The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-12-25
Solid Senate.
The House Venezuelan Com
mission Bill Unanimously
Adopted.

ceedings in the senate to-day were open
ed with prayer by its blind chaplain,
invoking the Christmas Influence of
|sspeace on earth and good will to men,"
and asking that the TWO greatest nations
of the earth of one language. one faith,
one baptism one LORD should not be en-
broiled in war. 1t was delivered with
such feeling, earuestuess and eloquence
that it was ordered to be printed in the
Record very unusal privilege to be
accorded to chaplain g opening prayer.
The day. however, did not respond to
that peaceful opening, sud when the
hour of adjournment came the senate
had passed, without amendment, and
without a single negative vote, the
house bill appropriatiog $780, 900 for a
commission to report to the President on
the true divisional lioe between the re-
public of Venezuela and British Guiana.
Mr.. Shermau's (Rep Of Ohio) amend
ment fixing the number Of commits
siouers at three aud requiring the ap-
pointment to ''be by and with the ad-
vice of the. senate was reported FROM
the committee on foreign relations, but
It had very little support in the senate,
and was at the close of debate laid oc
the table 9ithont division, and with
only two or three negative votee, the
vote being viva voce.
The debate took more excited turn
than that OF the preceding day. Itwas
opened by Mr.. Platt (Rep. J of Connecti-
cut, who said there was no reason to
suppose that war was to be precipitated,
but that the American people would not
shun war. aud that they were never
more 10 earnest since the Revolution
than they we're now.
Mr.. Sherman made plea against ex-
citment and eagerness to arouse the pa
triotism Of the American people, and
declared his 6rm belief that the matter
would be settled by arrangement be-
tween Great Britain and Venezuela
without drop of American blood being
shed.
Mr.. Mills deprecated war and in
quired how the revenues to carry on war
were to be obtained He suggested
that before going into war the Con.
stisution should be amended 80 as to
enable congress to levy personal taxes.
particularly the income tax.
Mr.. Lodge (Rep.) Of Massachusetts
derided the attempt of Euglisb capi-
'talists to create panic in Wall street,
and notified them that the call of loans
aud the withdrawal of gold were not the
roads to an honorable and peaceful set.
Element.
Mr.. Stewart (Pop.) of Nevada
ascribed the aroused feeling of the
American people to English arrogance.
aud declared that Eugland could put an
end TO the excitement by being honest
aud reasonable.
Mr.. White (Dem. Of California be-
l;eved that when the facts became
known there would be an honorable
solution of the difficulty.
Mr.. Cafery (Den.) of Louisiana
looked upoa the appointment of the
proposed commission as a war!ike step
and very extreme application Of the
Monroa 9nntrine
Mr.. Chandler gave touch Of humor
and sprightliness to the debate by laud-
ing the President (with more or less
sincerity for showing himself to be
patriotic and American and for being
inspired by the genius of Massachusetts
in the state department.
Mr. Tu7pie spoke of the bill as ''the
crossing Of the Rubicon'' - And so the
discussion went on to the close. when
the bill vas passed just as it came from
the house. After the passage of the
Venezuelan bill, the senate went into
executive session, aud there among
other things, agreed to the house co.,
current resolution for holiday recess,
with an amendment 6xlug its beginning
for tomergog and its close for the 9Th of
January.
Before the Venezuelan matter came
before the senate, the resolution offered
yesterday by Mr.. Allen (Pop.) of Ne
braska, directing the finance committee
to inquire into the advisability of open
ing our mipts to the free coinage Of
silver and she issue of treasury notes to
provide for the contingency of war be-
tween the British empire and the
United States of America vas taken up;
aud Mr.. Allen proceeded to deliver
some very caustic remarks at the ex-
pense Of the President and his sup
porters on both sides of the chamber.
he said that he could conceive Of no
sufficient caase for the delivery of the
Presidents message There did DOT
seem to be any demand for it. 1t oc.
Cured to him, that the President, nav