Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-04-18
Congress.

TIE ARMY BILL N THE SENATE TELLING
SPEECH FROM SENATOR BLAINE, IL WHICH HI
DENouScEs THE ISSUES PRESENTED IL THE
POLITICAL RIDERS, AND BIDICuLEs THE DoUR-
nos cry OF INTIMIDATION.
After the lapse Of nearly month since the
meeting Of the present Congress, the Senate
on Monday reached the sixth section Of the
Army bill, tthat relating to the use Of the army
at the polls which gave rise TO so much discus
sion in the last Congress, and which was in
strumental in defeating that bill and making
the present extra session necessary 1t had
been announced that Senator Blaine was to
discuss the question. and as usual when he is
expected to speak, the galleries were filed to
overlooking, and many distinguished persons,
members Of the House aud others. crowded
the floor. The Senator from Maine did not
di,appoint his audience H argued with a
great deal Of force that the Democrats, 10y the
Presentation Of the Objectionable political
clauses to the Army bin, and during the en-
tire discussion of the question, bad sought 10
force "a false i,,ut upon the country. He de
clarrd that tn Democrats were trying to make
it appear. not only 10 the country but TO the
world, that the Republicans party desired to
rule the hailot-bOX aud carry elections 10y the
aid Of national bpyonets The statement,
which they made in this direction were with
out foundation in fact they we're false in de
tail and, cried the Senator most impressive
i, facing the Democratic side and looking
the Democratic senators full in the face. Il
iudict the authors Of these statements for lay-
ing uttered base aud wicked ISLANDERS
Continuing i'll the same imprisoned and
eloquent strain, the Senator said that no fair
minded man in this country feared that the
Army Of the Union would eucroach upon the
rights or imperil the liberties Of the people.
There was no such danger, and the alarm eN-
pressed by the Democratic LEADER WAS entire
ly iusnccre, and expressed for interior pur-
poses. Going into Details hc declared with
cutting sarcasm and amid much laughter
that there were not United States soldiers
enough in the Southern States to furnish one
for every 700 square miles of territory. There
were only ~ soldiers to 1869 900 Of the
Southern people; yet it was claimed that the
citizens of that much to be- piticd section Of
the country could not vote freely because Of
military Interference The idea was ridicu-
Ions. IN short continued the Senator.
falling into that easy-going tone which is al
ways 50 aggrayating to his Democratic hear
ers. in short, all this talk about military in
reference is the yeriest bosh. In all the
State of Virginia" he continued. there l..
not one United States soldier to make the
good people Of that great Commonwealth
afraid. In North Carolina there are Just ~
soldiers; IN South Carolina. l2O artillerymen
inside Of a fort. and in all the rest Of the
State not one Federal soldier. Are Senators
from Tennessee alarmed at the progress of
military aggression = asked the speaker, and
then continued In that State no United
States soldier profanes the sacred soil. There
Is not one in Kentucky. not one in Missouri
Arkansas has -, and Alabama 81 but not a
bayonet nenaces the liberties of the people
Of Mississippi Not one United States soldier
treads with iron heel upon that fair soil. In
Louisiana there are but 2}9 Of these Federal
minious and IN Texas, excepting the troops
on the frontier not one" BaSiug his argu-
ment on this showing Mr. Blaine demonstrat-
ed, with much adroituess that the whole cry Of
armed interference was gotten up 10y Southern
Democrats 10 prevent proper supervision OF
the poll, by the properly constituted civil Of
flcers, thereby making fair election impos-
sible. 1ha Senator continued this line Of ar
gumeut some time. eliciting frequent mani
festatous Of approval when he had finish
ed, he was warmly congratulated by a num-
Der Of his fellow Republicans notably by
Zach Chandler.
None Of thu Democratic Senators attempted
to reply to Mr.. Blaine Mr. Withers of Viz
ginia made a few remarks Of no Importance.
and then gave place to Senator Wallace. who
had a grea, deal TO say about attempts to
coerce the Legislative branch Of the Govern
ment quoted much from old English history.
repeated himself frequently, and then sat
which has not been half dozen tunes gone
py.r u the Hpusa