The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-02-01
AT WASHINGTON.
A LIVELY DEBATE In TEE UNITED
STATES SENATE.
The Mississippi Senator Euiogizes Jefferson
Davis, and ProyOkes "A Bitter Eepiy.
The Aberdeen Outrage Again
Discussed.

WASHINGTON, January 2S.-The Senate
at two O'Clock, resumed the consideration
of MIR. Chambers resolution IL relation
to the maltreatment at Aberdeen, Miss,
of Henry J. FAM and MIR. George made
an argument against it. declaring his be
lief that the adoption of the resolution
would be serious infraction of the Con-
stitution, and a very serious encrr ach
ment on the rights of the people of Mis-
sissippi.
Mr. George went on to saw that not only
did he condemn the banging in ettigy Of
any respectable officer of the United
States under any circumstances or under
any provocation, but that, III the case of
Secretary Proctor, there was no provOca
ton for the insult. He had never heard
from any other Democrat any other com
ment on the conduct Of Secretary Proctor
(for which that indignIty had been at
tempted to be inflicted upon him) except
that he had performed painful and deli
cate duty with consideration to the feel
ipgs Che preiudices eveu) of the people
of the South The pending proposition
he described as annex or adjunct OF the
original offense-another violation of the
law of Mississippi. The only end 20 be
obtained was to blacken the name and
reputation of a state whose sons had
honored and served the country. Among
the distinguished sons of Mississippi Mr..
George referred to Jefferson Davis as a
man who had never betrayed his trust,
or failed in the discharge OF his full duty,
whether he served the Uui'ed Safes or
the Confederacy.
He claimed, 10 conclusion, that he had
shown that the pending proposition was
without any warrant in the Constitution
which senators had sworn TO support.
There was no need of it. If senators
were anxious to uncover the nakedness
of his mother. Mississippi, it had already
been uncovered. Why, then, pass the
resolution, except TO show that where
the interests and rights and honor and
good name of the people of the South
were involved, the Constitution was
| nothing but rope Of sand? If the Sen
ate was to 60 on this crusade against the
white people of Mississippi for an alleged
violation of law and of the Constitution,
would it not be well for the Senate to set
an example to that despairing people of
an observance of the Constitution.
Mr.. Spooner said that he intended to
vote for the resolution, and that he had
hereafter for violating his oath to the
Constitution. He expected to be forgiv
en- for it by the Creator. il not by the
Senator from Mississippi. Laughter ]
So far as the resolution appeared on its
face, it was not an assumption by the
Senate to deal with crimes, isolated or
general, in the state of Mississippi. Ii
did not involve the contention that the
United States government, by any exist
ing law, or by any law that could be
constitutionally passed, could punish a
man in its courts for an assault and bat
terry committed in the state OF Mississippi
Still, he was not ready to admit that
there might not be circumstances under
which Jurisdiction might be conferred by
Congress on courts of the Unlted Safes
to secure a citizen of the United States
in his constitutional rights OF life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness, which the
states denied him by force and by fraud.