Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-06-21

become p0rticspes crimiRls 10y voting
money to execute it? But there l. an
other idea started here, and that is, that
iian appropriation bill does not appro-
pirate money for everything, ought 1t TO
| Le vetoed or voted down? Is there IN
| that bill an appropriation that Is
/ Objectionable or not pursuant TO
the constitution? No man will
say So Who, then, has right
10 vote against the bill, much
less veto it, because it does not appro-
pirate for something else. suppose 1t
lid not appropriate for the Ordnance
Department at all. Certainly ii is our
duty TO appropriate for that Depart
ment. We would nave TO take the re-
spOnsibiity, hut would that justify any
person in voting against the bill or veto
ING it? What right would anybody
have 10 say that in due time, and ac-
cording 10 our judgment, we would not
appropriate for il? This bill does not
appropriate for troops TO be used as
police force at polls, put any construc'
ton YOU please on language. 1t IS a
failure Inappropriate for the army when
ii is used for a particular purpose, Just
as the Republicans said they would not
appropriate fOr the army ii il were used
out in Kansas many years ago. Ii Is
simply failure to appropriate. 1t re-
peats now the laws, and no man can de-
icnd his vote against this bill because II
does not appropriate for a specific pur-
pose. Ii the other appropriations in
the bill are right, it is our duty TO appro-
pirate money to support the govern
mcut. \ great many people think the
army not Il necessary part OF the govern
ment. III they refused to appropriate
for it twOuld merely be- giving effect To
their constitutional opinion. 1t is nOta
necessary institution, and it is simply
question OF policy or Judgment whether
il shall be retained. But we do not re-
fuse tO appropriate Tor 1t. The idea
that Congress is obliged to support every
bad, oppressive, impolltlc or unconstl-
tutional, law is a harder blow at this
Government than has ever been dealt at
il. 1t is 10 weaken the Constitutional
power of Congress 81 that it is hardly
worth having. | will vote against any
amendment without any regard 10 It's
merits. | do not propose 10 send
this Till To the other end OF the Capitol
alter last nights experience II | can help
it, | do not propose to prolong tins
session by delaying the passage OF the
bill.
Mr.. Blaine asked Mr.. Thurman ii he
believed he was justified in voting
against cniorcinga a law merely because
he thought it unconStitutonal?
Mr. Thurman said yes, and that he
would periure himself otherwise.
Mr. Blaine said law was constitu-
tiunal until the Supreme Court declared
otherwise.
Mr. Thurman said he might bow to
the decision ot the Supreme Court but
would still be responsible 10 his own
conscience in matter like this.
After running debate on the subject
Mr. COnklng made few remarks. lie
predicted that vote on the bill would
show the effects Of MIR. Thurman 5 Gc-
cisim not 10 accept any amendments.
That the Senator had evidently feared
To- trust his brethren after all that had
been said against the bill to-day. 1t
was the caucus that did it. His long
headed friend from Connecticut Eaton
and other sachcms had concluded that II
would not be wise To vote upon the
amendments and all the leaders of
this band engaged in protecting
the country on the theories laid down
bv the Senator from Georgia Hill
and repeated piecemcal since by the
Senator from Ohio Thurman. They
were going to vote down in the Senate
every amendment that was adopted IN
the Committee of the Whole. The
Democratic Appropriations Committee
WAS also about TO receive the brand OF
Democratic disapprobation. There was
to be hedge. Why do they hedge"
lie must be tyro in party politics who
fails to discover what this meant. lie
went on to intimate that the bill was
gotten through the House without scri-
GUS opposition on the idea that there
was nothing in it but prohibition to
use the army as police. ltwas thought
the four words 'as police force
would make a place large cnOughfor the
President to stand to approve the bill.
How much of compliment
to the intelligence OF the
Executive and his constitutional
advisers, this expression was, he
would not venture to say. When 1t
was known that the amendments would
be offered in the Senate, II became evil
dent that nobody could 90 to the Pres
idcnt and say, This language does not
mean to nulhty existing laws, because
il was only tO prevent the use OF the
army as police force This hedging
wa, r.Surtrd to 10y Mr.. Thurman in the
hope that he might convince the Exec
utiyc that, although the amendments
intended 10 define the meaning of the
bill were rejected, still they We're re-
iccted on account OF the chronic and
indiScriminate hatred of amendments,
no matter what their merits That was
why the committee was 10 hc sacrificed.
Buttherc was anotherargument Should
this little innocent provision ever 90
back to the House, although the prcvi-
Gus question might be applied, 1t had
come to the knowledge OF majority OF
the Senate that good many members
OF the House, who before relied on Dem
ocrat;r assertions as to the meaning Of
the words, might now hc recorded in
diSapproval of it, and thus any adyant-
age which had been obtained in the
ranks Of the political party with which
the Executive is supposed TO sympa-
thize, might be thrown away.
Mr.. Blaine temporarily Withdrew his
amendment, offered some days ago, in
order to allow a vote TO be- taken on Mr..
Conkling's pending amendment, name
". at the ending of section five THE
prohibitory clause to add the words,
"except in aid of civil authorities. Re
iected; yeas 10; nays 2S.
Mr.. Conklng also offered the follow
ING amendment: To strike out the
words "as a" and insert instead of an
ordinary civil So that the clause
would read, Ito ue used instead Of an
ordinary civil police force to keep the
peace, etc
Mr. Conkling offered the following
amendment: At the end OF section >,
insert the words, "proyilrd nothing
herein shall be construed 10 affect the
right TO employ any part OF the army to
execute the laws in such cases and Un-
. f.r -r,.h circumstances lS sugh puplDy-