The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-06-07
Last Nights Dispatches.
xLVT CONGRESS.
SENATE.

I
WASHINGTON, June 6.-In the course
of Senator Edmunds' remarks, Senator
Thurman interrupted to say that unani-
nous consent could probably now be Oh
tanned to reconsider the vote by which the
third reading of the bill was ordered, so
that it might still be amended. He init
mated that Senator Edmunds' amendment,
offered yesterday, while considered unnec
essary, would not again be antagonized.
| Senator Edmunds said he would like to
move to recommit the bill if it could be
arranged Otherwise he would 60 on.
| He asked Senator Hampton ii what he
stated yesterday about Judge in Charles
ton being himself unable to take an oath
while even Republican jurors we're ex-
cluded for such inability came under his
own observation.
| Senator Hampton said he stated it upon
| the information Of his colleague, who was
present. Senator Edmunds thought a
committeec ought to be appointed to in
vestigate the matter in all its lights; then
we could get more satisfaction than from
mere statements by observers in regard to
the exclusion Of jurors who had gwen a
cup OF cold water to Confederate soldiers.
Senator Edmuuds declared that the kind
OF aid or comfort contemplated in the
statute, and which would call for the dis
cretlon OF the court, was only accessory
aid, that which was intended to further
; the purpose Of the transgressor. He
pointed out what he thought the absurdity
aud viciousness of introducing politics into
the jury system. 1t was the beginning o.
practice he said, that would end in rec
ognizing all other mental differences in thu
selection of jurors, Presently we woulC
J have the Catholic opposed to the Protest
ant, and would have to provide for tn,
free traders, the know -nothings, and al
/ shades of political and religious thinkers
Senator Thurman said Senator Edmund
appeared to be afraid to leave the quail
/ fcation of Jurors with States, but section
2 800 left them there, and by that section
r the law of Maryland would exclude black
D from the jury box. The Republican part,
! upheld and enforced that section, and dit
c not find fault with it, certainly not unit
:. 1875, when the law was passed forbiddinl
: any Determinations for jurors in tn
v Federal courts on account of race, colo
e or previous condition. Now, if the &C
;, of 1915 prevented discrimination unde
D the State law of Maryland, then it woul
, still prevent it in spite of this bill.
IT Senator Conkling pointed out that th
n bill repealed all general or special Law
conflicting with it.
o. Senator Bayard did not think the bi
contained any provisions under which dis
|. crimiuation On account Of race, color Q
J. condition Of Hsorvitudo could be made
A. since it did not conflict in any way wit
Ie existing laws on that point, but as he onl
= wanted the bill substantially to be success
h full, to prevent any possible ground fo
h criticism in any quarter as to the action {
1t the committee or the supporters OF the bii
10 he moved to recommit it.
Q Senator Davis (Illinois) favored recon
ID initial and was surprised that there wa
l. any opposition to it, The object was sin
,e ply to perfect the bill. All he wanted We
The repeal Of the sections and to get goo
10 jury law.
Vote on the motion resulted yeas 2.
he nays 9, net quorum voting. Most of Il
lc Republicans retrained from voting Mar
Republican Senators who had refraiue
r. from voting rose, and on their names beir
as called voted nay. Several Democrat
nd Senators thereupon changed their vot
th from yea to nay, and others voted na
10 The result was that the vote stood ye
nd Is, nays 27. So the motion Was lost.
,ss The bill then passed-yeaS %, nays l
ht a strict party vote,
at Adjourned until Monday.