The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-04-12
FoRTY-sIXTH CONGRESS.
Debate on tbe Rider 10 the Array ApprO.
priatIon Bill.
WASHINGTON, April 10.
H0TGR

BOUSE.
The House went into committee Of th'
whole (Mr. Springer in the chair on th'
Army Appropriation bill, aud general de
bate was commenced on the amendmen
prohibiting the use Of troops at the poll
as police force.
Mr.. Sparks opened the discussion. He
confessed that the amendment did no
meet his views. This tame, cowardly
amendment did not come up to that stand
ard OF legislation on the subject that ht
would have wished. aud II he had the
power he would insist on something much
stronger than this, and Indignantly insis
on Its adoption. He would wipe out this
un-American, un.Republican, un.Demo'
cratic, villainous statute which owed IL
existence TO inspiration OF fanaticism and
to the era OF hate.
Mr. Conger-Will the gentleman state
on what side the hate and fanaticism were ?
Mr.. Sparks (not noticing the question:
1T disgraces the statute book, and in
suits the sovereign people OF this country.
With this / have done.
Mr.. ConHer-Does the gentleman intend
to answer where the fanaticism was?
Mr.. Sparks-I am not answering ques-
tons. l-
Mr.. Conger (sarcastically)-I will ven
ture TO say the gentleman may answer
without being in danger of being shot on
the spot.
Debate was continued by Mr.. Hawley,
who twtted the Democratic party upon
their evident intention not to participate
in the debate, sarcastically inquiring
whether 1t was afraid 1t would bring about
the nomination and election OF General
Grant, or whether the stentorian
tones OF the whisperer OF Gramercy Park
had prohibited discussion, The attempt
to put this amendment on the Army Ap.
preparation Bill was revolutionary.
Under the Confederate Constitution it was
impossible to do what some members who
had belonged to the Confederate Congress
were endeavoring to do to-day.
Mr.. Keller thought this Congress would
be known in history as one which threat
ened to destroy the Government unless
laws were passed which legalized fraud,
violence and crime. To-day, fifteen years
after the close OF the war, an attempt was
made by stealth to do in peaceful way
what inexorable war had failed to do. In
the course OF his speech he tempted good
Democrats into making some retorts, by
ascribing to them cowardly motives and
quoting remark made some days ago by
Mr. McCook, of Georgia, and repeated by
Mr.. Sparks, "that any Democrat who en-
tered into debate should be shot upon the
spot This gave rise to good deal Of
derisiye laughter on the Democratic side,
Mr.. McCook denying in sarcastic man.
ner that he had any desire to intimidate
his Republican friends in his remark.
Mr.. Haskell was not sure but that the
Democratic side was taking the wiser
course in remaining silent. II there ever
was an empty thing to be discussed, It was
this amendment. After long debate,
after the Democratic party had tried to
strip the statute books OF the power OF the
Executive, and had failed, Providence, or
some other power, had kindly opened to
Its discernment this little trap door, out OF
which the Democratic party fed from most
disastrous defeat, It had been whipped
from every battlefield, and when this lit.
tie trap door was opened 1t had rushed
through and now tried to make the coun-
try believe that that trap door was Of vast
importance.
Mr.. FRYE entertained the House and
galleries with an amusing speech, taking
for his text the words OF Mr.. Sparks, that
the amendment was tame and cowardly.'
Mr.. Cox, as all the answer which he de-
sired to make to the speech, sent to the
clerks desk and had read an extract from
q book called Georgia Scenes" in which
the writer depicts scene denomtnated
"A Lincoln Rehearsal" representing
what appeared to be q brutal fight between
countrymen, but which turned out simply
TO be rehearsal on the part OF one man,
who makes believe he Is engaged in q
rough and tumble fight, from which he
comes out triumphant, after gouging out
the eyes OF his imaginary adversary. The
appositeness OF the quotation seemed to
be clearly recognized by the Democratic
side OF the House. judging by the laugh
and applause with which it was greeted.
Mr.. Conger rallied atthe Democrats for
what he called their cowardice, their
paralysis, their dumbness, and their un
willingness to debate the pending ques'
ton. ksTS
After some remarks by Mr.. Caswell, 3
motion for the committee TO rise was
voted down by the Democrats who want
ed to force vote on the amendment, or,
at least, to close general debate upon 1t
this evening.
As no quorum voted, and as the call Of
the House was imminent, various propo-
sit;ons looking to compromise were
made, but without success, and the Clerk
proceeded with the call Of the roll, to
which $50 members responded, more than
q quorum.
The committee thereupon rose, and, on
motion OF Mr.. Frost, the Senate bill Civ
ing twelve bronze cannon to the Blair
Monument Association, OF st. Louis, was
passed.
Adjourned.
Visitors to the 0. y. Naval Academy.
WARRINGTON, April 10.