National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-06-04
HOUSE or REPREs ENTA7 IpEs


Mr.. COVERT asked leave to offer a resolution for
the appointment of special committee of three
members to investigate the conduct of the shipping
commissioners office at the port of New York.
Mr.. CoNGER objected.
Tho House then resumed the consideration OF the
business of the morning hour being the bill amend.
ing the statutes relative to the removal of causes
from State to Federal courts.
The pending question was on seconding the de.
mand for the previous question on referring the
bill to the Committee Of the Whole. "''
Mr., TowNsHEND Qll) Withdrew the demand and
yielded to Mr.. Cox, who desired to speak upon the
subject of the teStoath.
In the course of an informal discussion Mr.. Con.
ger stated that his side of the House did not intend
that Mr., Townshend's bill should go step beyond
Mr.. TowSsHEsD inquired II It were true las II was
everywhere whispered) that II was the purpose of
the opposite SIDE OF me House to delay action on
every bill andresoluton at this session except ap.
preparation bills such as would suit the views OF
The minority and the Presidentj
Mr., COSGER Without having authority TO speak
for the gentlemen on this side at all think may
say that every man on this side listens to the de.
mand Of the country, that no legislation except the
appropriation bills shall be proceeded with. but
that we shall adjourn after the appropriation bills
shall have been passed.
NJ, TowNsHEND. understand, then that dilatory
motions will BIO resored to against other measures
as well as against this
Mr.. CoNGER. When other bills come up we will
answer that
Mr.. TowNsHENp. I want to repeat some words of
the gentleman from Ohio (Garlield) when in the
majority In this House that the action OF the mi
nority in legislation in seeking to delay action OH
bill is revolution is the overthrow of popular gov
ernment"
Mr.. REED. lfyou quote the language OF the gen.
tleman from OHIO more 1t will be great improve
ment
Mr.. CALKISs. There are q good many men on
this side not entirely In sympathy with the gentle
man from Michigan. There are some who may be
Mr.. HUMPHREY COMPOUNDED few. [Applailsc
Mr.. Cox then proceeded to argue in favor of the
repeal of the Jurors test oath, He denied that the
matters which, concerned the present session OF
Congress were in any way revolutionary. His
party only proposed to wipe out certain old statutes
which were more or less the result of revolution.
II would not be revolution. 1t would be only change
to have fair jury trial. He referred to the ncon
sstenGy Of the law which permitted the gentleman
from virginia (Mr. JohnstOn) to swear simply Ia
maintain the Constitution, but required that the
gentleman from Ohio tAIr. Garfeld) should take
the iron-clad oath. Nothing could be more absurd
than that gentlemen who had been in the rebellion
could take the short good oath, while those who
had been loyal were compelled to take a long bad
one.
Speaking of the Missouri test oath and of its hav.
Ing been declared by the Supreme Court as un.
constitutional and void he asserted that If Sister
OF Charity in that State had exercised her Heaven.
born vocation she would have been dragged into
court nnd punished by the Radical fends who now
kept the test oath OH the statute book to prevent
1alr trlals throughout the country. Applause But
he believed that now he could speak for many
generous men on the other side, when he demand
cd that there should be wiped from the statute
book those odious test oaths, which had chung like
the fccleTs ofa deycish round the body polite He
defended and eulosi2cd his Congressional career
during the war and subsequently, declaring that he
had always favored generosity He had believed
in no dspaIting Of the country, buthe had believed
IN mitigating the severties of the war. He be-
heyed now in wiping ont all prescriptions When
Juror raised his hand and swOre to do justice $50
help him God" what God did he mean ?-thc God
ofycngance or the God Of mercy? The best political
principles were drawn from the Sermon on the
Mount. The doctrine of that sermon was good for
social life and for individual life 1t was good to live
yOnd good 10 die by In conclusion he said that
his only curse on those who cultivated hate and
Vengeance was, "God, in His infinite mercy forgive
you, for you know not what you do" Applause.
The House at five minutes past two, adjourned,
and Joint Democratic caucus was announced 10
take place at three o'clock,