The Portland daily press., 1879-05-20
xLvICoNGREss-1sTs SESSION
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. Nav 10.

WASHINGTON, May 10.
The House bill for the appointment of COM
mission to lease a building for the Washington
post office was postponed to December
Mr.. Anthony introduced bill to promote
the efficiency of the navy.
Consideration of the Legislative bill was re-
sumed.
Mr.. Blaine said that attempts were being
made to show that Daniel Webster recanted
and changed his views on the nature of our
government in his closing years. Chance
words used by different men to describe our
governmental system need not be taken too
literally. An important fact is that as between
national and states rights Webster threw his
influence in favor OF the former. He quoted
Webster's comments on Capon Springs
speech, showing that he had been misrepre-
sented by the construction placed on that
speech in the South. Mr.. Blaine read from
Webster's comments on the Constitution, to
the effect that the very first resolution adopted
by the Constitutional Convention in 1887 de-
clared the government to be national and not q
mere compact between states. Webster used
the word compact when he said the govern
ment was the result of compact between all
the people and not between states.
Mr.. Eaton evidently got his inspiration for
Fridays speech from Stephens History, a
mischievous book. Another of Stephens
misstatements was that Webster declined to
vote against Calhoun's states rights resolutions
of 1885, Webster had deliberately denounced
those resolutions. Abiding to Hills assertion
that he aSsented to secession as he would to
IKE death of his father, with sadness of heart,
Blaine showed that in the Georgia convention
SO voted against secession and 2Oo for it. 1t
seemed Hill thought he would consent to the
death of the old man rather than be III the
minority. Naughter) Hill had said that
Northern Democrats saved the Union. Mr..
Blaine showed that the Democratic convention
of Ohio refused to adopt the resolution sug-
gested by Lincoln, that there was rebellion
against the government which should be put
down, yet it is now said that the party saved
the Union. Blaine referred to the recent dis
cussion about the use of troops in Marylan d
and Delaware during the war and said the
oath required to be taken by voters there was
only what every Senator has taken.
Mr. Bayard warmly defended the loyalty of
the people of Delaware. He said that Mr..
Blaine could not mention one unpatriotic act
of that state. lie always personally resented
the imputation of disloyalty. The oath re-
quired was an insult to the people who needed
no Indictment to loyalty.
Mr.. Blaine thought that Mr. Bayard was UNI
duly sensitive. He had only quoted resolu-
tions OF the Delaware legislature.
In response to a query by Mr.. Williams of
Kentucky Mr.. Blaine said he hired substi-
tute to go to war after he had been drafted, he
(Blaine) being then a member of Congress; and
in response to q query whether he paid him,
Mr.. Blaine replied he paid all that Democrat
and bounty jumper was worth. Mr.. Blaine
referred to Hills statement that the Union
was saved by Northern Democrats, inStancing
New York as saved by Seymour and not by
Seward, Connecticut by Eaton and not Buck
ingham or Hawley.
Mr.. Eaton asked Blaine if he desired to
make personal attack on him.
Mr.. Blaine answered ssnot the slightest
and continued his remarks. He read resolu-
| ton submitted in 1861 by Senator Bayard's
| father that the President has full power and
| authority to recognize the Confederate states
| as an independent nation. Blaine said the
senior Bayard resigned his seat rather than
| take the test oath.
| Mr.. Bayard replied that his father did take
| the test oath under protest and then resigned
his seat. The resolution merely expressed an
| opinion
Blaine accepted the statement of Bayard and
| then returned to Eaton, quoting from the lat
ter's remarks, ST say then that this mani(the
PresidenD has thrown down the gauge of bat
| tie and has said, I will if choose use the
army at the polls" Blaine said those who
| did not see the veto believed the President
wise his speech and quotations should be eX
plunged Blaine said he ought to strike it al
out and refer to the veto to show the contrary
| of Eatons statement
Eaton maintained he had given a proper in
depreciation to the Presidents position.
Blaine then spoke of the distinctive charac
| ter Of Southern school books and quoted the
following from a Southern arithmetic:
| If ten cowardly Yankees having two days start
make miles day, how long will they, run before
overtaken by five brave Confederates who are pur
| suing at the rate of 10 miles day?
He then referred to the address of John S
| Prescott of South Carolina in denunciation
of the Mayfower and the praise of the James
| town emigrants.
Morgan of Alabama doubted if such school
| books were extant.
Blaine read an extract from the,speech Of
| HAMPTON and said either he meant prepare
| ton for another conflict or iti was idle rheto
| ric.
Hampton said he did not mean another re-
| bellion. If the language was idle, the rhetoric
| was not such as the Senator poured out
Peace has her victories not less renowned
| than war; sss8@t
Mr.. Blaine-Yes, but peace did not prevail
! at Waterloo to which the Senator alludes. He
| then reiterated the statement and proceeded to
| defend the election laws. The Republicans
| would resist by every constitutional means and
| the Democrats despite the threats of the
Senators from Kentucky Deck and Connect
| cut (Eaton) would be obliged to submit in the
| end The government failed to be put down
by the late rebellion and it could meet more
| serious one which the Senator from SontE
| Carolina seems to foreshadow.
Mr. Vance followed and said in regard to the
| school literature quoted by Mr.. Blaine few
| such works were circulated during the war,
but none now existed. He proceeded at length
| claiming that no measure advocated by
Southern men had a fair hearing in the
Senate. He arraigned the Republicans as
| solidifiers of the South.
Mr. Teller's offered amendment intended to
| secure prompt payment of arrears of pensions
| was ruled out of order.
The bill was then reported back to the
Senate and all amendments made in COM
mittee of the whole were agreed to except one
authorizing the employment of additional
| clerks in the post Office department. The
| political clauses remain to be acted upon.
| The Senate went int executive session and
soon after adjourned.