The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-02-05
CONGRESS.
SENATE
WAsnINaroS, February 4.
DEBATE on EpNuSps' nrsOlurloS.

ounces ana ioStfoauS, COMMITTEE on PfiY
ileges and Elections, Committee on For
eign Relations, Committee on Finance
and 9 speech at length by Mr., Coke Ii
favor OF constructing railroad to the
Rio Grande, consideration was resumed
OF the resolutions OF Mr.. Edmunds de
claring the validity OF the 18th, 14th and
10th amendments, and Mr.. Cain declared
that the first one to throw doubt on the
validity OF the amendments was the
Senator from Vermont (Edmundsl
The resolutions were not a part OF the
legislative business Of the Senate. They
were accompanied by the odor OF the
caucus, and not Of that from the commit.
tee room. They sayored more Of party
tactics than true statesmanship, and did
nothing to relieve the wants OF the people
Of the country. II 1t was proper for this
Senate to declare the validity oil these
amendments, then another party In power
could bring in resolution declaring their
invalidity. To such doctrine he could
never consent. Armies arrayed to over
throw the government by force were not
half as dangerous as this subtle attempt to
place false construction on the Constitu.
ton. 1t was the design to bring within
the power OF Congress the civil rights Of
citizens, which was always entrusted to
States. 1t was most dangerous cen.
tralization OF power to give The Federal
Government unlimited sway over the
rights OF citizens which had been left
wholly to State governments. 1t was
against every step In that direction that he
nOH protested. He referred to the cases
to be tried in the Supreme Court OF the
United States testing the validity OF the
civil rights law, and said these cases
could not bs tried too soon. II
the power claimed in that iii did
exist, then the political party which ever
It be that got possession OF thegovernment
had almost limitless and crushing power
to sustain itself forever. The whole OBJ
jeCt Of this resolution was TO procure from
the Senate an approval OF the unconstitu4
tional legislation heretofore enacted
against which he struggled in vain at the
time OF its enactment. He would be OF no
party, he would aid In no legislation that
did not recognize the right OF every man
in all parts Of the country. There was in
unWrittcn law that which would crush
every man with indignation who sought
TO secure the domination OF party over
the peace. the security and rights OF the
entire American people.
Mr.. Elmunls said that he concurred
with his honorable friend (Bayard), that
every man should have his equal right. II
that was the attitude OF his friend and his
party, then there was no difference in
theparties on the question OF equal rights.
The only question was how to get them,
1t was the mission OF the legislation
somewhere to sec to 1t, that this equality
Of all was made real and should cease to be
a hallow pretence under which the
minority might control the States. The
party to which he had the honor to belong
had always believed in the rights
Of each Of the States in the Union, but
they also believed in the rights Of the
Union. lie then read from substitute
Of Mr.. Morgan, in regard 10 1t being the
duty Of the State to punish the violations
Of these amendments, and then quoted
from the fifteenth amendment 10 show
that it was within the power Of the Fed
eral Government TO punish offenders.
He denied that the Supreme Court Of the
United States, in these cases, had decided
against the constitutionality ofany Act Of
Congress. On the contrary, the court
said that the Indictment would have been
good had it stated that the man was de-
prived OF his right TO vote on account OF
race, color or previous condition Of
servitude, and 1t fell clearly within the
jurisdiction OF the United States to pun.
ish offenders. When State either then
by law, or want Of law, either by the aI-
ministration Of its executive or judicial
departments, or want OF administration
fails 10 give equal protection toevery citi-
zen, the Supreme Court OF the United
States has said that Congress had the
right to enforce that protection against all
cOmers, and everywhere. II there was
anything in this liberty OF ours, this
brotherhood, not only OF State and
OF communities, but OF the brotherhood Of
man everywhere, and II the State could
not protect the man then this common
brotherhood, the government OF arms,
should extend its protecting hand. He
deplored the condition Of affairs in some Of
the Southern States and said II was
bearing Its necessary fruit, which
was the bankruptcy, ruin and dis.
tress hanging over some OF them,
on account OF which they could not nav
their honest debts. lie was not for recti.
Tying wrong in one section Of tho coun.
try and not in another. There was not
the slightest inclination on the part OF the
Senators on his side OF the chamber 10
shut their eyes against real or imaginary
wrongs anywhere In the North. Il was
fnr t1L, SonOtn m 90 ~ M nthaa ~ ,,,a, 100 i :,
TO extend Its constitutional power for the
protection OF the civil rights that arc es.
sential to the existence OF the States.
Mr.. Whyte took the floor, but yielded
to Mr.. Garland for a motion for an Execu,
tive session.
Mr.. Edmunds opposed the motion for an
Executive session, and hoped his resolu,
tions would be disposed OF to-day.
The motion OF Mr.. Garland was agreed
to-yeas 2S, nays Is and the Senate went
into Executive session. When the doom
were re-openel the Senate adjourned.
IIOUSE,
DISCUSSION OF THE Army BILL.
House went into committee OF the whole
on tho army appropriation bill. Whit
thOrnes amendment reducing tho arm,
to $1,000 was defeated.
Mr.. Cox, Of New York, moved To ament
fixing force at 1900, and spoke in fayo
OF It.
Mr.. Cox's amendment was defeated
without division, and Mr.. nurham's by I
vote OF tf6 to lla
Without further action the oommitte,
rose, and the House took recess until
n M-the evening session 10 be for III
consideration Of the Mississippi leSee bill
At the eYOning session tho House wen
Into Committee Of the Whole (Mr. Cai
Isle In the chair on the Mississippi leYe
bill. -
Mr. Reagan advocated an amendmer
which he offered directing the colnmii
sion TO consider and report on the pract
cability Of improving the navigation, deel
ening the channel and redeeminp n
alluvtal lands OF the Mississippi BY meaI
OF outlets into the Gull Of Mexico.
u After debate, Mr., Sparks offered a
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