The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-04-17

f, If not, then they were in the midst of d
parliamentary revolution, out of which
there was no legislation of any sort pos.
sible forevermore until that proposition
was abandoned. He regarded it as mos,
.nwisc and unfortunate that the gentle.
! men on the other side Of the House had
seen fit to say that unless this amend.
ment were struck out this great public
measure, without which the government
could not go on, could not become Il law
He would never give way in any form OF
! compromise until that assu. Ytion was
| utterly abandoned. He recognized the
right Of dilatory motions where mi.
nority was being oppressed 10y any un-
parliamentary proceedings, but where
the proposition was to proceed according
to parliamentary law, and where the mi.
nority said that should not be done, then
! if the minority was to prevail there Was
/ the end of parliamentary government
1t was simple. plain denial of the right
of the American people to make laws,
speaking through the majority of their
! representatives.
"Mr. Brooks made the suggestion that
the enforcement bill was uncOnstitu-
! tional, and was proceeding to establish
tat point by reference to the fourth
article of the Constitution, but was in
terrupted by MIR. Bingham, who had Oh
tained the floor, and who insisted upon
proceeding with his remarks
IAN exciting scene ensucd, during
which Mr.. Bingham had to withdraw
offensive words and Speaker Blaine 10
apologize, when the matter WAS recon-
mitted to the conference committee.
| Several hours later Mr.. Garfield, from
the reconvened conference committee,
reported an inability to agree and moved
new conference. This was merely a
technical proceeding, but gave the Re-
publicans a way out Of the dilcmmas into
which the speeches of Messrs. Kelly,
Garfield and Bingham had placed them
and new conference committee was
ostensibly appointed, but it consisted of
the former members of the first commit
tee. Meanwhile the sessions Of both
Senate and House had been prolonged a
few hours by joint resolution, and the
Republicans had agreed to take out the
enforcement clauses which the Senate
had inserted in the appropriation bill,
and the Democrats agreed to withdraw
'filibustering' This left merely the Da.
vcnport amendments, with withdrawal
from supervisors of the right to arrest
without warrants. Upon the new report
being presented, Mr.. Garfield explained
it. He said:
"The effect Of the proviso that super
visoFs shall not have the power to make
arrests was that those officers should
stand by and witness any proceedings Of
the election aud should have the official
right to do so, SO that if frauds we're per
petrated the United States government
might have witnesses. In answer to a
question by Mr.. Brooks, Nr. Garfield
stated that the supervisors of election
would have nothing to do officially with
challenging illegal voters or deciding
such challenges or with giving or with
holding certificates of election or returns.
MIR. Kerr asked Mr.. Garfield whether
there was anything in the enforcement
of the amendment which touched the
matter of the qualifications of electors.
Mr.. Garfield replied in the negative and
said that there was nothing in it that
could touch or change the qualifications
| of electors as now provided by law. Mr..
Niblack, the Democratic member Of the
conference committee, made statement
as to the enforcement amendment. lie
had declined signing the report solely on
the ground of his objection to TINT
amendment as interfering with the Staes.
But the compromise reported was he con-
fessed mere sketch of the original SEN
ate amendments. The supervisors pro-
vided for were to be mere official witness
to elections with no other power than to
make complaint il the election laws we're
violated. Although he was opposed to
the amendment in any shape he did not
feel justified in carryiny on factious op-
position TO il, but was disposed to let the
vote be taken on the proposition. He
believed that was the best policy, and he
said SO frankly to his friends.
"Mr. Kerr said that he looked with
complete adherence on any attempt on
the part Of the Federal government 10
extend its jurisdiction over the conduct
of elections in the States, US he thought
it q most dangerous innovation in the
rightful power and Jurisdiction of the
State. Still the amendment was so fa,
clipped of its dangerous influence aud
power as that these additional super
visors, in the language adopted, should
have no power or authority to do any
thing except it be in the immediate
presence of the election officers, and to
witness all their proceedings, including
the counting of the votes and the making
a return thereof.
"Mr. Potter regarded the amendment
as unconstitutional, dangerous and un.
called for, hit still he did not feel justi.
fed in resorting further to diatory mo.
tions, bit would submit to have the vote
taken and would record himself, as he
was most heartily against it.
"Mr. Holman undertook to initiate
dilatory motions, declaring tho. this wa.
the most fatal project ever brought be
fore Congress and that it was infamou,
in its character. lie had not, however
enough supporters to order the yeas ant
nays, only fourteen members voting tt
order them.
"Mr. Garfield moved to suspend the
rules and vote Immediately on the con
ference report. Agreed TO by 1872 to 90
"The conference report itself was ther
agreed to-yeas, 102; nays, ga part,
Yete. I. only remains 50 add 70 t!ics,
references to history that the same Gen
eral Garfield who in 1872 so strenuousl,
insisted upon retaining amendments t
an appropriation bill is the same Genera
Garfield who is now leading the sam,
party on platform that to repeal thos,
amendments in an appropriation bill j
revolutionary"
ABOUT GoLD.--It is now just thirty
one years since the grand discovery o
gold was made in California. During
n, Il I. L