Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-01-16
NATIONS CAPITAL.
Senator ETirts Reopens De
bate On Elections Bill,
Ind Holds His on With llqlisidIe
Democratic Seniors

Ind Holds His 0n With hqlisitiYe
Democratic Seniors
House Refers ea,vss Bill to Committee
on Coinage.
WAsHMsrox, Jan. l5-In the Senate
Dawes reported the resolution referred to
the committee on contingent expenses, d.
reciiDe an irquisy into the condition OF the
Indians of North and South Dakota, Mon
tana ard elsewhere; the causes leading to
the occupation Of the Indian reservations
| BY troops; whether the treaties With the
Indians had been fulfilled; concerning the
arms and munitions Of var In possession
OF the Indians, and What steps are needed
to disarm them; and whether the care and
control of Indians living in tribal relations
should be transferred to any other depart
ment Of the government.
Morgan offered q preamble and con-
current resolution on the subject of the re-
cent information or suggestion for writ of
prohibition in the Supreme Court in the
Bshring Sea dispute was without precedent,
and prejudicial to the comfy Of nations
and to the usual and amicable conduct of
International relations. and not in conson-
ance with the government ard people, OK
with the respect due to the President Of the
United States. Referred to the Committee
on Foreign Relations.
At the elections bill was laid before the
Senate. Evsrts reopened the debate. He
said that when the bill was reported the
senator from Alabama (Pugh) declared It
revolutionary and unconstitutional; that its
execution would insure the shedding of
blood and the destruction Of peace and good
order; that its passage would be
resisted by every parliamentary method and
every method allowed by the constitution.
This quiet measure for the regulations Of
elections for representatives to Congress
has been thus treated by the democr atic
party. and the subject thrown headIong
into the arena of political agitation. And
there had been kept (as far as the demo-
cratic party could keep it) from that day
to this, instead Of quiet discussion Of the
methods and meanings Of the clauses of the
bill, the Senate was confronted with oppo-
sition by all parliamentary methods,
however far they are to be car
ried. The constitution and laws in
pursuance of 1t would be, sooner
or later, maintained, and there could be no
middle ground between obedience and re-
sistance to the law. One or the other
would have to 60 to the wall. Evarts pro-
ceeded to discuss what be termed a. the
''Mis sissippi method" planned to prevent
the free exercise of suffrage which, he said,
had been adopted in the Gulf States. He
declared in that predicanent those States
were non suffrage States. The laws of
those States were silent before some power
or other that paralized their execu ion.
| Freedom suffrage w0 th~arted aud con-
trolled BY some methods not according to
law either Of the States or United States
Evarts bad read an extract from the speech
made by Judge J. B. Crisman in the Mis-
sissippi constitutional convention last Sep.
tember, denounciDg the election methods
| carried on in that State. The new consti.
tu'ion of Mississippi. he understood, pro-
vided the election for the lower branch of
the legislature and should be held only
once in four years. thus accustomipg the
voters to the di'use of outrage.
Morsan asked whether the republican
party hsd not abolished the suffrage, both
Of blacks and whites. in the Distric. of CO.
lumbis, to prevent the destruction of prop
erty interests 10 the District.
Evarts declined to discuss the subject
He was discussing the Mississippi plan.
But the two cases are parallel, said Nor
gan.
That may be, was Evarts' reply, but |
am not discussing parallel constitutions.
Walthall asked whe,her there was any
thing in the clause of the Mississippi con
s'itution referred to that was uuconstitu
tional with the constitution Of the United
States.
have no. said that there was, wa, the
reply.
But ask whether there is, Walthall per-
sisted.
| am only stating that it attacks the
suffrage of the whites, said Evarts.
But would like to ssk the Senator, said
Walrhali, whether he denies to the people
of Mississippi the right de they have power
under consideration of the United States)
to protect themselves in that mode agains.
negro rule.
Evarts did not reply directly, but went
on to speak of arbitrary appointment in
Mississippi.
Walthsll-Hsve you no arbitrary sp-
porti1nment in New York?
Evarts-I do not know. Do not think
we have.
Walthall-Are you familiar with the ap-
portioDment Of Connecticut?
Evarts-I am.
walthall-Is not the apportionment there
more arbitrary than Mississippi?
Evarts-It is not arbitrary as between
dffsren. sections of the State. It is uni
form throughout the State, whatever it is.
Notwithstanding Mississippi has the
power, would the senator prevent it's peo-
pie from protecting themselves against
negro rule by the mode adoped in the con-
sti.utiou:
Eyar,s-I have 10. said one word on the
subject Of those changes in your constitu-
tion and these fermentations in your COM
munity. as connected with the constitution
Of the United States. have talked on the
destruction Of your own institutions.
Wslthall-Does the senator think that
under this bill or under any other bill the
condition of things of which he complains
can be remedied.
Evarts-Only by good example.
Wal,hall-Then I understand the senator
to say that under this bill and under no
other bill
did not say another bill, Eyarts inter
posed.
Can this bill do it2 walthall asked.
A<ASePt cy 9oou eAempfes ENhIts pcAtcu,
and added with emphasis, And that you
dread.
Then the senator's argument is intended,
l suppose, to be . lecture, said Walthall.
Evarts contrasted the number of votes
for representatives in Congress in New
York and the New Fneland States with the
votes in the gulf States, where. be said,
there was notAins but dessica'ed suffrage
without life or circulation. He had heard
is said that time was propitious and that
time healed. But the time for every Sen
ator vas the time when he had authority in
matter and the time for every party was
when it had authority.
Pease obtained the floor and the bill was
laid aside informally.
After short executive session the Sen.
ate adjourned.
Ia the House.
After the approval Of yesterday . journal
the House proceeded to the consideration
Of the conference report on public build
ings. The conference report on the St
Albsns. VT, public library caused = con-
troversy.
Savers of Texas made . point that thi,