The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-04

OF tho ballot by the employment OF military
power. tApplause on the Democratic sidel
The very army Of this country protests against
distinguished General. In Chief Of the Amrri-
can army Gen, sherman occupying Mr.. Gar
Heidi srut and do not believe that ovcrstato
the fact when say that from him down to the
lowest subaltern it If difficult to find n COM
mlssioned officer who has not rrpugnanco
for tho service which, under this prostitution
/ ii the nrmy, he had been called upon to per-
! form II is this question that is before us. We
/ are declaring that the ballot shall be- free. We
ara denying that 1t IL eithcr constitutional. legal.
| just fair. or decent TO subject the sovereign to
| the surveillance Of the servant. We nre willing
! ~ discuss tina question:, anu, Tor my part, |
/ shah OPPOSE any limitation TO be PIT on
! issue 50 broad, so constitutional, SO catholic. 50
free and SO fair as this. then tell me- In Heavens
name what earthly battlements are strong
! that ono party in this Congress asserts TINT tho
manacles shall fall from the limbs of freemcn.
ed hand at The throat q" Of the soScr@isn.
/ and Tint the other party declares that
rather than release its grasp. II will bring
tho Government to starvation. md those
! win whom stand Identified are willing to &c.
| ccpt me issue. Aye. more. we 60 further aud
/ admit that we are the ones who make the issue.
and we are ready for you to accept it, Planting
ourselves on this broad ground we welcome the
Tor the nrst tmc in eighteen years the De-
mocracy is hack in power IN both branches OF
I Congress. We propose TO celebrate her return
TO power by wiping from the statute
book those degrading restrictions on free
men. ana ~ StrikinE AWAY inc RnnckleS
| We do not intend TO stop until We
have stricken tho Inst vestige 81 your war mems
ures from tho statute book like those which
7 wcro born Of the passions incident 10 civil
strife and which looked alone to the abridge-
ment OF the liberties Of the citizenl. until We
have an untrnmmelled election aud nm unsu-
nerviscd ballot apd an absolute free right Tor
conditions precedent which we offer 10
YOU for the passage 81 this bill. II the gen
he cannot be- tusti0pdl for uurultnY before this
House the dr0un,euhgn ia icrrorem Of veto
that is cut and dried TO be put upop bill which
has not yet passed. and II he Is to be pardOned
,or warming the House that the executive
branch OF the Government will never
IS'I present ' form, ask n7 whether ' may
not DO warranted and justified in employing
his SssS SeR That thu @ powcr tits
Congress. the ruling element IN this body, Is
demands. sanctioned by all laws human and
divine, protected and hedged around by pre-
cedens without number, demanded by
to section. camored for. not by the
South alone. but in Philadelphia. as well rs in
New Orleans in San Francisco and Boston, rs
well IA in Charleston and Savannah. nre com
piled with this side OF the chamber. which has
demonstrated Its power never means 20 yield
or surrender unless this Congress- shall have
| died hy virtue OF its limitation. tWild applause
4 principle cannot be- compromised. 1t may
be- surrendered. but that can only be done by
It's advocates giving proof to the world that they
ot their own convictions We cannot yield and
We will not yield Applause and sensation.l
Let me assure my friends Oh the other side
that this is the restoration TO power OF party
"a Old ms the Government Itself. which Tor one
freeet. truest exponent and champion and
defender Of the doctrine OF con
stiuiional limitations. against tho doctrine Of
the acknowledgement Of power. IL is this or
Raniza,ton that has come back 10 rule. and II
means I, rule and to rule in obedience To- lay.
delivered. LIT II when you please. and we are
willing 10 appeal 10 that sovereign arbiter 20
which the gentleman from Ohio SO handsomely
alluded, the American people 10 decide between
! republic the right TO exercise such unconsti,u-
tiGnal powers. We do not mean Ia pitch this
contest on tho grounds OF Objection 10 him
who happens. y not by nthhe grace Of
; minlstering that onice. II from yon-
der canvas tpointing to picture hang, nj;
, President Of the republic should step down %
assume the powers which tho grateful people
their first Chief Maeistrate-tf hs were here
fired by that patriotic ardor which moved him
Government. to him We would never consent
10 yield Unconstitutional powers or TO rest the
liberty Of the citizsns Ia any mans DISCRETION
Her but for the later Executives of this Govern
meni 70 grasp: and sesS to retain saeh a9eSs
issue is made. 1t is made on principle. not on
policy and II cannot b" surrendered. Standing
oply resting this the broadest prin ciplc OF
Justice We are content 10 appeal TO the people
Of this land. There is no tribunal before VIII N
we are not willing to carry this cas-" Of contest
? and We ara ready 10 allow Him who rules the
; destlnies Of men TO judge between us and give
! victory 10 the right. do not mean to initiate
the gentleman from Ohio. ! discalm any au.
, / thority 70 state what others may do. But
! do mean TO say that IL Is my deliberate
conviction that there Is not 20 be found "a single
J ! man on this side OF the House who will ever
consent TO abandon one Jot or title Of tho faith
/ that Is In him. He could not surrender Il " he
l / would and he would not (he begged tho other
I side to believed be- coerced by threats or ntlmi.
| our convictions. There we will stand. He who
dnlles ia n bastard and he who denies il
b, | damned. loud applHusel
: When Mr.. Blackburn concluded his speech
8 | he was surrounded by colleagues who con.
| graduated him upon IT, one Of the fret If then
D 70 shake him By the hand being Mr.. Johnston o.
| Virginia.
D Mr. Gibson OF Louisiana made n speech upor
| the legal and constitutional questions involved
= He argued that the President could not veto th'
: bill on the ground that the rules ~ proceeding
: He argued that tho legislation proposed 10 h.
| repealed WAS unconstitutional. and therefore
| the President should not veto II.
q PROCEEDINGS IL THE SENATE.
. Mr.. Voorhees, Dem. Ind introduced bill
I authorizing the placing Of james Shields on thu
y | retired list rs BTigadier General
1 The majority committee report. in the case o
| ! Charles II. Bell, who was appointed Senator by
9 the Governor Of New HAMPSHIRE, was Tsnd /
l was adverse 10 his claim 70 the seat. Tho mi
o ! DOrity report. sustaining him. was also submit
ted and the consideration Of the case was post
g poned.