The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-09-27

WASHINGTON, D. O., Sept. 2e-Tht
galleries of the house were well filed
this morning in anticipation OF the
opening of debate on the bill to repeal
the federal election laws. There was q
particularly heavy attendance in the
long public gallery opposite the speak,
ers chair which is known US the "black
belt" The massing OF negroes in the
galleries indicated the great interest
they manifest in the result Of the pres
ent struggle The two weeks debate on
the Tucker bill was begun by Mr.. Tuck,
er, the author Of the bill, who opened
for the Democrats.
In a few words he explained the pro
vision Of the repeal bill. The first
proposition 10 which he invited atten-
ton was that the power and right of q
citizen to vote is not given by the
United States, but 10 reserved by the
constitution to the states. II the pow
ers and privileges and duties Of the
auperviaors and deputy marshals per-
nit them to perform acts not pre-
scribed and granted in the constitution,
then the law that creates them is un'
constitutional. States alone can make
conditions Of suffrage.
The United States, Mr.. Tucker went
on to say, had not conferred the right
of suffrage on anybody. Decisions Of
the courts sustaining this statement
we're read. That being the case, If the
United States could step in, challenge
votes, lay down conditions Of suffrage,
it involves the power Of the federal
government to destroy suffrage in the
states.
Mr.. Tucker then proceeded to pay
his respects to John /. Davenport,
whose atrocities, he said, were more
infamous than those Of the duke Of
AIoa.
'The repeal Of these laws" said Mr..
Tucker, in conclusion. will wipe away
statutes that have caused clashing be-
tween the federal government and the
states for thirty years.
II belong to a party that is not sec
tional. You" he added, addressing the
Republicans, shave lived on sectional.
ism. You have violated the pledges OF
your fathers, have overridden the con-
stitution, have denied the right Of
habeas corpus, and in Thousand ways
shown yourself unworthy OF public con.
fdence. Therefore, on November 6
last, you were oyerthrown, and we are
now to undo those things which you
did in the arrogance Of your power"
Prolonged Democratic applause
greeted the conclusion of Mr.. fuckers
speech and he was warmly congratul-
ated by his colleagues.
THE REPUBLICAN, SIDE.
Mr., johnson, Of North Dakota, who
was in charge of the debate for the Re.
publican side, presented the minority
report OF the committee as embodying
his views.
Mr.. Dolliyer, Of Iowa. was to have
replied to Mr.. Tucker, but alsudden i'll.
ness prevented and Mr.. Brosius, Of
Pennsylvania, was selected to take his
place.
There was ring Of the old war
echoes in his speech. He appealed, he
said, to patriotism, not partisanship.
Authority was obtained either by
force, lot, or consent. Consent is the
only manner in which authority Is &c.
quired under this government. Suf-
frage is mode OF expressing the con-
sent After the war conditions arose
that we're menace to the liberties of a
weak race, struggling with new born
rights and responsibilities. Those in
the south who had the power took and
held it against the weak. Under the
new regime we had to protect those
whom we had seen fight loyalty and
calamity for their freedom. To have
surrendered them naked and defense
less would have been a reproach TO the
national honor and have evoked the
deserved censure of the civilized world.
Mr.. Compton, Of Maryland, wanted
10 know why this doubtful power Of
political supervision had not been
evoked before the war. Because, re-
piled Mr. Broslus, the fathers never
conceived the foul means you would
use to dispossess citizens OF their rights
of suffrage LApplause on the Republic
can side
No one else being ready to proceed
with tho debate motion TO adjourn
was made, pending which delegate
Flynn's Oklahoma resolution calling for
information from the war department
regarding the actions Of militory when
the Cherokee strip was opened was re-
ported back to the house. Delegate
Flynn got the floor and had read
copious extracts from the newspapers
regarding the outrages Of the military
and many letters bearing upon the sub.
ject Among them was a letter from 9
Congregational preacher Of the name OF
DeLong, OF Arkansas City. Some OF
the newspaper extracts we're very
severe in criticism OF Secretary Hoke
Smith.
Mr.. Flynn said be proposed in the
near future to ask for the passage OF q
resolution to investigated this matter
from the time when the Cherokees
were allotted land down to the present
time. The point Of no quorum was
rBised and the house adjourned.