The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-04-01
WASHINGTON.
PASSAGE OF THE EDMUNDS
RESOLUTIONS-RAD1-
CAL THREATS.
SPEECH OF CULBERSON, OF TEN
AS, IN THE HOUSE, on THE
SILVER QUESTION.
senate.

WAsuINGToS, March 27.-During the debate IL
the senate last night on the celebrated Edmund'
resolutions, by vote Of 32 to ~ and Just prior u
the adoption Of the second and thlrd resolutions
denonncing the refusal the of attorney general Ia
furnish the senate papers when called for, ~ "a
violation Of his official duties, Senator Morgan
of Alabama, arose amidst the hscus.lon anu ~
b. desired to ask the senator from Vermont ed
munds) a question touching the resolution OF cen
sure. 49,,
Morgan ~ in fer that he holds that the senate has
the right 10 imprisOn the Announcement for re-
fusing to answer the demand made on him In TINS
resolution lie therefore desired TO inquire ui Mr.
Edmunds whether that Inference was correct
Mr.. EdInunds who had risen from his seat
during Mr.. Morgan inquiry, was, for moment
the exposure of all eyes, both from the moor OF
the senate and the crowded galleries. Panslng
moment rs IL rejecting, the distinguished senator
replied he was hound TO say that from the prog
rpss Of e siitntiOna libery and Law, that II any
officer Of the United States except the president
about whom he would 20 into no discussion now!
was lawfully bound to answer the demand OF
either house Of congress, and that If he failed, ne
could be punished for contempt
Having said this much, Mr.. Edmunds paused.
WheIeupOn, Mr.. Morgan, looking directly at
Mr.. Edmunds, said: "Ihe senator has stated In
his resolution that the attorney general Is lawfully
bound 10 obey this OrderY
Most undoubtedly grayely replied Mr. Ed
"Then," continued Mr. Morgan, Fl" Mr. Edmunds
meant to say that the senate had right to call the
attorney general before IL on this issue and I'M
prison him for contempt II he did not produce the
papers. That was declaration that the senate was
now prepared to assert, though 1t had previously
been carefully concealed
After further discussion on points of order the
second resolution was adopted by strict party
vote Of 81 To ~, same az the first resolution.
The third resolution, declaring 1t to be the duty
OF no senate % refuse to advise and consent In the
ease OF the refusal by the heads OF departments 10
furnish information called for was adopted by
vote Of 30 to 90
Thus the issue between the administration and
the senate is sharply defined.
After the adoption Of the resolution Mr. Morgan
offered resolution declaring that nothing in the
resolutions already adopted was to be construed as
declaring that the conduct of the attorney general
rendered him liable to Impeachment, and that the
senate disclaimed the right power 10 punish
him by Imprisonment or otherwise by impeach-
ment for the offense charged against him in the
Mr. Edmunds thereupon moved that Mr. Nor.
gau resolution be laid on the table, and the senate
tabled the same by a vote Of 30 yeas TO % nays.
HOUSE.
The debate on the silver question was opened by |
Mr.. CulbersOn, of Texas He said he WAS the |
friend OF silver, and in faver Of placing II on the
same plane with gold II was necessary to provide |
some further legislation in order to break M the |
practice In the treasury department of repudiating
silver dollars and cause their application to the
payment Of the public debt principal and interest
When the people declared that the financial policy
If the republican party should be enforced, their |
mandate was respected and Obeyed, hut when the
people revoted against the oppressive eNactiOns
and extor; ions of that financial policy, and declared
hat the financial policy OF the democratic party
should be enforced, II seemed their mandate fell
tili.born and they were deprived Of the fruits of
heir great victory by the exercise of official DIS
'retiOn, and the interests Of all the people were
acrinced GU the altar Of gold Unfortunately for
he people there WAS no law that required the sec
etary Of the treasury 10 pay surplus money ON the
'ublic debt, but left discretionary power in this
TI "a hat ntli nd
ad shown that discretion had been exercised
o defeat the will Of the people, II
hOuld he withdrawn at once. lie would make the
oirage of eilyer free, and he would pass a Law com
ceiling the treasury department to pay the surplus
N the public debt
Mr. Long, of Massachusetts, said the simple com
non sense thing to do was to call halt Ne had
4 abundaT CO OF silver, n ore than the efforts of
he administration could force into circulation.
live silver coinage present or prospective rest In
he interest of bmetalism in the interest of silver
lself IL was time to cast AN anchor and take
suspend or, at least, fix time for
he suspension of silver coinage, and then To see II
ONE international arrangement with other great
nations could not be made. In con
fusion, Mr.. Long said
~ appeal to the victorious majority of this house
ushed with success, and now entering on the full
Of the government. IL this the
emocratic standard this the first act OF he democ-
acy now gaining full national control, that II
trkes its first blow at public and private credit
hat II refuses to sustain its own executive In keep
NJ the financial flag at the mast head: and II an
ounces to the world that democratic supremacy
nd leadership are only another name for impaired
redit, for hat-mast financial standards, and for
transferring the republic from its financial rank
mong tho nations OF the world:'
MIR. DOrgan, of South Carolina, made q plea for
he establishment Of the single gold standard, and
dvocated the suspension of coinage under the
Gland act, declaring that the sU-called debtpaying
ollar was in reality a debtscaling dOllar-nOth-
ng but eighty-hve cents worth of bullion with a
asehood stamped upon II. 81 repudiate, said
ir. DOrgan, "the suggestion that II Is for the in
crest of the south to unite with the west against
he east and the north In enacting such laws as
viii enable to pay the national debt in deprecia
I'd dollars. | deny that 1t il for the interest Of
he south, for any other section, that this great
ation should evade, directly or indirectly, In
Whole or in part, the payment of all of its just
ebts according 10 the spirit IA well Us according
0 the letter of Its contracts At Ia crisis like the
resent il IL well 10 remember the often.quoted
nd familiar but profoundly true and wise re-
mark of Edmund Burke, that justice il itself the
reat standing policy of civilized society. Any
eparture from It, under any circumsti 'es, lays
under suspicion of being no policy at all
Mr. Ialsell, of Kentucky, said that the people
ad spoken in no uncertain voice against the
t0ppage of silver coinage, and the question was
ihether congress, their servants, should heed
heir voice or legisate In the interest of those
Tho were seeking tn enrich themselves at the eX-
ense of the working classes. The stopping of
liver coinage meant the stagnatiOn of trade, a
aralyZing of labor and an infliction of all the
wills which must arise from the stopping Of the
Industries of the country.
Mr. j NJ Taylor of Tennessee briefly favored
rec coinage.
Then the house adjourned.