, 1879-04-13
IN TIE HOUSE,

IN TEE HOUSE.
STATE RIGHTS.
Special Dispatch to 11e Tribune
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 12.-Ihere has
never been more grotesque illustration Of the
absurdity OF the States-Rights dogma than is
furnished By the debate in the House to-day
As Gen. Bragg put it, the State OF Virginia,
which in the closing days OF the last session
only was opposing the national quarantine on
the ground that such system would be viola
lion Of State rights, to-day asks the National
Government to protect that Commonwealth
from sick COWS. 4 great Government which
could not interpose to keep the yellow fever
and the plague from the sea coast OF the Old
Dominion, and from the whole country, was to-
day, on motion Of one Of
THE SAME VIRGINIA GENTLEMEN
who opposed the Quarantine bill asked to step
into the faru1~yards within every. State in the
country and to kill at discretion any cattle
which Federal officer might think or suspect
was sick with the plcuro-pneumonia. It is not
to be wondered at that Blount, Of Georgia, 4
consistent State's-Rights Bourbon, said that
nothing more radical had been proposed in the
widest Gays Of reconstruction or OF Federal
election legislation. But the attempt serves
to SHOW that to the great mass Of the
Southern Democracy States rights only means
non-interfercnce OF the national Government in
matters intended to keep the ballot pure, OF to
protect the negro, or any case where the dignity
OF the United States is at stake; but, with these
exceptions, interference is to be tolerated
EVERYWHERE AND AT ALL TINES,
especially if that interference brings Nth it the
Federal purse. The CRY OF the old flag and IN
appropriation is not 10 be put down by any
assertion OF State Sovereignty It is only
when the oppressed call for help,
aud the purity OF the ballot-box
is to be protected, and the honor OF the nation
vlndicated, that the South in the name Of
Stare's-Rights cries "Hands Of" That is Ger
tainly the meaning Of the debate on pleuro-
pneumonia to-day. Itwas proposed to appro-
PIRATE so50,0o0 to give the Government power
to control or eradicate the disease. The Repub-
icans were Of the opinion that
TIE BEST WAY
to reach this was not by an amendment to
the Legislative bill, which, it was ad-
nittcd for the first time on the Dem
ocratic side might not become law,
II ever, for two months. Accordingly, By
utmost unanimous agreement the subject was
taken out OF the Appropriation bill, aud re-
fcrred to the Committee on Agriculture, with
instructions to report back special bill for that
purpose, Of the speedy passage and approval of
which
THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT.
The prospects arc that the Government will
be clothed With whatever authority it has at its
disposal for that purpose Much can be done
outside Of the rights OF the Commonw ealths by
tic regulation OF cattle in transit from State to
State under constitutional provisions to regu-
late Interstate commerce, and By rigid inspec-
lions OF cattle at the seaboard designed for ex-
portation, or being imported.
There was one other topic in the House to-day
worthy OF notice. The Democrats, in their
ca.cus, had decided that there should be ses-
sion Monday for the introduction OF bills. This
was a concession 10 the GEeenbackers and to the
vast initiation sentiment which has taken hold of
the majority OF the Democratic party; but it
was found that there were
A HALF DOZEN DEMOCRATS
who believe more in honest money than they do
in the dictates OF the caucus controlled By DEM
:gogue politicians. Accordingly Frank Hurd, of
On:o, moved that, when the House adjourn to-
,lay it adjourn to meet on Tuesday, which would
bridge over the dreaded 3fonday, and On being
by his Democratic associates for
having violated the decree Of King Caucus, he
raid, "Damu the caucus.'' The motion, how
c:cr, WAS defeated, but By oul5 four majority,
'hc vote standing 105 to LOS. II the Republic |
ans had been in their places this |
MIGHT HAvE BEEN AVOIDED |
and it is to their shame that twenty were alb |
sent, many Of them without pairs. The |
only recourse for the Republicans now |
is to exhaust the morning hour Monday, |
during which alone bills can be introduced, !
By exercising their constitutional right to call |
[or the reading of all bills, and to present long
3cr. Nothing cen prevent this from being done |
'1cept 2 change of the rules. The misfortune |
$ that Ladd asld Murch, the Grecnbackers, are
rom the State OF Maine, where the call begins.
# will rest with the Speaker to determine
whether he will recognize the bartl-money men, /
i it'll long bills designed to consume the time, or
THE KAG-MosET LUNA7Ics,
With bills drafted to disturb the monetary sta
-ility Of the country, and to make mischief.
Gen. Bragg threw botnbshell into the Demo
ratio ranks By moving to strike out the clause
Of the Approximation bill relating to the South
.ru Claims Commission. He said distinctly !
hat bis osrj ject was TO abolish that Commission. |
The discussion goes over until next week. The |
proposition will, OF eo1rse, be strongly opposed
ty Southern men, but it is scarcely probable
l1at the law will be repealed.