Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-04-24
FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
Second Session.
Ihe Senate.

WASHINGTON, April 23.-On motion of Sena-
tor Allison, the Senate, yeas 4l, nays "a, agreed
to adjourn till Monday. Waile the secretary
was calling the roll, the confusion in the
chamber was so great that for a fourth time
this forenoon the Vice Presid ut directed busi-
ness be suspended until order should be re-
stored. He directed the sergeant-at-arms to
enforce the order. The post route bill was
taken up and passed.
Senator West presented a memorial of the
st. Louis chambers of commerce asking an
appropriation for constructing reservoirs at the
headwaters of the Mississippi river to increase
the depth of the river and permit the passage
of light draught steamers at all seasons. Re-
ferred.
The morning hour having expired, the Sen
ate resumed consideration of tho resolutions
declaring Henry NJ. Spofford entitled to the
seat in the Senate now held be VIM. Pitt Kel-
logg. Senator Bailey reported the resolutions.
Senator Bailey argued against the principle of
res ddjudicata as governing the Senate's action.
That principle had never been
recognized by the Senate. The
doors should never be closed upon an appeal
for Justice. The State was the only Judge of
what body was it's legal legislature, and Louisi-
ana having endorsed the Nichols legislature,
the only question the Senate could decide on
was whether Spofford was or was not elected
by that legislature. If he was, be could not be
excluded from the Senate.
Senator Bailey reviewed the history of the
Packard legislature and said the only place in
the world where anyone of its acts were recog-
nized or perpetuated, was here in this chamber.
He contrasted it With the Nichols legislature,
honored in all its acts. There was no question
as to what was the lawful government of
Louisiana. If Gov. Nicholls,or the legislature
that elected Spefford, should call on the PIesi-
dent for aid IN suppressing domestic violence,
could there be any doubt that that aid would
be granted without question? The fact that
the Senate once recognized the Packard legis-
lature did not legalize that legislature. No
power can do that except the power of the State
itself. To use the words of Senator Morton,
1.-The State may have stated wrongly, but its
decision is final, and the government Of the
United States cannot interfere"
At the conclusion of Senator Bailey speech,
Senator Oonkliug asked him if he would con-
sent to argue the two questions t1nching the
views of law in his remarks.
Senator Bailey said he was much fatigued.
he had no objection to the points being
stated, but he was we'll aware that the Senator
from New York would never seek information
from the Senator from Tennessee.
Senator Conkling said that after hearing
some of the propositions laid down by the
Senator from Tennessee, he (Conkling) was
not surprised that mis- credulity, or capacity
or belief was so great that be really believed as
he had stated.
Senator Kellogg wished Senators who should
hereafter speak in favor of the resolutions to
address themselves to point which he held to
be fully established, namely: that the Nichols
legislature had not q quorum of members in
- L Il IL H. Is k1A
returns by the showing of the Democratic party
itself during the whole term OF sixty days,
Senator Jones obtained the floor, but preferr-
ing to speak on Monday, yielded to Senator
Paddock on whose motion the pending order
WAS informally laid aside and the House bill
establishing land Office in Montana territory,
at Miles City, passed.
Senator Ransom, from the committee on
railroads, reported with amendments, and
without recommendation, Senate bill to extend
the time for the completion of the Texas Pa
cifc railway. Placed on the calendar.
The bill granting pension to Herman Net
berfeld, scout, passed.
On motion OF Senator Maxsy the bill to au-
thorize retired list of non-commissiOned Of
ticers of thirty years service, was taken up.
Maxey spoke in favor of it.
Senator Beck opposed it because of the
very serious question of where the money was
coming from to pay the great number of pen
siOnS, Whlch seemed likely to be extended to
every person in the service of the government,
civil or military. We were not going to have
any more wars, except possibly on the seas. He
opposed the bill as the beginning of system
whose end no one could see.
Senator Edmuuds was not sure. with the
Senator from Kentucky, that there would be
no use hereafter for an army. There would
probably until the millennium, be instructions,
violations of revenue laws, sprays of rebellious
Indian troubles aud other occasions for use of
the military power. If the dispatches in to-
days papers were correct, Canada had refused
to do what the United States might rightly feel
justified in insisting upon as a matter of JUS
tice (referring to the refusal of the English
government to take notice of the Fortune bay
attacks on American tisheries). The condition
of Europe gave weight to the principle
that it is the part of wise craftsmanship to be
prepared for Whatever may come, though he
hoped that no trouble would ever come. He
would like to see the bill amended so as to in
clude private soldiers. The government could
not do better than to show gratitude to the
men who protected it. After further debate
the bill was laid aside. 1t will be the first bill
for consideration on the calendar Monday.
On motion of Senator Ceckrell the House
Joint resolution authorizing the secretary of
war to lend tents to the governor of Missouri
for use of sufferers by the recent tOrnedo in
that State was passed.
The Kellogg Spofford resolutions will be the
regular order after the morning hour Monday.