Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-25

step in the exercise Of the powers which
the law imposed upon him and IN the
exercise OF the high duty which the
Constitution imposes upon him OF taking
care that the laws are faithfully exc
cuted Here was law which he was
to execute when the contingency should
arise or on the existence OF particular
fact and when he was satisfied that the
fact existed, then il was made his duty
to take steps TO obtain redress 10 the
method which the statute pointed out.
so that we have now the case Of q period
OF nearly eighteen months during which.
as he states in his message, action has
been called for. / must suppose that
these important and urgent powers
which Congress unanimously put into
his hands TO be exercised as duty IN
case he found the facts TO exist which
were described in the statutes have
been suspended by Executive author
ity, by his prerogatiye, as | think
it is mentioned in some OF the minority
reports of the same committee as being
one of the prerogatives OF the Presl-
dents Just as an English king in some
old time would underdertske to suspend
al act OF Parliament-not 10 carry 1t into
effect. j must confess my astonlshment
at such course of action on the part
Of the President OF the United States
L must express my surprise and
my regret-not using the Ian
euage of the message) the regret
of partisan, but the regret OF citizen
that for more than year, with means In
his hands to redress it, he has failed to
take any steps, and now sends to MS
message asking that additional powers,
bearing las he supposes) on the broader
field of retaliation and covering other
topics, be given him, and ! must
suppose under the principle which
he has already acted upon that
till these powers are given to him he
will do nothing at oil.
Mr. Morgan took the floor in defence
of the President and of bis message, de-
claring that the Democratic party thought
more Of the President for the manly way
in which he had dared to Withstand the
assaults of the Senator from Vermont
and had pursued a policy which had
seemed the best to him in regard to his
public duties. He said that the Senator
from Vermont had chosen to remain away
from the Senate during the discussion OF
the fisheries treaty, though by his vote
he had compelled the Democratic
senators to discuss that treaty in
public. Had that Senator chosen
to take part in the discussion it was
possible that the tieaty might have been
amended SO as to obviate the necessity
on the part OF the President of sending
in this message. He argued that the ma
jority of the Senate, representing the mi
nority of the people, had III the reports
Of the Committee on Foreign Relations
and otherwise, held the threat of I'M
parchment over the President if he
should fail to exercise the functions of
his Office in compliance with the will Of
that majority. Hes then proceeded to
discuss the motives which led to the pass
age Of the retaliation act.
Mr.. Hale characterized the Presidents
message as a desperate expedient to re-
cover lost ground and a confession that
the attitude taken by him and his Admin
istration as to the treaty was an attitude
that had no accent or force in it.
MIR. Sherman confessed that the mes
sage Of the President gave him more
pleasure than he usually derived from
messages coming from that high authori-
ty. But he thought las MIR. Hale did
that it was a movement to supply lost
ground. If the President had based his
treaty on the principles laid down in his
message there would have been no diff
Guilty about the treaty, and it would have
been ratified by unanimous vote,
because the message did assert
the rights of American citizens.
The principal point made by the Presi-
dent had been whether the iwenty-ninth
article of the treaty had been abrogated
by the notice gwen in 1888, and by The
subsequent action of Congress. The
Presidents arguments on that point
appeared plausible but it, seemed that
the conference committee on the retaha-
ton bill had taken a different view. But
whether that article was abrogated or
not, the power of the President under
the existing law was ample and full.
The message of the President was the
signal that be was willing to stand with
the Senate in the position taken by it.
AIR. Sherman proceeded to speak OF
the discriminating tolls on the Canadian
canals, and said that they ought not to
be submitted 10. Reciprocal rights
ought to be insisted upon. The matter
of sending goods through Canada to
Portland was a matter OF importance
and beneficial to the people of both
countries, aud il conducted fairly and
properly there could be no complaint
about it.
The debate was closed by controversy
between Messrs. Beck aud Sherman
about the financial policy OF the present
Administration, and that for which Mr..
Sherman was responsible about the
sinking fund, tariff, trusts, and other
kindred subjects. Finally Mr.. George
took the floor, and the matter went over
without action.
The conference report on the bill for
the construction of an appraisers, ware
house in New York was made and agreed
TO.
The Senate then, at $40, adjourned
till Monday.
House OF Representatives.
In the absence Of the Speaker Mr..
Crisp, of Georgia. presided over the
House this morning.
On motion OF MIR. Perkins, OF Kansas,
the Senate amendments were non-con-
Cured in to House bill for the allotment
OF lands in severalty to the United Peo-
ria and Miami Indians in the Indian
Territory.
On motion OF Mr.. Hooker, OF Missis-
sippi, the Senate joint resolution appro-
priating $780, 900 to suppress infection
in the interstate commerce OF the United
States was referred TO the Committee on
Appropriations with leave to report at
any time. =,
Mr.. Dibble, of South Carolina, subj
mitted the conference report on the bill
for the erection of an appraiser ware
house in New York.
As agreed on the bill provides for the
purchase OF a site at the limit OF
$3.50, 900 and the erection of building
at a cost not exceeding $3.50, 600. The
Secretary of the Treasury is given dis
erection to purchase site large enough
to embrace the custom-house building as