Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-04-24
FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
Extra Session.
WAsHINGToN, April 20.
Senate.

and appointments To office, giving such au-
thorty to the Secretary and Sergeant-at-
Arms.
Several amendments were agreed to- but
before final action the morning hour expired
and the Senate resumed consideration of the
army bill.
Mr.. Williams of Ky. spoke in favor of the
BILL especially the section forbdding use of
army at the polls.
He said he had no desire to refuse the nee
essary supplies, but defended the right of
Congress to dictate the use Of the money vOt-
ed by it.
On motion Of Mr. Teller, the Secretary of
the Treasury was requested to inform the
Senate what balance, if any, of the sum for
transportation of mails, had been unprov ided
for by appropriation.
Mr.. Jones of Fla, briefly noticed Hoar's
previous remarks, and denied that the House
of Representatives had by insertion of the
9th section in the pending bill, imposed
condition that the appropriation should fail
unes. the President approved it. There was
no indication of trouble at the polls, and none
apprehended.
On motion of Mr.. Wallace of Pa, vacan-
cies on military affairs, mines and mining
and transportation to the seaboart, were filled
by the chairman, who appointed Senator
! Hampton.
Mr.. Blaine withdrew the amendment for
merly offered to the army BILL and ut n later
stage of the proceedings gave notice he would
again submit it, but not until after the sixth
section mad been acted upon, as some of the
Senators had expressed desire to vote d-
rectly on striking ont that section.
Mr.. Blaine gave notice he would hereafter
renew his amendment to the 9th section. In
tention in offering it was to test the sincerity
bp
coercion used at the polls, for it occurred to
him that the alarm about the army overriding
! liberty was mere chmera, and in attending
to this imaginary danger his friends opposite
were neglecting fruitful, ever present source
of danger to the ballot in the South. Read
from testimony taken before the Teller com
mttee in :. c.. showing numbers of white
men came around the polls firing shot guns,
frightening colored men away. This occur
red at the polls in s. c., at which there was
no more freedom in election than there is in
a mob
Then followed a,tilt between Blaine and
Butler of s. c., relative 10 elections in South
Carolina.
Blaine then read testimony showing repub-
licans were not fairly represented among the
commissioners of elections in :. c. Nothing
he had heard contradicted his belief that no
senator had seen troops at the polls since the
war
Butler-I have seen it.
Blaine said the question he desired to dis
cuss was this. II senators were acting in
good faith and desired that the bayonet be
not present at the ballot boy, nor bowie
knife, rifle or shot gun, let them say so. But
if they did not say the people would UNI
derstand them to warn the government off
and they would take care to control elections
| by violence.
He then alluded to Davis, saving the sena-
tor had leaped to the democratic side. The
senator might 60 where he pleased, but lie
! (}laine) denied him the right to carry the
traditions, fame and glory OF Lincoln into the
dem. camp.
Adjourned.
Mr.. o. Turney complained that a paper in
\. Y. had msrepresentcd him.
Mr.. J. Turner said the remarks were meant
for him, and that experience would lead his
colleague to take no notice of assaults of
correspondents, many of whom were paid ac-
cordng to the scale Of their mendacity and
were men who are political Hessians and
slanderers.
\ resolution was adopted approprating
81 900 to meet expenses of the Labor COM
mttce. and granting the committee leave to
sit during the recess
a resolution was adopted requesting the
President to consider the expcdiency of en-
tering into convention with France for ne
gotiation of treaty which shall secure more
equal Interchange of products and manu-
! features.
House went into committee of the whole on
the army bill
| Mr.. Robson addressed the committee.
| Bills. &c, introduced:
linn tI.l
seamen; in regard to the japanese indemnity
fund to settle accounts of lab0rers; to pro-
tect propagation of salt water fish, to regu-
late commerce between u. s. and Canada
and To provide for reciprocal navigation; to
retire National bank notes; for enforcement
of the hour law; for termination of natu-
radiation treaty with Prussia.
Mr.. Robson male an eloquent speech. He
made legal and constitutional arguments in
favor of the federal election laws. Whatever
power the l. :. government found necessary
to employ in selection of l.. :. senator's that
authority and power it had the right to apply
and it was its duty to assist it. lie expressly
denied and discaimed the power of the L. $.
to examine qualifications of members of State
legislatures. He quoted the statute OF 1895,
wherein marshals and deputies were given
the same power in districts as sherifs in
States.
Mr.. Davis Of n. c. inquired if the Presi-
dent had the constitutional right to send
troops into States.
Mr.. Robson replied that the law was put
on the statute book by Congress 1t was au-
th0rized by the constitution and it was the
duty of the President to see it enforced.
| He continued 1t length, and when he cen
cluded WAS warmly applauded and congratu-
lated by republicans.
Mr.. Finley Of o. in reply contended that
members of Congress were State, not L. :.
officers, and strengthened his position by
quoting from decision of the Supreme
court, wherein it expressly decided that sem
ators were officers of States not of federal
government.
Recess till 80.
EVENING.
| Very small attendance on re-assembling.
! House Immediately went into committee of
the whole on the legislative bill.
Speeches were made by Fort, Seipp. Deer
ing, Clark, Humphrey and Updegraff in OPP
position to the proposed repeal and Atherton,
aR,, Rs..n III favor.