The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-05-02
DOIN0s IN CONGRESS.
my bill was further debated in the Sem

The Army bill was further debated in the Sen
ate on the nd The nrot speech was delivered by
Mr.. Garland, of Arkansas. After discussing at
length the legal aspect of the questions at issue, he
passed to the question of he prop-iety Of attach
ing the proposed repeal to an Appropriation bill.
MIR. Garland said the practice was old one. and.
whatever its faults, II could not be uprooted
by constitutional amendment. He reviewed some
OF the notable instances of similar action
by Republican majoiities. and said the cry
OF revolution was raised too late - be sincere.
He alluded to Mr.. Blaines enumeration
OF the consequences of failure to provide for the
expenses of the Government, and declared, rather
than the liberties of the hubest citizen longer
abridged by law, which IL was in the power of
Congress to repeal, he would sec the Capitol crum
bic to pieces. the ships rot their moorngs. and
the Supreme Court unfrocked. Mr.. Davis, of
Illinois, spoke next. He said the sixth
ton OF the Appropriation bill proposes to strike
from both sections the words or to keep peace
at the polls" and nothing more, that the
army cannot be uscd hereafter at elections for any
purpose. As All abstract proposition, could there
he any rational objection to ihisy Ought the army
to be used at the polls When there has been pro-
found peace for more than adecadey Does ANY
believe that such law would have received
the approval Of the American Congress If IL had been
brought forward in time of peace. The charge that
this revolutionary legislation has force It might
be called partisan device. Congress has power un-
aer the constitution to raise and equip armies and
the ouse OF Representatives hold the purse strings
The amendment Is germane to the bill and il sim
ply condi..cn TO the use of the army. which
The peoples representatives had perfect right to
impose. IL II not IN any pr per sense general leg
slation, and il it the statute books are full of
precedents that the friends the present m ensure
might might cite AGAINST their opponents. Mr..
Allison, OF Iowa, followed Mr.. Davis. He
believed II was revolutionary ~ force amend
ment OF the constitution without ordinary pro-
cesses. The constitution says that bills shall be
passed by both houses and receive the signature of
the President IN order ~ become law, yet 1t was
now proposed to make the Pr~sident's sisn ature
condition to the Appropriation or money to detrsy
the Government expenses. Gen. Jackson would
have ben amazed at such presumption.
He read from Jacksons message TO the
senate senate IN 1854 protesting against resoiu.
that the President had acted outside of his con-
sdtutional perogatives, aud saying that IL such
interference with the independence of the Ex-
grew into q custom, II would be xs effective
in destroying liberty of action in the indie
pendent departments of the Government a.
IL q constitutional amendment were adopted
throwing into the hands of the President
the power delegated to the Senat--
The House passed Mr.. Stephens bill TO provide for
an Interchange of subsidiary coins for gal tender
money and to mi AXE snch coins lee al tender In all
sums not exceeding SEQ There was sharp de-
bate over the political amendments to the Legis-
laiive bill, but the guns OF small caliDer aud
made little noise.
There was a sharp discussion In the Senate,
on the I'D over the resolution to rescind the rule
regarding the rem oval of senste employees. An
amendment proposed by Mr.. Pendeton, that the
employees shall be only retained SO long accept
able to majority of the Senate, was adopted by
vote OF S6 TO -. The debate on the Army bii was
then resumed, and Messrs. williams, OF Kentucky,
and Jones. OF Florida, spoke In favor of the repeal
OF the l. ecton laws, after which there q SHARP
collcquy between Messrs. Blaine and Butter In re-
lard 10 alleged charges of buildozing an. election
frauds in the south Mr.. Blaine, in closing the de-
bate paid his RESPECTS to Mr. Davis OF Illinois "a.
denied tn that senator the right TO carry the tradi
ton and tame aud glory of Abraham L.ncolL Into
the Democratic camp. He might go there himself.
and lac might sit that side of tbe senate w,,ers
he was the only man that gave Lincoln . sup
port. Had lincoln lived, ~ the senator said some
things might sni otlers might not have happeiled.