The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-04-29
FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
(Second Session.)
The Senate.

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mitted resolution requesting the President
to communicate to the Senate a copy of the
dispatch Of April 28th, 1870, from tho United
States minister to Mexico. upon the aubiect of
commercial relations with that country
Adopted.
resolution was adopted authorizing the In
dian committee to inquire into tue report that
the secretary Of the interior proposes to take a
number of children of Cheyenne Indians with
out having first obtained the consent of their
parents, for the purpose Of educating them al
Hampton, Va, or Carlisle, Pa. Also, to in
quire whether any ludian children at school at
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 Tor placing non-commissioned Of
hcers 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 ut 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 OF the West Point bill 1t had
nothing t. 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,
which was q bill for establishing retired list
for non com missioned 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 25 or 80. But he, Teller,
didn't propose to vote to increase tho number
Of cadets ut West Paint. In view of the ex-
perience with the institution it would be as
we'll for the Senate not to provide for ANYBODY
to be educated at West Point.
Senator kirkwood-Or mutilated.
Senator Tellpr-Bo:h. I believe the institu-
ton at West Point isn't very valuable to the
country, aud if We should fail to appropriate
for it and send the young men home we woald
Il" 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 ebject. He heard it pro-
claimed a few days ago that there was no asso-
citation there between white aud colored cadets,
This was natural and would occur everywhere
where two races were thrown together. The
Tact 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 will withdraw them selves. If the
academy is intended to promote love between
races it might az we'll be dispensed with.
but if 1t was to promote the efficiency of the
army l think We ought to legislate in wav
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
nse 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' tons but they will not have
to them. 1t does not promote
the comfort of either race to enforce their as-
sociation. 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
co'ored man in association with a large numDer
Of white young men and expect them to re-
ceive him in their company and association.
1 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 the.r
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 l would be glad to see their
condition improved, have no feeling against
do not wish it understood that have the least
unkind feeling for them. 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, be 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 propose to state af'irma-
are not excluded by law, but they are practical
ly and have been for many years.
Senator Hereford-Who practically excludes
them? Has hot yeur party had the President
all the time who had the power to appoint
those men?
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 ia the law now.
Senator Maxey-As the Senator from Iowa
has acted in good faith, and trust do. ask
him whether in the face of the constitutional
provinces against discrimination between the
President to appoint colOred men.
Senator Aliison-I do not think there is any
constitutional difficulty in the way. The Pres
ident, if we give him authority, can undoubt-
edly 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 90 to the govern
ment's defense, shall have their share ia these
appointments. The Presldent is authorized to
appoint ten cadets at large. Now this amend
ten, and two of them shall be colored.
Senator Kernan-By law now, cannot every
member select q colored boy if he likes.
Senator rAllison-Undoubtedly but wish to
have legislative declaration that West Point
shall be open to all our citizens, and that the
IEcekucut buoAA III tuo c4SICIHo u GAC 0ppOlut.
ing power, which We give him, out of twelve
men select two from the colored race.
Senator Beck-Does the President need coer-
cion on that subject?
Senator Allison-I do not know. If he does
l propose to place this provision in the statutes
that he may be coerced. If he does not do it
Of his own violition. I want to know what OBJ
lection there is in placing on the records a
statute authorizing and directing him to
do it. .I...
Senator Cockrell-I am utterly astonished at
the position taken by the Senator from Iowa.
The country knows how kindly the President
feels towards the colored race. Delegations of
colored people have called upon him and he has
expressed his kindness to
them and shown them circular
issued to different heads of departments re-
quiring them to recognize the colored element
in appointments to Office. and with that the
Senator comes and asks Democratic Congress
to take the executive by the throat anu com.
pei him to recognize the colored people IN ap.
pointments made by him; asking the Demo
cratic party to compel q Republican executive
to appoint colored cadets. Why, Mr.. Presi.