New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-04
NM, cprrcVCS IN THE HOUSE.


THE SPEECHES IN THE HOUSE.
.-.,.r,,,,rl MAN DECLARES THE SOUTH STILL RE-
r,pr1c.v-RoBESoN, KNOTT AND BLACKBURN
my TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNE.i
". .,,,,.,,ro>, Aprjl Sin the debate on the po
,;+;I or,cndments TO the Army bill, the advantage
lr,onifesIy remains with the Republicans their
onp,ncnt, having thus far been unable to escape
from the corner into which they were driven at the
onset by the speech of General Garfield.
The discussion was opened this morning by Rep
reseutatiye Knott of Kentucky, who read the Eng
,b statute of George H. on the presence OF troops
at the polls, expressed profound sorrow over the
speech of Mr.. Frye, gave long account OF military
interference in the Kentucky election of 1868 de-
Gyered glowing eulogy upon the late Senator
Powell Of that State and closed with the usual Ie-
marks on the reserved rights of the States
Representative Houk. of Tennessee, n now men,
Der. followed in a speech lasting nearly an hour,
taking for his text " The United States are Ma
ton" Il is very seldom indeed that a new and
c0mparativcly unknown member succeeds In gain
ing the attention OF the House and holding 1t rs
long as Mr.. Houk did to-day. During the delivery
Of his vigorous speech, in which, speaking as
Southern man, he declared that in many sections of
the South the only free. fair and pcaceable cleo
tons that had ever been held were those where the
voters had been protected in their rights by mill
2
annexation of the white leagues and rifle clubs.
whose terrorism has prevented fair elections in a
number Of States since, he Said President Grant
committed his great mistake" in 1879, aud al
lowed the election Of Federal officers in Mississippi
10 be conducted under the shotgun policy. Mr..
HOuk said he had been IN favor Of wiping ont all
statutes enacted as measures, but the Southern
Democracy would not permit this to be done so long
as they persist in their unpatriotic and lawless
policy Of intimidation and violence. Referring to
the fact that there only three Republican men,
bers in the present House from the States which
seeded, he claimed that on fair election n major
ity of those States would be Republican. lie did not
claim to be great constitutional lawyer. but said,
"Ineyer saw Democrat in my life that did not
understand the Constitution, whether he could read
it or not Mr. Houks stawart" utterances were
heartily enjoyed by the Republicans, and elected
frequent rounds of applause.
Representative Robson, of New-Jerscy, spoke
next. and in logical speech of half an hour de-
voted TO the legal aspects of the case, in reply to
Representative Hurd. he drew clearly the distinc-
ton between the State power to clothe the voter
with the right of suffrage and the power of the Gen.
eral Government to protect him in the exercise of
that power in voting for Federal officers. "The at
tempt which is being made here, and which we are
resisting" he said "is attempt to take away
from the civil authorities the power to keep the
peace" Mr.. Robson proved himself ready and
skilful debater, and his speech made an excellent
impression on the House. His peroration equalled
in eloquence anything that has been heard in the
House for many day.
When Representative Blackburn took the floor
there was hush of expectation, as it had been
whispered about that he had since last Saturday
been preparing himself TO demollsh the speech of
General Garfield. He began by stating a PROPOSE
Il, - hnnv MI cd Gin fnn
foundation of the Government, that the House of
Representatives alone has the power to control or
limit the use of the Army by Withholding supplies
He claimed that more than One-thiTd of the statutes
now in force relating to the Army have been enacted
as riders on appropriation bills. Secretary Evarts
was on the floor of the House when General Garfield
spoke last Saturday, and Mr. Blackburn excited
much merriment among Repubhcans by charging
that the Secretary's presence and his evident ap-
prOyal of the speech were meant to Htundate
and overawe" the Democrats. IL was noted that
when Mr. Blackburn had occasion 10 refer 70 LOUIS
lana he did so by saving that she IL. thank Cod
sovereign State IN the Confederacy" After euiogy
carng that the Democrats have determined to
carry out their purpose to sweep from the statute
books every law enacted as a war measure, that
they will sit here till the Sd Of March, 1SSl before
they will yield. and that any Democrat who fails
them now will prove himself " q coward and
craven" The gage Of battle" ne SAID, IS lald
down. Lift il when You please" As a rhetorical,
If not as a logical effort the speech Of the distID
guished kentucky Representative was worthy Of
his high reputation and at its close he received
many hearty congratulations from his political
friends.
Representative Gibson of Louisiana, followed. but
as the hour for near he had few ,tencrs.
The House having ordered might session for
debate on the Army bill, about fifty Representa-
tiyes gathered at the Capitol this evening
aud listened to speeches BIS Representative
Barber "A new member from one of the
Chicago Districts; by Representative Reagan,
of Texas who read a long, dull efluson,
in which he expressed the belief that the
President Will approve the appropriation bills with
the political amendments; by General Hawk, OF
and by Representative Bright, OF tennessee, who
made a very eloquent speech, which ought 10 cleo
trlfy the country. IN which he SAID that President
Hayes has a Constitutional right TO veto these laws
If he thinks them vicious OF unconstitutional and
declared that force and freedom cannot dwell to-
prther." The House then took recess until II
o'clock Tomorrow morning.