The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-20

ment But the Southern Democratic votes had
been given to the first bill-introduced by him in
Congress in 1872 or Whereabouts. He had
listened with admiration to the eloquent re-
marks of the Senator from Kansas Mr. Ingallsl,
bat that Senator erred in supposing this to be
question of North and South. The present bill
proceeded upon tho ground that in republic In
which every citizen has equal share In the
government, in which the vote OF the planta-
lion negro equaled the vote of the merchant
prince, education was indispensable TO the con-
tinued existence of liberty 1t was because the
society of the South was our society," the interest
of the South our interest; 1t was because In the
sublime trial that ended IN 1860 1t was deter
mined that hereafter and forever this was to be
nation, and not an aggregation OF warning ana
conflicting communities held together by a fee
bic band, that we had a right to demand that
the national resources should be poured out to
their fullest extent to secure to every American
citizen the intelligence that was necessary III
each for the common benefit of all. MIR. Hoar
cited figures to show that under Mr. Ingals's
theory Mississippi would get fifteen times as
much money from the bill AS would Massachu-
sets. while by the bill as it stood it would get
only four times as much.
Mr. ingalls, Nothing lies like figures
Laughter
Mr. Hoar-Sometimes people lie under mis-
apprehension from not having read the hgures
before making speeches. lhenewed laugh
ter The suppression of an honest vote was one
Df the worst crimes; but whatever may have
been the faults of those people, Mr.. Hoar said,
they could not be justly charged with seeking oy
false pretenses" to get money from the Treas
ury under this bill, or with having uttered in
The ear of the Nation any pusillanimous ideas.
This was Northern idea, and was based on the
principle that the eye cannot say to the hand.
II have no need OF thee"
Mr. Wilson, Of Maryland, opposed the bill.
He characterized it as the boldest attempt by
Congress to dictate to and command the States
in the matter of their education 1t was of no
use to argue, rs some Of the Senators had argued.
that Congress was not by this bill establishing
schools in the States. 1t was the entering
wedge for congressional control OF the school
systems of the States. If Congress could apply
money to the public schools of State, why not
to the public roads of Statei Congress had
nothing whatever to do with either. Ii Congress
has power to aid State schools, it had the power
to support them altogether and the leaning of
the people of the States on the arm OF the
national Congress for school aid would end In
grand nationa! scheme Of education, with head
quarters at Washington. There was no greater
menace to the liberties of the States.
Mr.. Harris said if the question were free
from constitutional objection he would still OPP
pose it. for the reason that the money to be ap-
propriated for this purpose, whether taken from
the treasures Of the several States or from the
federal Treasury, was drawn by taxation from
the pockets of the people OF the several States
and Territories. He would never consent to see
the strong hand of federal power exerted IN
State for the purpose of controlling or interior
ing with its domestic affairs Each State was
the best Judge of its own educational interests.
The debate on the educational bill was then
closed for tho day.
Mr. Edmunds, from the committee on the
judiciary reported favorabiy bills to remove the
political disabilities OF Alexander p. Stewart, of
Mississippi; Thomas l.. Rosser. of Virginia, and
r. G. Butler, of Missouri. The bills were at
once passed. Mr.. Edmunds remarkng that one
of the parties was an aged gentleman, and de-
sired, before leaving this world, to be at peace
with the United States
Mr. Beck said he did not know of any smaller
business for the judiciary committee than to be
pe6dling out removals of disabilities in this way.
Mr. Edmunds replied that all that the United
: States asked Of any person, before relieving him
of the penalty imposed on him by the Constitu-
ton for violating his oath and DESERVING the Con-
stitution that he had sworn to support. and max
ing war against the United States, was that he
should present a respectful petition showing that
he was ready to give up fighting the United
States and TO pay the debts he owed for honors
received in his official character. If the Senator
from Kentucky thought that to De "peddling
OUT the removals referred to- he was entitled to
his opinion
Mr.. Beck replied that twelve year ago the
House of Representatives had passed bill re-
moving all disabilities; and before that time the
Senate had done so. 1t did not happen that both
houses had done it at the same session. He in
sisted upon characterizing the present mode as
'peddling out" and supposed that in the present
expected.
After an executive session the Senate ad
journed until Tuesday next.