Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-01-08
Tnn SENATE.


chair laid before the senate the report
Of the Missouri river commission, and
a report showing the maintenance by
Capt, Eads Of the channel in the south
pass of the Mississippi river,
Among the petitions presented was
one by Mr.. Plumb of Kansas, from the
Oklahoma settlers, who set forth that
Che land they occupy has
been long since bought from
the Indians by the United States aud
paid for, that the United States did
not expect or intend that the Indians
should again occupv the land, and the
petitioners, therefore, see no reason
why they should not be allowed to re.
main in the homes established for
themselves and miles, Trey pro-
test against against Tn cruelty OF their
removal and say that they would not
have been disturbed but for
tho great influence Of the wealthy
and powerful cattle owners, who do
not pretend to have any title to the
land, but who use the land for grazing
cattle. The petitioners add that thew
have gone to Oklahoma to stay with
their plows aud axes, and IN a thou
sand Of their friends expect TO go
there, and they pray con gress to with
draw the military forces and instead
TO take early steps 10 organize the
territory Of Oklahoma into a state.
Ia presenting the petition, Mr
Plumb said that although these settlers
may be guilty OF technical violation
Of the law, "as the law was interpreted
by the attorney-general," yet
congress had already said
that the land in question should not
be again occupied by the Indians, and
that 1t seemed tn him the time had
come when congress should say yea or
nay on the question OF the occupancy
Of these lanos by white settlers. he
no ed that the committee on Indian
affairs would act on the subject at the
earliest opportunity.
MIR. Dawes OF Massachusetts said that
the committee had already examined
the subject aud reported that in the
pres mt condition oflhet u lie to the lands
they could not he opened TO settlement
and the senate had adopted hat rep nrt.
The senate passed the house joint
resolution appropriating $50 900 TO re.
lieve the wants of the destitute In
dians.
Mr.. Morrill, Of Vermont called up
bis resolution declaring that reciproci-
treaties with nations OF inferior papu-
latipn and resources should be re-
garied with diifavOr, and sphke at
length In It's support, taking the
ground that reciprocity treaties were
unconstitutional; that apart from their
unconstiutionality they were "incura,
bly, wrong" that they were
at war with the most IA
vorsd nation, clause OF other
treaties; that tie so-called reciprocity
treaties with inferior nations surren.
dered much of our home trade in re
turn for little foreign trade, and that
real reciprocity with such nations wal
imp s-ihle. Throughout the entire
speech there was careful avoid
ance OF any distinct mention o
the Spanish tresty, the statistic,
of our trade with Mexico being mainl,
relied on by Mr. Morrill, TO support hi
point that there could he no real reel
prOoity with ma ions Of inferior popu
lation aud resources, and chat we CAV
up much more than wogained by sucl
treaties.
A few extracts from Mr. MORRILL,
speech will serve 10 give It's spirit:
"The president is the commander Il
chief OF the army and navy, but thi
gives him no authority TO invade tn
power of congress TO raise money /
support the army and navy.
The president, with the concur
renee of two-thirds of ia
but under cover of this authority II
constitutional treaty can be made /
regulate commerce with foreign nj
tions or TO initiate few revenue bill
any more than IL can establish un
form bankruptcy law or naturall2i
ton law. These together with tn
other powers which were special
conferred 10 congress, or
the house Of representative,
by the constitution, stap
as a flaming sword against all el
croaohmeDts of the executive and 10
ever limit and exclude the reach of 4
treaty-making power. The action
The house or even OF the congress
1883 cannot impair, abridge or tai
away the legislative authority of III
next or any succe' ding congress,
regulate commerce, nor OF the house
Representatives TO orielnate the reyen,
laws Nor can this leglslati,
authority be abdicated even by maxim
the executive the heir apparent,
Ut y an inside method by whie
thevastly important powerof the hou
OF representatives over all revenu
bills may with an ambitious exeeutl,
DO rendered absolutely and utter
valueless. We cannot afford to d
molish the accepted theory Of +
publican government by sauclionip
the Initiation 81 revenue bills by q
executive. We cannot afford
change the constitution by merely
new Interpretation without an
change in the fundamental law -
Taking up he subject OF the Mex
can treaty, Mr. Morrill, said uTi
MeNiesns live Ia a climate rtouIrlr
for the most part less ciothir
than Is sufficient for o,
olankeied indians. A reciprooli
treaty with q people OF that oharaet,
could not be made Tor Us even hy II
hero of A ppomattox -