The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-06-13
A BIG DEBATE.
Exciting Passages Between Members Of
the House.


the House.
WASHINGTON, June 1l.-This has been
one of the most exciting days in the House
that has been seen this session. The Ar
my Appropriation bill, as prepared in
Democratic caucus, was taken up at half.
past one and considered until about
halt-past three, when the ninth section,
prohibiting promotions in the army, was
reached. This was by far the worst fea.
ture ofthe bill, and the Republicans we're
prepared to make solid resistance, but
General Joe Johnston, Of Virginia, who
has been doing some very graceful acts
since he came into Congress, moved to
strike it out, and the Democrats who have
voted the session through in three army
bills, followed his lead, and, with few
exceptions, consented that it be dropped
from the bill, and promotions 20 on as
usual.
At4 o'clock the sixth section, which is
the political legislation Of the original
army bill, in an emasculation form, and
which provides that no money appropriat.
ed in the act shall be used to sustain
troops ito be used as a police force TO
keep the peace at the polls Mt any election
held within any State," was taken up, and
an hours debate allowed, to be divided
equally between Republican and Demo.
cratic speakers. Messrs. Garfield, Frye,
Conger and the Republican members Of
the Appropriation Committee had com.
mitted themselves to support the bill and
this section, US they believed that there
was nothing in it; that it deprived the
President OF no authority; that 1t did not
even 90 so far as the posse comiid.
tus clause in the army bill, and
that the Republicans could not
afford to so into the campaign as defend.
ing the use OF troops at the polls, This
was the ground taken by President HAYES
also in his consultation with members 81
the House, and upon assurances that the
President would sign the bill, large ma.
iority OF Republicans decided TO vote for
It. But there were few Republicans who
looked at the section as the same old doc.
trine in new shape, and who would not
consent to vote for it. These were vii.
liams and Humphreys, OF Wisconsin, Kei.
fer and Young, OF Ohio, Bayne, 0'Neil
and Ward, OF Pennsylvania, and some
others, who took the positi0l that the
President had constitutional right 10 use
the military or any other force to keen thC
peace at the polls II necessary.
None OF them defended or claimed the
right oi military interference with elec.
tiOns, but they argued that II the civil
power was not sufficient 10 protect tbr
elections from the Ku.Klux and White
League rifle clubs the military should be
called on to assist II. General Garfield
undertook to state the case OF the majority
of the Republicans, and did it with hi
usual eloquence and power, and then the
Democrats took their hali.hour OF discus
sion, much to the annoyance OF many or
the Democratic side who had hearG
enough talking, and shouted "yote, )
vote, until there was much disorder,
Alter the hour devoted to discussion
had been exhausted, Keller and William
made apr0test that those who were on
posed TO the bill had not been heard, ant
they demanded q little time to state thei
views.
Garaeld's speech had caused considera
BILE feeling among the staIwart Republi
cans, who thought he backed down iarthe
than was necessary, and they were ala
annoyed because he had not allowed then
a chance to be heard.
! The Democrats made great blunde,