The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-02-06
CONGRESS.


4 fluNA,
!, A bill was placed on the calendar pro
yidlng for new navy observatory ant
/. the removal OF the old one.
/ Part OF Saturday next was set apart iol
! the bills reported by the Committee OF
. Military Affairs, and The Japanese inlcm
| nifty bill will be called up OH Monday.
| Mr.. Mathews resolution providing ioi
: the committee TO inquire into the claims
Of citizens against Nicaragua was agreed to
} without discussion.
The Vice President laid before the Sen.
ate the credentials OF John II. Jones, elect.
cd United States Senator from Nevada.
Placed on file.
A bill was passed appropriatiug $4,O39
to pay the Richmond Female Institute, al
Richmond, Va, for the uso ofits buildings
by the United States army from October,
1906, to October 1906.
Mr. Morgan presented Joint resolutions
olthe Alabama Legislature In favor Of the
passage Of the necessary laws 70 prevent
the exercise Of iurislicionb by Courts OF the
United States in proceedings against mu-
nlctpal corporations Of the Several States.
Referred.
Mr.. Hoar (by requestl submitted reso-
luton instruCtlng the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs TO consider and report wheth-
or It ts expedient to authorize the Secreta.
ry OF War u procure a supply OF canister
shot Of improved pattern. Agreed to,
Mr. Herman presented a resolution Of
the New York Legislature, asking an ap-
preparation for the removal ofthe obstruc-
tions In the st. Marys river, st. Clair river
and Detroit river. Referred
Mr. Hamlin presented a letter from the
Secretary OF State, saying that the family
ot Bayard Taylor, United States Minister
10 Germany, was not in affluent circnm.
stances aud recommending that the salary
OF the Minister to Berlin he continued 10
Mrs. Tnylorfor one year. Referred.
Senate resumed consideration Of the
resolutions OF Edmunds, declaring the
validity OF the thirteenth, fourteenth
and fifteenth amendments to the constitu-
ton of the United States, and Mr.. While
spoke In opposition thereto. He denied
the whole power uf controlling electors,
for the members Of Congress belonged TO
Congress; il was for a State to protect It's
citizens in the tight OF sufTerage; It was
under the control Of the State, and must
be protected by the State; the United
States had no right tointeriere, EXCEPT
in ca es ofabridgment Of that right, pro.
vided for in the fifteenth amendment
the United States had no voters OF It's
own and there was no one TO protect until
the State denied the right to vote on ac.
count OF race, color or previous condition
Of servitude.
Mr.. Edmunds in reply to the question
OF Mr.. White, sail that the United States
possessed all the power over the elections
for members OF Congress that the States
possessed.
Mr.. Wlytc argued that the resolution
OF Elmunds was towards centrakzatiou,
q power he would fight as long rs he held
seat on the floor.
Mr.. Garland moved 10 amend the sub.
stitute Of Mr.. Morgan so that It should
read. "rhat although the Thirteenth,
Fourteen and Fifteenth amendments 10
the Constitution OF the United States were
not adopted in legal manner, yet having
been recognized and acquiesced in by the
States, they are valid and binding, &C."
Rejected.
Mr.. Cameron (oi Pa moved that the
Senate proceed 10 consider executive bust.
ness. Rejected yeas GO, nays 30.
Mr. Cameron (of Pa voted with The
Democrats in the affirmative, and the Re-
publiCans voted in the negative.
Mr.. Jones (Flal referred briefly 10 tho
18th, 18th and 18th amendments, and then
said there was question OF fur more iIn.
portance to his people than tho discussion
OF this resc luton, and that was the repeal
OF the test oath law. He spoke OF the in.
Justice OF that law, and said the war ended
IN lS65, and that everybody who had any
thing TO dow with had been pardoned. Yet
this unjust test oath clause was retained.
What he desired 10 secure was impartial
jury trials throughout the length and
breadth OF the land. Under this test oath
law any Judge can pack jury. He would
not say It had been done, but stranger
things had happened.
Mr.. Morgan said that he wonld assert
on the tloorof the Senate that the packing
OF juries had been done in the South
systematically and persistently.
MIR. Hill said that this discussion had
developed the fact that all accepted the
Thirteenth, Fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments,
Mr.. Dennis accepted them and obeyed
them. He trusted nowthat his friends on
the other side Of the chamber would not
SO home and tell their people that the
Democrats did not accept them. lie did
not think that any good could come from
this discussion and he thought it best 10
close it now and with It close the door on
the war, and he moved that the pending
resolutions and amendments 10 be post.
pond until the 9Th Of March next.
hF EalmnntIL potI II ,t1aa h,1.nE -
on the resolutions, as they all agreed in
the opinion.
Mr. Hill said the Senator got into the
differences IN account OF discussing the
form OF these resolutions rather than the
substance: 1t was useless to take up the
time Of the Senate In this discussion, and
he did not sec how any good was to he
accomplished by continuing the wranvlc
over these resolutions.
Mr.. Edmunds said no one could have
any difficulty In finding ont what the res
olutions meant, They meant what the
honorable Senators on the other side did
not agree to. They meant legislation 10
protect voters. lie referred 10 the tissue
ballots IN South Carolina, and said there
was no law Of the United States 10 punish
persons for using them and the State law
seemed slow to yindicate the rights Of the
citizens.
Mr.. Hill said: It must he conceded by
every Senator on the floor that no legisla.
ton contemplated by the Senator from
Nirmont could be maturcd at this session
OF Congress There were important sub.
jects to act on, many Of which could not be
acted on II this discussion was continued.
OF course suggestions OF fraud in one part
OF tho country from one side Of the cham.
Der would bring forth replies from
the other side. Tho country would not
be benefited nor the Senate enlightened
by the opinions ut these gentlemen on
these resolutions, or such as those OF the
Senator from Alabama (Morgan). lie
frankly confessed that mono oithem suited
him,
Mr.. Edmands said the whole matter was
Just this. That while the political party to
which his friend (HilD belonged voted
against the 18th, l4th and 18th amend,