The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-19
cuLI.oM AcorPrs TIE BILL.

MI. Cullom addressed the Senate. He
confessed some disappointment that the
committee ON privileges and elections had
deemed it necessary to report a bill Of such
great length. be had hoped that the pres
ent supervisor law might be amended With
out greet difficulty, and without adding
very many new sections to 1t. But, as the
committee had given the subject long and
patient study, he accepted the bill
as the best that could be framed to
meet the evils complained Of; with the under
standing that he should favor such amend~
ments as might be offered and might meet
his appreciation. There was no virtue, he
argreu. In the argument of the democratic
senator's that tine general government had
no right under tie constitution TO control
and manage the election Of representatives
TO congress IN the states.
RIGHTS OF THE GOVERNMENT.
Common sense and the constitution Of the
United States both declared taat the gen.
eral government had that right; and the
DUTY n as imposed upon l. by the constitu-
tlon and by the results of the war 90 pro-
tect the negro Of the south IN his right to
cast free ballot and to have fair count;
In his right to exercise without fear OF vio-
lence and undeterred by threats Of
any kind all the political rights OF
American citizens. The freedman's re-
pubhcanism was, Mr.. Cullom said,
the reason why in the thoughts of the
southern democrats he should lose mis- sufS
trRge. The unn9 was at hand when the
authority of the government must be inter-
posed IN behalf of the negroes at the south.
RIGHTS OF NEGRO VOTERS.
The state authorities would have to be
compelled to respect the rights OF the negro
voters. That oompulsiou would have to be
applied under legal authority. Congress
would have to enact laws under which all
elections for representatives i'll congress
should be conducted. The COVE nmenU
would have to assume control Ia the man.
agement Of all such elections. and to pro-
vide means for the protection Of its election
officers while in the discharge of
their duties. All the talk which the Sen
ate had heard about the character Of the
supervisors and deputy marshals had no
bearing on the question. It was the duty
of the government to see to it that honest
men were appointed to those positions. He
know full we'll that the passage of the bill
would give to the lawless elements at the
south an excuse for mob violence and re-
bellion against the national authority, but
he was sure that such results (hinted at
rather than expressed would not prevent
the bill being enacted into a law and being
approved.
Bates OPPOSITION.
Mr.. Bate, as lover of individual liberty,
opposed the Ulll. He opposed it because he
believed it to strike at the freedom Of the
ballot, and tended to breed 6isturba and
to destroy the peacesand quiet OF society.
It was usurper of the rights Of the states
and OF men. It was a promoter
of central power in the federal
government, at the expense of the
rights of the states, if not of their auton-
omy. II was sectional, and struck at the
south. He believed it to be the most prom
inent OF the many finger-boards on the
political highway that pointed to en-
pire. Such legislation in a republican gov
ernment was at all times dangerous and
vicious, and was especially SO at the pres
ent time.
TO AARRASS THE PEOPLE.
IF he might emrloy the language Of the
Declaration Of Independence against the
British king. he would say of the bill that it
proposed TO ''erect q multitude Of new
offices, and to send swarm f officers to
harass the people, Its enactment would
establish a system of espionage against
which the sanctity of the home would afford
no protection.
At APO o'clock, at the suggestion Of Mr..
German that Mr.. Bate would prefer not to
finish MS speech this evening. the election
bill was laid aside informally, and several
bills were taken up and passed. Among
them were the house bills for public build
ings at Rome, Ga. 1855, 600, ard Reidsville,
N. G. (S25, 600.
After short executive session the Senate