The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-01-01
TaE HIsToL IN POLITICS.
The Recent Murder In MIsslssip ippi

Discussed by Senators.
WASHINGTON. December 3f.-The consid-
Grafton of the elections bill was resumed in
the Senate today. Mr.. George spoke in op-
position. His attention was called by Mr..
Hawley to the Characterization by Mississip-
pi paprrs of the suffrage clause in the new
constitution of Mississippi, as being fraud
and subterfuge. Mr.. George referred these
statements to the 'license of the press" and
to the fact that the papers opposed to that
clause, had, of course, criticized 1t with
harshness. He was prepared to defend that
clause upon legal grounds and precedentS
furnished by Connecticut, Vermont, Wyo-
ming and Idaho. After speaking four and
aud would like to stop,and have the privilege
of finishing his speech when the Senate meets
again. No objection came from the Repub-
llcan side of the chamber.
Mr.. Hawley made an explanation of some
points made by Mr.. George in connection
with the laws and political practices of Con-
necticut. Commenting upon the fact that
but little had been said by Mr.. George as to
the Mississippi constitution, Mr.. Hawley
said that the constitution contained patent,
open, acknowledged and defiant device for
d;sfranchsing the colored citizens OF Missis-
sippi The Senator Mr.. George] could not
Justify 1t. He could not answer the papers
of his own state that condemned 1t. The
pending bill was intended to remedy such
case as that. Perhaps it could notdo SO, but
that clause of the Mississippi constitution
was one of the most tremendous arguments
In favor of the bill. 1t seemed to have been
brought in by Providence, right In the very
crisis of the controversy. 1t was not week,
Mr.. Hawley said, since young man was
shot down in the Senator's INF. George'sl
town in cold blood. because he was Repub-
lican. He would like to see whether the
murderer would be punished.
Mr.. Teller asked Mr.. Hawley whether he
thought the peudng bill touched the case OF
the Mississippi constitution.
MIR, Hawley said he did not know whether
it did or not, but doubted If it did
Mr.. Teller said that If anybody could show
him that the bill would touch such a case as
that, it would go long way toward Inducing
him to vote for 1t, but he was bound to say,
as a LAWYER, that it could not touch the case.
The matter was clearly beyond the control
of Congress, simply because the government
was not instituted on principle tnat would
reach all defects and all ends. There were
wrongs beyond redress by the national
government.
Mr.. George took up Mr.. Hawley's allusion
to the shooting of young Mathews at Car
rollton, Miss, which he spoke OF as most
deplorable occurrence. de asserted MS De-
lief, from letters he had received, reinforced
by telegram published in the New York
Sun that not the slightest ground existed for
supposing the unfortunate encounter had
ANYTHING to do with politics. 1t was the
elimination of personal quarrel.
The letter telegram having been read
nv the clerk. Mr.. Hoar said the account of
the transaction as received and believed by
the relatives of the murdered man was very
different from that contained in the letter
and kilograms.
Mr. Higgins recalled the assertion made by
his colleague, [Mr. Gray]. a week or two ago,
to the effect that certain remarks of his Mr..
higgins'sl on the subject of the election
laws ano their administration in Delaware
were "without any foundation of truth"
He did not propose, he said, to initiate his
colleagues language which In days gone by
would have led to physical consequences not
now tolerated. He was content to leave the
matter with the eCple of Delaware.
Mr.. Gray disclaimed the intention of max
ing auy personal reflection on his colleague.
Mr. Higgins was happy to receive the re-
traction.
The Senate adjourned.