The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-06-06
SESSION
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, June 8.
Mr.. Pendleton reported back the House
joint resolution appropriating money to enable
the government to participate in the exhibit
ton in Australia in 1879. and ii was adopted.
Senate took up the bill reported yesterday
by Mr.. Bayard relative to juries and to repeal
certain sections of the Revised Statutes.
Mr.. Hampton of South Carolina spoke and
declared his belief that the bill ought to pass
He did not confne his remarks to this measure
alone, but spoke on the general question that
had been debated this session. 1t was true
that Southern members formed the majority of
Congress and were responsible for what they
approved and supported as well as for what
they struggled against. By no vote of his will
the appropriations necessary for the efficient
maintenance OF the army be refused. He
would in order to secure unanimity acquiesce
In the decision of the majority, but in no
event could he consent to aid in disbanding
the army or impairing its efficiency.
Mr.. Hampton's speech was mild and fair
throughout and elected applause in the
galleries.
Mr.. Bayard followed in support of the bill.
When Mr.. Bayard finished the papers in the
the F1tz John Porter case were received from
the President and referred to the committee
on military affairs.
Resuming the pending bill Mr.. Edmunds
offered an amendment providing that no
citizens, possessing all other qualifica-
lions be disqualified as juror on ac
count OF race, color or previous condition of
servitude. This created some discussion and
was finally rejected.
Mr. Edmunds moved to strike orti he words
requiring the commissioned ppc,nted by a
judgeto put names in the box to well
known member of the principal party opposing
that to which the clerk may belong.
Considerable discussion ensued during
which Mr. Blaine said the result of this bill
will be to get the rankest partisans on both
sides into the jury.
Mr.. Dawes What if there are three parties?
Mr.. Blaine-That is just what was going
to speak of.
Mr.. Eaton-We can except Maine from
this Uaughter.)
Mr. Blaine-That is the very trouble I'm in.
There are three parties there and the principal
opposing party is now the Greenback and this
law would exclude Democrats entirely from
the panel. The last vote was: Republicans
81 900, Greenbackers 43 900, Democrats $4,000.
That leaves the Democrats out in the cold en-
tirely, Qaughter,) and if man does not be-
long to any political organizations he cannot
get in the jury box at all. Seward, Fessenden
and William Hale could not get on the COM
mittee here in years gone by because in the
opinion of such patriots as jeff Davis, Judah
P. Benjamin and Slidell they did not belong to
any healthy political organization" Qaughter.)
Now you propose to transfer politics to jury
box. 1 object to it because it is great public
indecency to put into the statutes a provision
that two political partisans shall stand facing
each other to draw jurors. What are the prin-
cipal parties now in Georgia? l know what
one is, what is the other? What are the two
principal parties in those districts where 10000
votes all on one side elect a member of Con
gress? There is another cheat under this.
The commissioner may be nominally of the
opposite party, but really, politically or cor
ruptly, in harmony with with clerk. Then
you will have a jury of rank partisans, all on
one side.
Mr.. Edmunds' motion was rejected
The committees amendment being substi-
tuted for the original bill, it was then agreed
Mr.. Edmunds then spoke at length on the
bill but yielded for motion to adjourn.
Mr.. Maxey reported the post route bill and
it was placed on the calendar.
Adjourned.
More than an hour was consumed in the con-
sideration of bills reported from the commit
tee on printing.
The bill for the election of Congressional
printer was reported, but was ruled out on a
point of order.
being the bill relating to removal of cases
from the state to federal courts Demand for
| the previous question was withdrawn
Mr.. White opposed the bill and MI. Thomas
of Illinois supported the minority amendments
saying that every citizen had right to go to
the foot of the throne and demand protection,
| particularly when he had been acting by
authority of the United States and had come
| in conflict with some law Of an inferior NUM-
| cipality. (Applause.l
| After the expiration of the morning hour
| the papers in Fitz John Porter's case were
referred to the committee on military affairs.
Mr.. Atkins from the committee on appro-
priations reported the legislative, judicial and
| executive appropriation bill and moved it be
printed and recommitted, and demanded the
previous question, the rapidity of which de-
| mand caused great laughter ON the Republi-
| can side.
The previous question was seconded and the
bill ordered printed and recommitted.
The House then took up the special order
bill to prevent expectation of diseased cattle
and the spread of infectious diseases among
domestic animals, and was addressed in favor
thereof by Messrs Hatch and Covert.
Without action the House adjourned.