New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-16
DETAILS or THE DEBATE.

Washington, Jan. 15.-When the Election bill was
laid before the senate Mr. EvarS reopcned the debate
He did not hc said. OBJECT to the length of discussion
which had already been had The time spent in IL
had been u>cfully spent No more important debate.
in respect to pendiuG Interests had taken place
i'm the senate that which had occupied the attcn
lion of the senate and the country since the Isl II
December last. \ parliament. congress, was tlle
place primarily Of debate. II there that were TO oe
assembled I'm authentic representation. the opinions of
all portions Of the country There is was that face
| to face with such defamation, such clOp"ence ana
such logic might be used speeches were 10 he mafe
and answered and the legislation resolved. Especially
wa, this debate important afo.dn- Trustworthy
evidence OF the opinions ard feelings and purposes OF
the Democratic party bearing on The general sub
| iect Of the integrity and Durit. Of elections
| lie quoted the maxim that vi thing, in Heaven
and earth pay their homage 70 Iaw-tbe very least i,
feeling her care and the greatest not exempt from
her power" and assumed that no portion Of the senate
and no portion OF the country disposed 10 With
draw from that grand relation to law. Great was
the station OF the President Of the Tnitel safes, It
was because he the and the creature Of law
anh lie not exempt from the power OF hw-not
merely in the abstract. not merely In defamation, but
in the fact that the ncr from court of Justice
could take him into court 70. Ufracon Of tue COM
mon laws of the land. And should II be said
that in this Nation. there should BE- less
attention paid TO the other proposition Of
the maxim that the very least feeling her cars.'
pay their homage citizens 10 the law Of the land
Had it come to that. that only one branch Of that
all prevalent relation 10 Ohat the greatest
is not exempt from her power and that :" the east'
were ever be disregarded. and not to feel the
OF law
Coming directly TO the question OF the Election bill
Mr. Evarts said that it bad been introduced, referred
to the Committee Privileges and Elections aud
taken the course of all other bills. II II went any
further than thought (by its opponenis) TO DO
useful or necessary, it should have been resisted in
r ordinary way but no such course had been taken.
When the bill reported the senator from Alabama
NIr. PuglO had declared 10 be revolutionary and
uncon, ,ttutonal: that its execution would insure the
shedding OF blood and tile destruction 0f peace and
good order and that its passage would be resisted Dy
every parliamentary method and every method allowet
by the Constitution This quiet for the regu
laon OF elections Of Represent in Congress hae
been thus treated by the Democratic party ana the
subject had been thrown hcadlong into the arena oi
political agitation And there II had been kept $50
far as the Democratic party could keep iD from thai
day 10 this IL was thought that at the last election
II might have played important part in securns
this or that degree OF success and predoninance 10
the Democratic party and OF failure 10 the
Republican party. Whence. he asked, came Mr fushs
declaration of war against the Constitution against
the Fifteenth Amendment, against the legislation of
Congress and against the prevalence Of law through
its courts and Officers Whose blood 10 be shed.
and by whom blood TO be shed one authority
was accepted and given TO man for the general rule
proclaimed by divine authority Vengeance is mine;
Will repay7 But in the matter OF life OF man taken
by man. was solemnly accorded 10 man "Whosoever
shcddcth mans blood by shall his blood be she'd
And therefore, instead of quiet discussion OF the
method, and the meanings Of the clauses OF the bill,
the senate had been confronted with opposition by all
parliamentary methods DID that. he asked frehten
the people of the United States Did 1t rlghten sen
ator, on either side OF the alley Did frighten the
Republican party? No. The Constitution and the