Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1880-03-01
HOW BLAINE BEAT THE FORCE stLl.
A Serious Charge Against the .Plumed
Knight" by . Misslssippi Republican.

" SMAssassApPl nopuDl1cAns
Letter to the st. Louis Globe Democrat.
Jackson, Miss, Feb. "a, lSsO.-The can.
didacy of Mr.. Blaine for the presidential
nomination, at the hands of the republican
party, again %revives the history of that cele-
brated measure, the "force BILL" and the
damnable methods BY which it was defeated
10 the house of it's friends BY the maneuvera
OF a mere minority, assisted BY the psrlia-
mentary rulings OF the speaker.
synopsis of the principal features of
this bill, and the true cause that inspired
and sustained the tricks and parliamentary
xpedients Of the flibustering democratic
minority, are below set forth in 4 plain
statement of the facts, as they were known 10
exist.
The protracted session ofthe houee of rep
+esentativ.s, which began at 7:3O O'Clock on
the evening of February "a, 1875, and lasted
continuously until the middle of the alter
noon Of the day following, was perhaps one
u the most interesting aud exciting that has
ever characterized the deliberation of that
BODY.
Although years have rolled BY since that
remarkable session, its results are 90 linked
with tie political affairs of the present day
as to make it still the subject of discussion
among those who take an active part in the
politics Of our country.
1t was at this session that stalwart repub-
licans of the house initiated the fight to
bring the 'force BILL" az it was then termed,
before the house for consideration. This
bill, which according to its title was ITO
provide against an invasion Of states, to pre-
vent the subversion of their authority, and
% maintain the security of elections" had
been prepared and discussed in CAUCUS, ar d
was designated especially to protec. the COL
ored race in the south from the prosecutions.
intimidation and assassinations which since
that time have swayed the political balance
in almost every southern state. In it's terms
the measure prescribed penalties for the in
vasion of a state for the purpose Of over
throwing its existing government, for per-
sons conspiring within any state of the
union to usurp or overthrow its government,
for the intimidation of the duly qualified
voters of a state by the assembling of armed
men,, either at the place Of registration or at
the pole, and for tampering with the regis
iatry LETS or the ballot boxes.
1t went further, and in the precise Lam
euage Of legal exactneas it defined the Kill.
ling Of men on account of their political con-
victions and opinions as murder, and clothed
the courts Of the United States with iuris-
diction to try and punish the murderers.
The bill further provided that when such
organized, armed and unlawful combinations
had assumed such proportions a. to eet at
defiance the constituted authorities of the
state and United States, it should be lawful
Tor the president Of the United States, when.
IN his judgment, the public safety ehould re.
quire 1t, to suspend the privilege Of the writ
Of habeas corpus within the limits of the
states Of Louisiana, Arkansas. Mississippi or
| Alabama, to the end that such unlawful re-
'istence might be OVERTHROW. The pro-
visions Of this last section were to continue
IN force for the period of two years.
1t could not be expected that legislation
of this character would meet the approval
Of the then democratic minority in congres.,
as its operations would only tend to secur.
ing fair and free elections in the states affec.-
I'd by it-a contamination sure to keep them
in the background. 1t was known to certain
northern democrats that the then speaker of
the house Hon. James G. Blaine,) had, Is
far back as the days Of reconstruction
shown a disposition to sacrifice fealty TO his
party to further his personal ambitions. His
opposition to the great commoner,' Hon.
Ihad. Stevens Of Pennsylvania, in that in
-idious piece Of legislation, the "Blaine
amendment" to the reconstruc,ion bill. was
recalled. and for days underground nego,ia.
tions we're carried on to secure his aid and
countenance for tine defeat Of this bill. The
events of that long legislative day have
passed into history, but the hidden motives
Of the man who saw fit to give his consent
to the stranRling Of republication 10 the
south, have continued to be the subject Of
discussion. From the record Of the pro.
ceedtngs OF congress, aud the recollections
Of those who were in q position TO know the
inner workings Of this contest, the conclu.
sion is most clear that the defeat Of this bill
~as mainly due to the unholy alliance en-.
tered into BY Hon. James g. Blaine, the
speaker Of the house, and Hon. Samuel J
Randall, democratic representative from
Pennsylvania, the effect of which was "a
defeat the operations Of 4 rule of tie hous<
specially devised TO meet the parliamentary
necessities Of that struggle.
When il WAS known thst the s,slwa,,
republicans would u'il'ze the night session
Il February "a tn endeavor to bring betor.
The house the report of the committee "
The Alabama outraRes aud the accompan,
~ hi,i. which WAS the measure nut for
ward by The republican caucus, there was ,
-rcr.t conference between Mr.. Blame ant
Mr. Randall. in which the rev rule VA,
discussed. its weakness 10 the sbsence nf
full quorum Of republicans pointed on,
and the svstem Of f1llibusering devised
which enabled the democratic minority y, I,
delay the proceedings &c The house, an.
practically defeat the hill Mr.. Rind.,
thus entered the cnntesi with the full know
ledge IL every point ri advantage inr h,
ftcpds. end coutiicnt that the sp>ke
would render him all the ass s'anc: psss,
be. shost ot openly dccls,iap his svopash
WITH The efforts fas the defeat OF The pepd
ing measure How lhis action al NJ