Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-05

opinion that III the senate nad Dsen acuhb
under a system OF rules by which dis
cussion could be limited within the bounds
OF propriety and public necessity the tariff
bin now pending In the Senate would
have been written In the statute BOOKS
OF the country two months ago.
And while the failure to respond TO the
demands OF the people In the respects
named are made the grounds OF criticism
of the whole Senate. ] would be unjust
TO n large minority OF my own party.
and especially 10 the two honorable gen
tlemen who represent my own state In
that body, did not here affirm the fact.
OF which / have been personally cogni-
zent. that they have stood day by day
ready TO respond to the demands OF the
people ard 10 change the rules Of the
Senate by which tho will OF the people
might be enacted into law.
a COLLOQUY.
II IL n matter OF very deep regret to me
20 learn from his remarks that the gen
tleman from Maine (Mr. Reed cannot
give his consent TO this resolution. and
thai my friend from Ohio (Mr Northway)
and my friend from Illinois CMr. Marsh)
must withhold their support from thi1
resolution because OF the incorporation
into It OF certain provision. What is It?
Mr.. Marsh: Do you ask me?
Mr.. Tucker: No. G,aughter)
Mr.. Marsh: / will answer If you will
give me chance.
Mr.. Tucker: No: cannot yield. have
only fifteen minutes Why. the gentle
man from Maine objects TO this resolu-
ton because we incorporate in 1t the
power OF the people OF the States 10 elect
their own senators without Federal In
reference.
Mr.. Marsh: VIII the gentleman allow
me?
Mr.. Tucker: No: excuse me. What OBJ
lection is there TO that?
Mr.. Marsh: / wish to ask him, Mr..
SDeaker--
The Speaker pro tempore: The gentle
man should first address the Chair when
he desires TO interrupt a gentleman.
Mr.. Marsh: ] did address the Chair.
Mr. Tucker: Mr.. Speaker. section OF
Article l OF the Constitution. as they
claim, gives the power 70 Congress to SUI
pervisc the election Of senators. Does any
gentleman on that side OF the House claim
that up to this time, in the last hundred
years the power existed in the Federal
Government under this clause OF the Con-
stitutlon to send its supervisors into the
Legislature of State TO supervise an
election there, 10 challenge the vote or a
member of the Legislature for senator,
or to send deputy m1rSnalS INTO tndl DOuy
TO control the election?
You claim under this clause that Uere
is some power to supervise the election
of senator's: does any gentleman claim
that Il goes TO the extent of sending SUI
pervisors and deputy marshals into the
LEGISLATURE to control Il, as was proposed
under the force bill TO send them TO SUI
pervise the election of members Of the
House? You are as dumb as oysters; ana
| charge that you dare not say that such
power which you claim has existed Tor
a hundred years has ever been exercised
or that It ever could be exercised consti-
tutlonally.
MIR. Marsh: VIII the gentleman allow
ne?
Mr.. Tucker: Pardon me; have only
fifteen minutes.
Mr.. Marsh The gentleman has charged
this side with being dumb. QAughtcr)
Mr.. Tucker: will except the gentle
man from the charge. Uaughter) what
is the result OF leaving this matter as II
is in this resolution. denying Federal in
reference? 1t is simply this: If we adopt
this amendment Federal interference in
senatorial elections will remain exactly
as the government has exercised 1t for Il
hundred yearS-for 1t has never exercised
il at all.
Mr.. Reed: Why not repeal It?
Mr. Tucker: That is exactly what we
want to do by this provision. so that 1t
can never be exercised
Mr.. Reed: Hear! Heart
Mr. Tucker: But ] had hoped that L
would have no controversy with the gen.
tleman on this question.
Mr.. Northway: VIII the gentleman yield
to me moment?
Mr.. Tucker continuing, addressing Mr..
81 hoe .IlN+a
such facility in changing his opinion on
the money question that / really thought
he might be able. In spite of his previous
record, to come over TO us on this ques-
ticn daughter and applause on tho
Democratic side)
Mr.. Northway: You say that Congress-
has never exercised any such authority.
The gentleman surely knows that under
the act passed July % 1SG6--
Mr. Tucker: But that was as to the
time of election.
Mr.. Northway: It was made obligatory
on the legislatures every day at noon to
vote.
Mr.. Tucker: That IS right The point
make is not as TO the time, but as to
the supervision of elections, and that
never has been exercised, and never will
be as long as the Democratic party Is in
power
Now, Mr.. Speaker, my friend from Ne
traska (Mr Bryan objects TO this ,orn
OF the resolution because he thinks 1t
will not be as strong with this provision
in it. II is strong because 1t is right
and | beg 10 remind our party friends or
a principle that cannot be applied to the
other side, nulla vestigia retrorSim.
There Is no step backward in this thing.
a member: Translate that for US.
lands letter. read Yesterday?
Mr. Tucker. There was certainly no
step backward in that letter (Applause)
AS Democrats we are not TO be deferred
from voting for measure that the whole
country is crying for because Demo-
cratic provision denying Federal inter-
ference is incorporated In II.
Mr.. Milliken: Where is the evidence OF
those cries?
GEORGE MASON.
Mr.. Tucker: The facts about the matter
are simply these-Suppose that under Sec
ton 4, Article |. the other side could
claim that the Federal Government can
interfere in the election of a senator the
fact remains that they have never dared
to do so. by the Incorporation of this
clause into the resolution eliminating the
power of Congress TO interfere in the
election we are simply enacting into law
what the experience of a hundred years
justihes.
Now, I desire to read very briefly a
paragraph from the prophetic voice or
one of the greatest men who ever lived IN
Virginia George Mason), as showing the
necessity for a change in the mode of
election of senators. In the Federal con-
yention he said:
Is 1t not probable that these gentle
elected
fix themselves in the Federal town ana
become citizens of that town more than
OF our State? They will purchase a good
seat in or near the town and become in
habitants of that place VIII IL not be
then in the power OF the Senate to worry
the House of Representatives into any
thing? They will be "A continually exist
ing body. They will exercise those ma
chinations and contrivanCes-
Think OF such words being used about
the Observation-Disclosures and contri-