The Rock Island Argus., 1880-03-20
Last Nights Dispatches.
XLvI CONGRESS.
HOUSE.

4
| WASHINGTON, March 19.-Mr. Ewinj
| said the Supreme Court having declared
constitutional the election laws, they mus
be 80 regarded at present, but only tempo
rarily, because the public mind never ac
cepted as final Supreme Court decision
which was obliged by q party division o.
the tribunal. They had learned that The
| fire of partizanship burned as fercely be
| meath the ermine as beneath the jacket ol
| the people. but it was not necessary fol
Representatives to vote any money which
might be demanded for the execution ol
laws they believed utterly subversive o
| the liberty of the people. The majority
of the North were tired of the Republican
party. 1t held its power by clamor about
Southern brlgadlers and renewals by the
people of the South of opposition to consti
tutional government by secession or nulli-
fication.
Mr.. Williams, of Wisconsin,, would con
sent to no compromise until he was pre-
pared to vote for the repeal of the election
law.
Mr.. Randall said to days discussion
narrowed the issue to this: This law was
on the statute book. The Democrats be,
lleved it unconstitutional, and Mr.
Springer's amendment was to take from
that act the partisan administration of it's
provision. The Republicans would not
have the law changed.
Messrs. Hawley. Randall and Robeson
had an excited debate, in which Mr.. Ran
dali declared that the Republicans had
manner
Mr.. Garfield said, speaking for himself
alone, as ever. his first object in legislation
was to be right, In the heated debate
the only fair argument made against the
election laws to bis mind was that they
were used or might be used for party cleo
tioneering in behalf of one party. He had
been and was in favor of modifying the laws
so that the alleged abuses should not take
place. Applause on the Democratic side.
The Republicans had unanimously objected
TO riders on appropriation bills They had
tried to prevent riders. but 1t was ruled in
order. 1t was his duty to help make the
best amendment proper and for that pur-
pose, on his own responsibility, had offer
ed the amendment of yesterday. The
Democrats had voted down his proposition
and substituted one which made semb-
lance of obeying the law. which was
farce, notice to mobs to come in sufficient
numbers to overwhelm the keepers of the
peace and let hell rule election day. That
proposition nulhfied the iron grasp of an
election law.
Mr.. Conger congratulated the House
that the iron grasp aud leadership of Ran
dali had been relaxed enough to allow the
Democrats to give up the assertion of the
right to put riders on appropriation bills.
He sarcasticaliy reviewed the iuc0nsist-
encies of the Democrats, and alluded
co the Presidential aspiration OF Mr.. Ran
dali
Mr. McMahon offered as substitute
for the pending amendment-that of Mr..
Garheld's offered yesterday, u aking special
deputies appointable by United States
Judge at per diem of $5 and equally
REPRESENTING all parties.
Mr.. Cox did not disguise that he would
have this law wiped OUT. lie did not Coz
cede that the Supreme Court decisions
were fnal. Answer, any of you, would
you gentlemen have carried out the fugi-
tive slave law by voting money to slave
catchers? You are dumb. Mr.. McNahon' 8
substitute agreed to, l06 to So. sew raj Re-
publicans voting aye. and Mr.. Springer's 8
amendment as thus amended was agreed
to. l2l to 20, the Republicans generally
to vote.
The committee rose and reported the
bill. All amendments were agreed to
and the bill passed, Ill to 104. All Re.
publicans and FIVE Democrats voted against
it.
The public printing bill, By unanimous
consent. was reported, considered and
quickly passed.
Adjourned.