New-York tribune., 1879-02-06
THE RECORD UNMISTAKABLE.
SENATOR EDNUNDs TELLS THE SENATE WHAT BIS BIS
Drso-rr1oys MEAN so THAT THERE SHALL De


THE RECORD UNMISTAKABLE.
-, vn>,rSDs TELLS THE SENATE WHAT HIS
prso-r1Ioys MEAN so THAT THERE SHALL De
ro,Is,,vK ABOUT 1T-DETAHs OF THE FIGHT.
iEY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEI
yr.e,,,>.-n,N. Feb 5.-The Senate was at
,oo6.Iock this evening, the end of which no man
could at p. ~ forosee-
At balf-past eRe this afternoon the peace anu
rood will resolutions of Senator Edmunds came
IN a. unfinished business, and Senator Whyte, OF
MARYLAND. took the floor for n speech, which
consumed nearly an hour in delivery. lie was fol-
lowed BY Senator Garland, of Arkansas, and Sena-
.or Jones. of Florida, with set speeches, during
which II became apparent that the Democrats were
acting in accordance with a general plan to con-
sumo the time and thus postpone vote upon the
main question.
II j. in pursnance Of this plan that the Democrats
hone to gain one OF both of two things-rst TO re-
beve themselves of most peIplexing dilemma IN
which the resolutions of the Senator from Yer
mont have placed them and secondly, TO use up
norton of the remaining days of the Senate IN
order 10 foroean extra session, the rcsponsD Dty OF
which they will attempt TO place upon the kepuUA-
cans
The debate up to the usual hour for adjournment
was devoid of interest; but at o'clock senator
idunpds took the floor. In the course of a speech
twenty minutes in length, he brought ont III
the most vivid colors the inconsistency Oh
the position assumed by the Democratic
speakers, all Of whom had declared the
validity and binding force of the constitutional
amendments. bat had also announced their inten-
ton to vote against the resolutions Senator Id
munds declared the object of his resolutions to be to
place the Senate on record upon the grave Ques-
lions involved. He called attention to the remark
mile fact that when the Constitutional
amendments were offered for ratification not
single State which was at that time under Demo-
rratic control had ratified them and that the oppo-
ntIon 10 their spirit was fixed among the guiding
principles Of the Democracy, and that even after
heIr ratification some Of the States III which that
party subsequently came into power had revoked
he ratification Of the amendments
From this time the proceedings became moro IN
ieresting and very soon the determination OF each
oartv 10 attempt to tire out the other became ap-
pareDt. The advantage was wholly upon the side
Of the Republicans Every vote which was TAKEN
rither upon motion TO adjourn or upon a buncombe
amendment disclosed a good working majority for
the Republicans; and as the evening wore on this
majority became greater. In this condition OF al
fairs the entire work of killing time devolved
upon the Democrats as they alone had reason TO
fear the result of a vote.
Several interesting episodes occurred during the
debate, one of the most important of which was
upon an amendment introduced by Senator Gar
land the import of which was to declare that the
Thirteenth. Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments
were not ratified in accordance with the provisions
found in the With Article OF the Constitution, but
that the States having subsequently acquiesced III
Them they are now parts Of the Constitution aAd OF
equal force with other parts.
In the spirited debate which enSued Senator Gar
land declared that at the time when the amend
r1ents were submitted to the States eleven of them
were "handcufed and chained, and that no free
expression Of the public voice was possible"
Senator Garland was then asked III what manner
the States had since expressed their acquiesconce in
the amendments; question which he eyaded by
the general reply. 4" In a thousand ways"
The question raised was an important one. and 1t
was tersely presented by Senators Hoar and Mitch
ell who showed that if the principles OF Senator
Garland's amendment should obtain generally 1t
would remain for any future Democratic Congress
TO declare that the States had neither ratified the
amendments when they were submitted, nor lad
they by any specific act acQuiesced il them since
that time.
The amendment received only hve votes. namely.
those of Senators Beck. Garland. Harris. Mcdonald
aud Voorhees, Senators Coke, Davis, OF West
Virginia Gordon. Herman, Maxey and Morgan voted
with the Republicans against it.
The question then recurred upon the SUBSTITUTE 20
the EdInunds resolution, which had been offered by
Senator Morgan. Tothis SenatOrEdmunds offered an
amendment striking out all after the first clause,
and substituting a provision, TO the effect thar the
night Of the people To assemble for the purposes OF
pettioning Congress for the redress OF grievances,
and for any other purpose connected with the
powers and duties Of the National Government not
specified and not in words i entitled to the protec-
ton guaranteed by the Constitution, and that 1t iS
within the scope Of the duties of Congress to pro-
vide such protection by che enactment Of penal
laws.
Mr. Merrman moved an amendment emDOdFlnc
declaration that the test oath is wrong IN principle
and should be abolished.
The latter motion lost several Democrats
voting with the Republicans.
The vote then recurring on the Edmunds amend
meut II was carried by strict party vote. This
disposed Of the Morgan substitute b. cfec;ually
changing its character from a declaration of state
rights held by the extreme Secessionsts, TO
declaration that Congress had right to protect
citizens IN the exercise of certain rights.
The vote by which the substitute itself aS amend
ed was lost was as follows Republicans III Roman,
Democrats IN itqlics1:
Beck Mum - - y,,-~
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