Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-29


ney Marsh. This shows better than any
thing else could the value of having on the
scene a competent committee to look after
particular interests. No men could have
done better than Wheaton and Warren have
done.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
The House resumed consideration of the
Lynch Chalmers contested election case.
Mr.. Cslkins, of Indiana, stated that he had
intended to call the previous question at two
O'Clock to-day, but on consideration he had
determined not to call for the vote until to-
morrow.
Mr. Hooker, of Mississippi, in the course
of speech in support of the claims of
Chalmers, ridiculed and criticised the
speech recently delivered by Mr.. Moore, of
Tennessee, and inquired whether any of that
gentlemsn's business constituency were
afraid to vote the Republican ticket.
Mr.. M0Ore-I wish to answer on my per-
sonable responsibility as an honorable man,
that gentleman for forty years a merchant
in Mississippi, told me during my campaign:
al am a Republican in heart, but can't af-
ford to say so, living in Mississippi and sell
ing goods there. II did the people would
not trade with me-" l could give that gen.
tleman's name here, II thought It was safe
to do so. [Derisive laughter on the Demo-
cratic side.
Mr.. Hooker-I undertake to assert that
the gentleman from Tennessee not only is
guilty OF a mistake, but that he utters a
SANDER on the bold, honorable, noble con-
stituency which he assumes to repres ant
here in his mercantile capacity undertake
to assert that there is not a man in
Mississippi who has a white skin, who has
not the courage to speak his sentiments.
The contestant in this case sets an example
to the people whom the gentleman maligns,
and one which the gentleman would do well
to follow.
You stand monumental contradiction to
your own proposition. You are a monu-
ment to the fact that the people of Missis-
sippi do not according to your own confess
| sion) avoid man because he Is Republl-
can. He then proceeded to picture the
| present condition of the colored people of
! Mississippi, asserting that they were ac-
! corded all their rights of citizenship and
lived in peace, quiet and order, and to con-
trast the condition of that State under
carpei-bag and under Democratic rule,
greatly to the disadvantage of the former.
Mr.. Tucker, of Virginia, commented on
the fact that the Republican party, which
broke into enthusiastic apg lsuse at the ad
vent of the contestant in the case Yesterday
had never seen fit to send man of the Afri-
can race to Congress to represent any dis
trict North of the Potomac river. He did
not object to the contestant because he was
a colored man. II lawfully elected, he (Mr.
Tucker) would vote for him, but If not
elected, he begged of the gentlemen on the
other side not to force on a Southern
constituency a man Of African descent,
when they would not allow one of that race
TO occupy a seat from any district in the
North. He denied the truth of the proDosi-
tion that all colOred men were Republicans,
and that therefore no Democrat could be
elected from districts in the South in which
the colored race predominated, except hy re-
to mr. Nyfof NJ T1aI
then proceeded with a legal argument in
support of Mr.. Chalmers claim, and was
followed by Mr.. Robson, of New jersey,
who presented the law sustaining the cause
Of the contestant. The gist of his argument
was that the House, having the constitu-
tional right to determine upon the election
of its members, had the right and power to
override the decisions of State courts, throw
ing technica;ites in the way of allowing
votes eonstitutidhally cast to be honestly
counted. The decision of the Supreme
Court of Mississippi, that a monkey dash
upon a ticket was distinguishing mark,
and that consequently over two thousand
votes cast for Lynch must be thrown out,
was in his Judgment not only absurd but un-
constitutional
Mr.. Speer, of Georgia, spoke in favor of
the contestee's right to retain the seat, stating
that be did so irfuenced.by no partisan or
race prejudice, but by the correct construc-
tion of law. He declared that a vast ma
iority of the people of the South were earn
est in their desire for free ballot and fair
count. Under the baleful influence of ma
chine politics that majority was not always
felt, but It was there and would assert it.
self.
Mr.. Carlisle, of Kentucky, replied to Mr..
Robeson's speech, declaring the principle
laid down by that gentleman, that the House
had the inherent right to override State laws
|
definition OF arbitrary power. Under no
other principle, however, could the con-
tes.ant be admitted TO a.sest on this floor.
| Going then into minute review of the facts
| of the case as set forth In the report of the
Elections Committee he argued in support
of the claims OF the sitting member.
MIR. Calkins, Of Indiana, demanded the
previous question, but no vote was taken,
and the House adjourned.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, Mr.. Butler called up the
Senate bill sppropriating $l50,000 to con-
tinue the Improvement at Charleston har-
bor Passed.
Mr.. Couger submitted conference report
on the life saving service bill. He said that
with a few exceptions the stations provided
| for In the Senate has been retained. The
| stations stricken out were the following:
One at or near Fort Morgan, Mobile bay,
Il ana one at OF near cape OdudN6TdI. 1DBBedu
| of three on the Florida coast, but two sta
tions are authorized, and like change
is made concerning the South Carolina
coast, the two stations there to be located
at or near Georgetown and Charleston. The
Senate provisions for the payment OF wages
to surfmen laboring under disability and to
their wives and families in case of their
death, and requiring the appointment
of assistant superintendents and keepers as
we'll as surfmen without reference to their
politics, were acceded to by the House.
Mr.. Morgan protested against the striking
out of the Mobile Bav Station, and, after a
statement by Mr.. Mcpherson of the reasons
for the action Of the conference, the report
was adopted.
The House bill, approprIatiDg $50, 600 to
continue the work at He'll Gate, New York
harbor, was reported from the Commerce
Committee and parsed.
The House bill fixing time for holding
elections in West Virginia was also reported
favofably and passed.
The political disabilities bill came up as
the first In order on the calendar, and, after
a rambling discussion upon whether the de-
bate should proceed during the time re-
served for the calendar, the pending ques-
tion was stated to be upon motion to re-
fer the bill to the Judiciary Committee. The
debate on the bill itself was then continued,
but the subject went over without action.
The anti-Chinese bill came up as unfn-
ished business, the question being upon
coneurring In the amendment striking out
the 18th section, which construes the words
'ChiDese laborersn to mean both skilled and
unskilled laborers.
A vote was taken, and the amendment
striking out the 18th section was lost; yeas
20, NAYS 25. The negative vote was made
up of Demcc rats, with Messrs. Miller, of
California; Jones, of Nevada; Chilcott and
Cameron, of Wisconsin. Mr.. Davis, of Illi-
nois, voted "sye" with the Republicans.
Several amendments were offered looking
to a modification OF the fourteenth and
fifteenth sections, but all were voted down,
and the bill finally passed substantially as 1t
came from the House, by vote OF 80 to Is.
Messre. Vance, Platt and McDill were
constituted the committee of investigation
into the affairs OF the Sixth Collection dis
trict Of North Carolina.
After an executive session the Senate ad-
iourned until Monday.
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
The Democratic Congressional caucus was |
in session two hours tonight, with but a |
small attendance. The object was to deter |
mine what course should be taken on the |
election contests. No definite action was |
had, but it is not probable that fllbustering |
will be resorted to to delay final action of |
the House.
CONTRIBUTIONS.
The Senate to-day confirmed Nicholas |
Fish, of New York, as Minister to Belgium; |
John M. Francis, Of New York, as Charge |
D1Affaires tn P0rtuoal. Louis j. EOuer. as /