The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-28
..HELD Up" BY ONE MAN.

Mr.. Morse Filibustered in the House-De.
bate on the Election Laws
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27.-All the vitality
was drawn out of the proceedings in the
House to-day by q weary three-hour hli-
buster lnauQurated by MIR. Morse. of Massa-
chusetts. because the House refused to al
low him to print In the Congressional Record
some editorial comments attacking Com
missioner OF Pensions Lochren. As diff
Guilty was experienced In securing a quo
rum Mr.. Morse succeeded in preventing the
passage of a resolution calling on Secretary
Carlisle for bis reasons for refusing to pur-
chase the amount of silver required by law
during July and August.
1t was $3.50 p. VI. when the federal election
debate was resumed. Only two speeches
were delivered to-day. one by Mr.. Lawson,
of Georgia. and the other by MIR. Daniels.
of New York. Both were confined largely
to the constitutional phases of the Ques-
tion and created neither excitement nor
particular interest. Mr. Lawson, the first
speaker. is q thick-set. sandy com plexioned
man. looking not unlike q country Judge.
HIS argument was from the standpoint OF
States rights. I'm my judgment" he be-
gan, 1.-The Democrats of the House present
one of the most sublime spectacles to he
Witnessed by free men. The successes OF
the Democratic party have been cOeval
with the best days OF the Repnb bile, and
now it Is found opposing these laws be-
cause they threaten the Liberties of the
people. The rhapsodies of Dir. Brosius yes-
terday on liberty were not effective because
they were in support of laws that strike at
the foundation of liberty.
THE theory of this government is that If
tho people are not able TO govern them
selves il Is IL failure. Other countries are
governed by kings this country by the
people," He went on TO draw very clearly
the limitations of the functions of the fed
eral and State governments, each supreme
within Its sphere. This, he claimed. in no
wise argued weakness in either. He pro-
ceeded exhaustively into the history OF the
adoption of the clause of the Constitution
under which the election laws were passed.
to show that the construction placed upon
is was warranted. Although the Su-
preme Court nas decided them to be consti-
tutiOnaI. the laws had been carried to the
highest tribunal. The will OF the people at
the ballot box and the decision or the
court had been reversed. The decision of
the people should be carried out by their
repeal, in order that the independence of
the States might not he crushed at some
future time by even more drastic laws.
Mr.. Mallory. of Florida. interrupted to
cite an illustration of the power assumed
under this clause of the Constitution in his
State. when two Democratic members of
the legislature were arrested under the
federal statute. and held until the Repub-
licans had time to organize the Legislature
and elect a United States Senator.
With reference to the lnexpediency of
the laws. Mr.. Lawson said that the only
excuse for them would be the default Of
States to send their quota of Representa-
tives and Senator's. Gradually MIR. Law
son drifted to the %outrages said TO have
been committed under the authority of
these laws. He reviewed ut length the
history of the Lot Wright incident at Gin
cinnati in 1854. when 1000 deputy marshals
armed with bulldog revolvers were en-
plOy cd TO keep peace at the polls.
Mr.. Daniels of New York. who followed
MIR. Lawson in opposition. argued that the
election laws were absolutely necessary to
obI ain honesty and security at Congress
sional and Presidential elections. For thirty
years they were acquiesced in. Not until
Mr.. Cleveland was nominated at Chicago
was there any movement TO repeal them.
Mr.. Daniel defended the course of John |.
Davenport. hut declared that if he had
abused his otfic 9 it conld not be adduced
as an argument for the repeal OF all federal
election laws. At the conclusion of Mr..
Danielss speech the House. at 5:45. sd.
iournsd.