The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-08
THE FORTY.EIGHTH CONGRESS-.
The Senate.

WAsHrNeror, ID. c., Jan. THE Chair
laid before the Senate the report OF the Mis-
souri, River Commission, aud a report show
ing the maintenance by Captain Esds Of a
channel in the south pass OF the Mississippi
River.
Among the petitions presented was one by
Mr.. Plumb from the Oklahoms settlers, who
BET forth that the land they occupy has been
long since bought from the In
dians by the United States and
paid for; that the United States did
not expect nor intend that the Indians
should again occupy the land; and the petit
fioners therefore sec no reasons why they
should not be allowed to remain in the
homes established for themselves and tamil
lies. They protest against the cruelty of their
removal. and say they would not have been
disturbed but for the influence of wealthy
and powerful cattle owners, who do not
themselves pretend to have any title to the
lands, but who use them for grazing cattle.
The petitioners add that they have gone to
Oklahoma to stay with their plows and axes.
AID that thousands of their friends expect
to go there. and pray Congress to withdraw
the military and instead to take early steps
to organize the territory of Oklahoma into a
State.
In presenting the petition, Mr.. Plumb said
that although these settlers may be guilty of
q technical violation of law, as the law was
understood by the Attorney General, yet
Congress had already said the lands in ques-
tion should not be again occupied by the
-. II g.
had come when Congress should say yea or
nay on the question of occupancy of these
lands by white settlers. He hopes the Com
mjttee on Indian Affairs would act on the
subject at the earliest opportunity.
Mr.. Dawes said the commission had already
examined the subject and reported that in
the present condition of the title to the
lands they could not be opened to settlement,
and the Senate had adopted the report.
h Senate passed the House joint resolu-
ton appropriating $4,000 to relieve the
wants OF destitute Indians.
Nr. Morrill, called up his resolution de-
clsring that reciprocity treaties with nations
of inferior population and esource should
be regarded with disfsvor, and spoke st
length in its support, taking the ground that
reciprocity treaties were unconstitutional,
ard that apart from their unconstituti0n.
ally thsy were 'incurably wrong" that
they were at war with 1.-The most favored
nation" clause OF all other treaties; that So
called reciprocity" treaties vita inferior
nations surrendered much home trade in
return for little foreign trade, and that c
real reciprocity with such q nation was i'm
possible.
A few extracts from Morrilr's speech will
serve to give its spirit:
The President is Commander in Chief OF the
Army and Navy, but this gives him no authority
10 invade The Do ger OF Congress to raise money TO
EInnavf fhQ 0EmN N "
The President WITH the concurrence OF two
thirds of the Senate can mike treaties. but under
can be made ito regulate com with foreign
nations or to initiate 1T revenue bills any more
or naturalization. and these, together with an
other powers. which were specially conided TO
Congress or to House Of Representatives By the
Constitution, stand as a flaming sword against all
eDcroschments of tne Executive. and forever linn
its and excludes the reach OF its treaty-making
The action of the House. or even,of Congress. in
1855 can not impair. abridRe or take away the legis-
lstive authority OF the next or any succeeding
Congress ito regulate commerce nor of the
House of Representatives to originate revenue
Jaws. Nor can this legislative authority be abdi-
'A II IS ~ an insidion ,se method. BY Which nsi' the 1pp vastly
important power of the House of Representatives
over all revenue bills may, with an ambitious x-
~tcutive. become obsolete and utterly valueless.
We can not afford to demolish the acceptance OF
the theory Of republican government by sane
tioning the initial OF such bills by the Executive.
We can not afford to change the Constitution by
a merely new Interpretation, and without any
change in the fundamental law.
Taking up the SUBJECT of the Mexican
treaty, Mr.. Morrill, said the Mexicans lived
in q climate requiring for the most part less
clothing than sufficed for our blanketed In
dams. A reciprocity treaty with people of
that character could not be made for Us
even by the hero OF Appomattox. la con
clusion, he insisted that reciprocity treaties
were unrepublicsn in origin and character,
tending to largely increase the power of the
Executive, and making Congress q mere
register of the Executive will.
The consideration of the Inter State Com.
merce bill was assumed.
Mr.. Bayard expressed the hops that the
consideration Of the bill in the Senate would
be carried no farther for the present, as the
question embraced in the bill was under
consideration In the House, with n probable
ity Of an early decision on it by that body.
Besides there were questions of far reaching
Importance involved in the measure. Mr..
Bayard, for his own part wished for q longer
time for elaboration and more information
on the subject. He had never desired to
vote on a question of doubtful constituti ton
atty. The responsibility was upon Con.
gress to afirmatively show that it had the
power to do tina which it proposes to
do, and not legislate in doubtful
premises. He did not seek to
restrict the power of Congress to regulate
inter State bat all men knew the
railroads were working under State charters;
and, however plain nav bs the right Oh
power OF Congress to regulate commerce bs
tween States, it was certain that Congress
had never hitherto exercised ID.
Mr.. Collum replied that the House had
been discussing the subject ten years, aud it
was not necessary for the Senate to wait on
the action of the House. The Senate would
not do its duty to the country If il did not
proceed with the bill.
Mr. Ravayd nraferrad IN wa;t and saa uhst
sort of u measure the House would present
10 the Senate. He could not but feel there
hsd never been SO much power com Mite
TO any five men on earth as IL was proposed
by this bill to commit to the five Commits
sioners. They were to form q sort of Supe.
Iior Board Of Direction for all the transports,
ton companies of thirty-eight States, and
several Territories. Ths internal commerce
of the United States was at least ten time!
a. great as the foreign commerce. and such q