The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-06-06
Last NIGHTS Dispatches.
XLVI CONGRESS.
SENATE,

responsible for what they approved and
supported, as well as for what they sug
gested. Hampton could not claim to
speak as leader of his party, but speak
ing for himself he would never try to
shield himself from the consequences of
his action behind any man or party. LII
the policy supported by him was revolu-
tlonary or reasonable, he was a revolu-
zionist and traitor. But what policy is
before Congress worthy of such charge?
Continuing, Senator Hampton said: BY
no vote of mine will the appropriation nee
essary for the efficient maintenance of the
army be refused. 1t is competent for
Congress to declare under what Limitations
and upon what conditions those apprpria"
tions shall be made. The form in which
this is done | regard as immaterial. In
my judgment it would shave been best to
adhere to the general form, but as it has
been deemed advisable to make the neces-
sary appropriations in another manner |
shall, IN order to secure suuauimity, ac-
quIesce IN the decision of the majority;
but ln no event can | consent to aid in
dlsband!ng the army or impairing its eff
cheney. Ii Is the army of the South as
well as Of the North. 1t is the army Of
the whole country. In it's history from
the days of the Revolution, through its
achievements of 1912, and the glories of
the Mexican war, have some reason by
right of my birth aud blood to be proud.
In the late civil contest, on many bloody
field | tested its valor, and no word or act
of mine shall deprecate its value or lessen
its usefulness. No act of mine shall tend
to degrade it from its high rank Nor
| shall | assent because Of any difference of
opinion between the minority and the ma
| iority, to close the courts of justice, or en-
barrass the necessary and orderly life of
the government. The Constitution has
provided q means by which an appeal to
the country can be determined, and it is
for the people to decide whether the Pres
idential veto has been wisely used to de-
| feat the will Of Congress which repre-
sents the majority of the people.
| Senator Hampton proceeded to say that
he had no intention to embarrass the ad
ministration. When he himself considered
the provisions Of the bills as just, he rec
ognized the difficult position in which the
Executive found himself Mr. Hampton s
people remem bered that in critical period
of their history, when any judicious action
would have been fatal, the President by a
conscientious construction OF his duty re-
moved the United States troops from
Louisiana and South Carolina. thus enab-
ling the people to restore their local govern
ments to those who represented the popular
will. character, intelligence and property
of the two states. For this wise and pa
triotic action he was grateful, ana while in
the necessary party differences which must
arise in free country it would be his duty
to oppose the policy of which the Presi-
dent was the representative, that opposi
tion would not be captious nor such as tc
drive the President into a coalition with
those who would madly trample on the
rights of the people in their struggle to re
tain power.
Senator Hampton said his party was nov
o denounced for wishing to restrict the ted
eral use OF troops, though men high in thu
republican party, whose words he quoted
had also pointed out and denounced tn,
abuses and danger il their use. Continu
ing, he said there was widespread doc
, trine that the result Of the war had been Il
: Increase the strength and functions OF tht
general government and that as a natura
consequence it could rightly use the ma
chinery Of the government, including th
army, to confirm such added power. Sen
4 ator Hampton thought the war had no
changed in any way the relative powers q
the States and the Union. One of tn
principal factors Of our success and growt
has been the play of local governments
u influences 1t was not the immediat
!, action Of the army that be feared
IL but that the ultimate effect OF its mIsus
9 would be Capitalization and despotism, an
u be would oppose any legislation to give th
g general government power 10 Interfere
II any way with elections 1t was better I
u have turbulence ia one or two great cities
le than to have a military despotism in th
10 whole country. 1t had been compIaine
" that the Confederate officers were sent her
"a as legislators. Nearly every man in th
y south bore arms, aud she could hardly b
10 banned for trusting her interests IN peac
re to those who risked their lives and fortune
-e for her in war. He thought if the mort
e had honored IN like manner those WI
D., fought her battles the legislation of tf
al country would not be embittered by rev
Or walls of sectional strife. When the mort
a. invited the southern states TO return
a. the Union was she sincere, or did she on
Us wish them back to govern them as rotte
~ boroughs? IF sincere they should be gla
D that they sent their best and most honOre
ry men to represent them. The south cou
Ill not, in the nature Of things, be long SUI
ordinated to the mass Of ignorance and i
ne experience forced Oh them by the has
1l- action of the republican party. The sou
had no apology to make for the past;
the heat Of conflict its hard blows we
struck and hard words spoken. but now,
~ the interest of that harmony for which Il
!. whole country longs, the south asks
1t have stricken from the statute books Il
Wv laws which are the product of distrust,
30 much as were the armies and navies.
~ you ask US to come back as states, jo
VI hands with US to establish national libert
as understood by our fathers.
viu Senator Hampton's address arous
,m frequent applause in the galleries.
Senator Bayard supported the bill a
quoted from Hamilton's writings to sht
~ that the theory of veto power was to &C
;pe fer on the president the power to protC
Td' himself and to prevent the passage of b
~ ~ laws, either through haste, inadvertar
:. or design. The bills recently vetoed we
~ ~ not SO passed. They represent the sot
~ second thought of the American people,
~ contained in them should be made, a
the people W0uid JuuRe the pfesluent
his party By their works.
The president pro TEN laid before
es- senate the message of the president of
) Is United States enclosing the report of
on board of inquiry into the Fitz John Por
an case. It was referred to the committee
iGIr military affairs.
oiy Senator Edmunds moved TO amend
pie adding the following: That no citii
oes possessing all other qualifications VII
lnl- are or may be prescribed by law shall