clerk of one partisan. and by the commissioner OF
another PARTISAN and thus the jury must newt
ably be made up of the most bitter partsans to be
found IN the district. In Name how would 1t
work, he asked There. he said, the Democratic
party could not get single juror, for there two
parties which IN The last election had cast larger
yo.e than had been cast by the Democrats How
would It be in Georgia, he said how could ii be
determined which was the greater political party
III district were only 1900 votes had been cast
and they all for one man
Senator Edmunds closed the debate for the day.
lie replied 70 Senator Thurman III regard to the
Complaint OF the latter that Messrs. Edmunds and
Ioiklng had not proposed their amendments in
the judiciary Committee His speech was "a severe
arralgnment % Senator Thurman, as chairman Of
ue Judiciary Committee, for the unfair
1he Gar Of the Caucus" and said that he had not
ml9 The measure under discussion before the Ju-
Eciary Committee until an hour before the bill had
Dceu reported to the Senate and possible OppOr-
iuhlty had been gwen TO the members of the com
IAl'tee TO examine It's provisions with a view to
Proposing amendments. Senator Edmunds gave
way ior motion to adjourn. holding the floor for
tomorrow.
a WITNESS AGAINST MR. KELLOGG.
'hE FIRST one OF THE LOT MR. sPoFFoRD is
HUNTING UP-TIus MAN ONE or THE TERRIBLE
LOUISIANA KIND-HE HELPS KELLOGG DE-
ClDEDLY.