The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-15
XLVT CONGRESS.
SENATE.

UASHlNGTON, May Ex-senator Cock
reii introduced joint resolution request
ing the president to open correspondence
with France, relative to the reciprocity
treaty, and commissioners of the United
States, to be appointed. The compeusa-
ton liked by the secretary of state re-
ferred
The legislative bill was then considered
Senator Beck stated the senate had in-
creased its amount by $4,000, making a
total OF Is millions and half. He sug
gested reforms in reductions of number
of gaugers and storekeepers to save $40, =
90. lie thought a 100000 could be
saved by readjusting the customs depart
ment and he hoped that a consultation
would ensure of wise and proper legisla-
ton In the matter next session. He pre-
ferred to have reforms now, than to wait
until the democrats come into power as
they expect to do.
Senator Thurman said they had before
them an appropriation bill for the support
| OF the legislative, executive and judicial
| branches OF the government. Nobody
denied that the amount was sufficient, but
opposition had been made to the bill
because of the provisions relating to trial
by jury and to elections" and rather
thar agree to these the minority say, in eff
feet, they will stop the appropriations and
defeat the bill. Scarcely word had been
uttered by the minority on the merits of
this question. 1t was said these provisions
had no proper place in the appropriation
bill, and that they were dictated by the
south because the gentleman 10 their
Imagination supposed there was huge
conspiracy TO produce anarchy, as if the
majority here and democratic people Of the
United States have not as much interest
in the order, peace and prosperity of the
leountry and perpetuity Of the government
as any men belonging to the republican CT
any other party.
!, A most iuhammatory, untounded and
uujusti6able attempt had been made tt
array one portion of the people agains
the other thus endeRvoring TO make sec
tionalism as permanent as the continent
itself. Why did not these gentlemen
point out the defects of the provisions, i
: they believe them to exist. They were
; told these provisions were inserted at tht
command OF the southern denomination
but there was not word of truth in it. The!
were not in the interest of southern men
: or Of northern men, but particularly in th
interest of all the people OF the country
The laws which these provisions intended
u to repeal, we're passed originally to op
press the people of the south, and dis
franchise impose on and persecute natural
ized citizens of the north. He proposed
to speak on the subject Of the constitution
if that instrument may be mentioned with
out irreverence. He then argued that
t trial by jury law was shield Of the peoDl
and safeguard to liberty, aud that tn
+ laws proposed to be repealed were enacte
x 10 the interest of the republican party
: Though no Jeffries may hold hi
i bloody assiZas in this country, yet IN nj
D nor degree, if not to the full extent, thes
J, enormities should not be committed, Q
d the court of Justice, as Hallam says, woul
become caverns of judicial murders an
Il mere instrumentalities of party feelin
and personal advantage. Senator THU
man proceeded to analyze the laws pre-
n posed. He repealed and argued that the
Of we're in the utmost degree oppressive, /
Iv they sent out intelligence from the jur
j. box and punished those who could not tax
d iron clad oaths, because they had given
,e cup of cold water even to any one who ha
opposed the government. 1t the law vi
liustifabla iu war, it was not 80 now at
time when all should unite in the pacific
ton Of the country and restore harmon
q everywhere. We should go back to o
Ss paths of Justice Passing from the su
iect of Jurors, Senator Thurman spoke
w the subject of elections and their freed0
ne from political interference, and the nece
sity and Justice of repudiating the prese
eo laws which we're instrumentalities of CO
Dy au1 fronJ