Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-04-27
FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
Second SESSION.
The Senate.

The Senate.
WASHINGTON April Ex-senator Plumb sub
mitted resolution requesting the President
to communicate to the Senate copy of the
dispatch of April 2Sth, 1879, from the United
States minister to Mexico, upon the subject of
commercial relations with that country.
Adopted.
resolution was adopted authorizing the In
dian committee to inquire into the report that
the secretary of the interior proposes to take
number of children of Cheyenne Indians with
out having first obtained the consent of their
parents, for the purpose of educating them at
Hampton, Va, or Carlisle, Pa. Also. to in
| quire whether any Indian children at school at
| a distance from their parents. were taken with
out their parents consent, and report whether
legislation is required to protect Indians in the
possession of their children.
| The bill for placing nOn-commissiOned Of
fcers of the army on the retired list after thirty
years service was taken up, and during the dis
| cussion Senator Allison offered an amendment
/ that in addition to the number of cadets at
| West Point academy now authorized by law the
President shall each year appoint two colored
| cadets at large. Senator Allison said under
the law passed last year it is impossible for
| the President to appoint any cadets for three
years to come unless this amendment was
adopted.
Senator Maxey said the amendment would
be appropriate on the West Point bill. 1t had
| nothing to do with this bill.
| Senator Allison said the West Point bill had
been already passed. This was provision of
| law and could be amended.
| Senator Burnside favored the object of the
| amendment but thought it should be brought
in separately and considered by the committee.
Senator Plumb supported the pending bill,
r IL L.
for non-commissioned officers, but thought it
| should embrace more than non-commissioned
officers.
SenatorTeller in opposing'the amendment said
| if it was intended to place colored men on an
equality with whites it didn't go far enough
1t should provide for % or 80. But he, Teller
| didn't propose to vote to increase the number
of cadets at West Paint. In view of the ex-
perience with the institution it would be as
well for the Senate not to provide for anybody
to be educated at West Point.
Senator Kirkwood-Or mutilated.
Senator Teller-Both. 1 believe the institu-
tion at West Point isn't very valuable to the
country, and if we should fail to appropriate
for it and send the young men home we would
do good service to the country.
Senator salisbury thought the amendment
of the Senator from Iowa intended to break up
the academy and if adopted would be likely to
accomplish that object. He heard it pro-
claimed a few days ago that there was no asso-
citation there between white and colored cadets
This was natural and would occur everywhere
where two races were thrown together. The
fact is enforced association is impossible. If
you send colored cadets to West Point in any
considerable number the consequence will be
that parents will withdraw their sons, or that
the sons will withdraw themselves. If the
academy is intended to promote love between
races it might az well be dispensed with,
fhn off Nf
army think we ought to legislate in way
that will accomplish that purpose. This feel
ing in my Judgment, is utterly ineradicable.
1t may be prejudice but it is implanted in
their bosoms. 1t is their being. What is the
use of our attempting by force of statutes to
do that which persons themselves do not desire
to do in reference to their associations. These
colored cadets might go there and have associa-
tions, but they will not have
that congenial association pleasant
to them. 1t does not promote
the comfort of either race to enforce their as
| ISOLATION. 1t was an act of cruelty to send
Whitaker to that institution, knowing, as
those who placed him there must have known,
that he would occupy an isolated position
there. have no doubt the professors gave
him all the recognition that was proper and
made his condition as comfortable as possible,
but it was utterly impossible to place young
colored man in association with a large NUMBER
of white young men and expect them to re-
| ceive him in their company and association.
| l understood the other day from remarks from
the other side of the chamber that he had no
association. This is not feeling peculiar to
| the white people of the South, but it resides
just as thoroughly in people of the North. The
| interest of both races requires that there
| should be distinctions between them in their
| associations. l do not believe it will promote
| the interests of the colored man to bring him
| in social intercourse with the white man.
! He will receive all the sympathy
| of white man that his merit entities
him to and 1 would be glad to see their
condition improved, l have no feeling against
| the colored man. Because l speak frankly 1
do not wish it understood that l have the least
| unkind feeling for them. l have always treated
| them with courtesy and kindness Senator
Salisbury then proceeded to oppose the bill
itself.
Senator Allison said he had offered the
amendment in good faith. He wished there
would be some declaration by Congress as to
West Point. Colored youths, he continued,
are admitted to every college in the United
States. Isee no reason why they should be ex-
cluded from West Point.
Senator Harris-Are these excluded?
Senator Allison-I propose to state affirma-
lively that they shall not be excluded. They
are not excluded by law, but they are practical
ly and have been for many years.
Senator Hereford-Who practically excludes
them? Has not your party had the President
all the time who had the power to appoint
those men?
Senator Allison-I do not intend to go into
any party discussion of this question. trust
it will be considered above and beyond party
lines. The question is whether or not we shall
make legislative declaration that it is the pub
lie policy of the government OF the United
States that the colored man shall have the
same access to the military school of the Unit
ed States that white youths have.
Senator Hereford-That is the law now.
Senator Maxey-As the Senator from Iowa
has acted in good faith, and l trust do, ask
him whether in the face of the constitutional
provinces against discrimination between the
races, Congress can pass an act compelling the
President to appoint colored men.
Senator Allison-I do not think there is any
constitutional difficulty in the way. The Pres
ident, if we give him authority can undoubt-
eddy appoint two colored cadets.
Senator Maxey-He can do it now.
Senator Allison-It simply proposes to make
legislative declaration that it is the policy of
the government that colored citizens who are
compelled in time of war to go to the govern
ment's defense shall have their share 10 these
appointments. The President is authorized to
appoint ten cadets at large. Now this amend
ment proposes to make it twelve instead of
ten and two of them shall be coored.
Senator Kernan-By law now, cannot every
memher select q colOred how if he likes