The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-17
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
Forty.six,h Congres...second Session
WASHINGTON, May IS, 1880.
SENATE.
The Senate was not in session to-day.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE.
On motion OF Mr.. Bright, OF Tennessee,
bill was passed making appropriations
for the payment OF claims reported and al
lowed by the Commission OF Claims.
Mr.. Stevenson, OF Illinois, asked leave to
offer a resolution declaring it to be the
sense OF the House that no final adjourn
ment of this session should occur until a
law shall have been passed or a joint rule
established providing the manner in which
the electoral votes shall be counted at the
approaching presidential election.
Mr.. Reed, OF Maine, and Bland, OF Mis-
souri,, objected. The Speaker announced
that the order Of the House had set aisle
the session OF to-day for the consideration
| OF reports from the Committee on Educa.
| ton and Labor.
Mr.. Gibson, OF Louisiana, called up as a
question OF privilege the adjournment re-
solution, and was recognized by the
| Speaker.
| Mr.. Goode, Of Virginia, raised the quss.
| ton OF consideration, stating that his OBJ
ject was TO call up the bills to regulate the
Chinese immigration, to enforce the eight
hour law, and to apply the proceeds OF the
sale OF public lands to the education OF the
people.
Mr.. Townshend, OF Illinois, inquired
whether it was in order TO move to recon-
init the adjournment resolution.
The Speaker replied it was not, ibasmuch
as that motion had been made and defeated
yesterday.
In the midst OF number OF points OF
order, and when the House was in a good
deal o! confusion, Mr.. O'Nell, OF Penn
syvania, walking dows the aisle, managed
TO get in one Of his characteristic little
speeches 10 the effect that The adjournment
resolution had given more hope TO the hearts
Of the people than any legislation which had
been proposed during the present session OF
Congress.
Mr.. Townsbend inquired OF Mr.. Gibson
whether be would allow an extension OF
time for debate, and on receiving negative
answer, expressed bis hope that the demand
for the previous question would be voted
down.
Mr.. Buckner, OF Missouri, asked leave TO
offer an amendment providing that the
House take recess from May until Novem-
Der Sh.
Mr. Gibson refused to yield.
The previous question was then second.
ed-yeas LOG, nays 62-and the main ques-
ton ordered.
The thirty minutes debate then proceed
ed. Mr.. Tucker, OF Virginia, said he had
opposed the resolution in the committee
and in the House. He meant no dlsresprct
TO his colleagues when he said that, in his
Judgment, in the face OF a calendar OF 1.2O0
or 1900 bills-in the face Of the tariff bills
reported to the House-Congress would be
wanting in its true duty to the country If 1t
should adjourn in twelve business days.
Applause on the Democratic side.] There
was not time in twelve days for Congress to
attend to its duties. "Why should we 60
home?" he said Are we afraid TO perform
the duties which the people sent us here to
performS | have opposed this resolu-
ton in committee and here with the
deep conviction that Congress will be
derelict in its duty II it adjourn with
out performing what Is required OF it.
We asked for bread and you gave us stone.
Applause on the Republican side.l We
have reported three tariff bills and the ques-
ton Of consideration is before the House,
and as soon as we report those three bills
for consideration we move that the House
adjourn without consideration. Applause
on the Democratic side, and "Tba's the
doctrine" from Mr.. Townshend.1 1t may
be said that have some private war claims
that wish to get through. / say, no! i
know OF no war claim that am in favor OF
on the House calendar, and the people OF
the South do not desire the war claims
before this House to be paid by the Gov
eminent. The claims that ! am speaking
OF are claims as Just as those Of bondhold-
ers. The question is whether, when the
Government owes a man $4,000, we shall
adjourn without paying it, and say that We
have saved the credit OF the Government
because we have paid the bondholders."
Applause on the Democratic side.
Messrs. Stevenson OF Illinois, Weaver OF
Iowa, Townshend OF Illinois, and Dunnell
of Minnesota, opposed the resolution.
Mr.. Aiken, OF South Carolina, said that
the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tucker
had created the impression that those who
voted for the resolution were opposed to
the tariff bills. This he denied, and de-
clared that the whole Of the South Carolina
delegation would be found voting in favor
of these bills il they ever came up for con-
sideration.
Mfr. Hooker, OF Mississippi, opposed the
resolution, and contended that Congress
should not adjourn until it had passed some
law relating TO counting the electoral vote.
II it did so it would run the risk OF unset
tIingall business industries, which bad been
so imperied when the election OF 1876 had
agitated the country.
Mr.. Garfield spoke in favor Of the resolu-
ton.
Mr.. O'Conner, Of South Carolina, said he
had voted for the resolution deliberately,
and he had the courage to adhere to the
vote. An uawarrantabte assault had been
made on those gentlemen on his side who
had had the courage TO vote for the resolu-
ton. They had been charged with derelic-
ticn OF duty, and they had been told that
their votes involved opposition to tariff
reform. He wished to say to those gentle
men that South Carolina had been the first
State in the Union to fling to the breeze the
motto OF anti-reform. South Carolina stood
to-day as in 1882, pledged bravely and in
domitabIy TO the overthrow OF Ubiquitous
tariff. The COMMITTEE OF Ways and Means
had been in session six months
and had waited until this late date TO
report a bin, and when they did report
bin they confessed to the country that they
could not pass IL, but that they wanted 10
make a record. (Appause.1 IL the Demo.
cratic party confessed that they could not
pass bill for the reform OF the tarln al TINS
session, let il say 30 and 60 to the country
and bring back to this chamber another
Congress, which would ct once, not al the
eleventh hour, but at the first hour, the
second hour. and the third hour, Keep up
the agitation until 70 had accomplished the
great object. He h,'ieved u 10 &c ,os 'ns
interest Of his party aud for the interest OF
the country that Congress sno1m suiyu,u'