New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-27

statutes which it was proposed to repeal were I'M
constitutional and that Congress had no right to
confer the power it had conferred upon supervisors
Of election. The right of suffrage was right pre-
served to the States and granted specihcaily IN
the Constitution. What right. he asked, was worth
having that was put into the hands OF ahother
power? He held that the elective function ana the
determining function must go hand-in-hand.
CONTESTS DECIDED BY THE FEDERAL POWER
Mr.. Millken Nsep., Me) asked several questions
on this point and suggested that the gentleman
from Virginia might be elected from his state as
representative Of his district, but II his right 10
his seat was challenged the case would be passed
upon by a Federal power.
Mr.. Tucker replied that that was provided Tor IN
the Constitution and he hoped the gentleman would
stand by the Constitution.
Mr. Mlliken-I have always done that. and so
have my ancestors
Mr. Tucker-Then you are right.
Mr. Tucker continued with his constitutional argu-
nent against the law, and declared that If the
original right of suffrage in the State the
Federal Government had no right to come in and
claim the power of counting and canvassing the
vote.
In reply to a question by Mr.. Henderson Rep,
I'D as to whether there not a necessity for
Federal supervisors at the polls Mr. Tucker said
that he was not discussing the question of necessity
he was discussing the question of power The prop
ositions contained in the law were propositions
which should not be allowed to live untli the Ioth
of October.
Mr.. Ray (Rep ~ " and Mr. Tucker at this
point got into a constitutional controversy as to
the rights of the States, Mr. Ray contending that
the United States ought to have the right to super
wise elections in which the interests of the whole
country were involved, and Mr.. Tucker holding the
contrary.
MR. DAVENPORT AND THE DUKE OF ALVA.
Then Mr. Tucker paid his respects to John I.
cicod his
atrocities of the Duke of Alva he said did not
exceed the atrocities of this man. The day had
come land was) when Congress must respond
cry of the people and strike from the statute
books these obnoxious laws
Mr. Ray rose TO defend Davenport. and referred
to S. s. Coxs report euogistc of him.
Mr.. Tucker inquired whether. If the gentleman
believed that in 1877 Davenport was an angel of
light, he could reconcile that character with the
character he had now, except under the principle
that the laws poor that they should be
erased from the statute books. Either Davenport
should be abolished a corrupt man. or the laws
were 50 corrupt that they should be repealed They
should be repealed They were evidence OF
past in history
Mr. Brosius Gaep.. PENN congratulated the
gentleman from Virginia on his able speech; and he
desired to emulate his example in particular.
He would be glad to discuss the from
nol-partisan point of view. He believed that under
meath the fretting stream of our politics there was
a patriotism, and to that patriotism he appealed
to-day. He then spoke against the proposed re-
peal He laid down the propositions that the
Federal Constitution not the creature Of the
States but was created by the people; that the
power and authority conferred upon the Govern
ment operative in all States and over all
the people; thai the Nation clothed with
ample power to enforce the Constitution.
BASE AND HUMILATlNG SURRENDER.
MIR. Brosus contended that the repeal Of the
the country unprotected naked and exposed. unless
the power of the States mercifully interviewed.
Never before had there been proposed a surrender
base. humiatng-never since when the
heresy of State rights tried in battle. Let
the majority compass, if it pleased, the subser
vience of the United States. and abdicate the
power of the Nation to the various States. The
Government should not surrender its right 10 con-
troll its own affairs
Mr. Talbert Dem, S. c.. speaking in regard to
illusions to discrimination against the negro race
in the South, inquired as to how many negroes had
been elected to office in Pennsylvania.
Mr. Brosius replied that it would be impossible
for any man to undertake to enumerate the men Of
black skin who had been honored in Pennsylvania.
Mr. Compton Dem. Md said that the gentleman
contended that the Federal Election laws should be
maintained. Would the gentleman tell the House
why the fathers of the Republic had seen fit
enforce the provision granting TO the Govern
ment the right to supervise elections?
Mr.. Brosius replied that it gave him profound sat
isfaction to answer his friends question. This
power conferred in the Constitution had not been
called into requsition in the history OF the coun
try before the War becal Sc villany and wrong
were progressive. and the fathers and their grand
sires had never conceived of the means which have
since been conceived to deprive certain citizens OF
their rights.
Mr. Compton responded with the remark that
the why the constitutional authority had
not been invoked that it had never entered into
the conception Of any party, except the Republican
party, that this Government could act the part OF
tyrant the free American citizen. Gppause.)
Mr.. Brosius-What you have said only shows that
your arrows not feathered with the wings OF
knowledge. Uaughter)
TIE bill then went over for the present.
Mr.. Lapham Dem, r. L.. from the Committee
on Military Affairs. reported a resolution calling
the authority by which United States troops were
permitted 10 shoot down settlers on the Cherokee
Strip
Mr.. Flynn Osep. OK spoke for the resolution
and had several newspaper paragraphs read de-
scriptve of the situation in the newly opened ter
ritory He denounced the action of the War and
Interior departments In the premises but without |
action on the resolution the House lacking quo
rum. at $40 adjourned