Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-10
RESOLUTION S|DETRACKED
Mr.. Hale Made a Strong Speech
Against It
BEFORE A CROWDED SENATE
Mr.. Sherman Was Given Plain Answers to His
Questions.
QUESTION OF PRECEDENCE INVOLVED
In the House Chairman Daniels of Election
Committee No. Gave Notice That
the Aldrich- Robbins Case Would
Come Up Wednesday.

Washington, March 9.-The Cuban bel
ligerency resolutions, as reported from
the conference committee, did not have
the same plain, smooth sailing in the
senate today which the resolutions of the
same general import had when they were
reported from the committee on foreign
relations. At that time there was prac-
tically no obstacle interposed to them
but today when the conference report
was taken up in the senate 1T was at
tackled by Mr.. Hale republican, of Maine,
in a two hours speech of great force
and earnestness, and then 1t had to give
way to the report of the committee on
privileges and elections to the effect that
Mr. Dupont is entitled to the vacant seat
in the senate from the state of Delaware.
The negative of that proposition was
asserted today in speech by Mr.. Tur-
pie, democrat, of Indiana, one OF the
minority of the committee on privileges
and elections, his contention being that
Mr.. Watson while acting governor OF
Delaware was still in law and in fact
a senator in the state Legislature, and
had a right to vote in the general assem-
bly, and that his vote being counted, Mr..
Dupont had not a majority or all the
votes cast.
Ine question may cOlnS up toiioiiO"
whether the report of conference COM
mittee is not matter of higher privilege
than the claim to seat in the senate.
Mr. Sherman, it is understood, holds
that it is so; but If the decision should
be otherwise, and If there be any real de-
sire to defeat or postpone the Cuban res
olutions the Dupont case may be USED
as a parliamentary means for so doing.
There were large crowds in the CALLER
les at the opening of the session TINS
morning In anticipation of action and dls-
cuSSion of the Cuban resolutions. Ine
chaplain's prayer was terse and compre-
hensive 1t was comprised in single
sentence, and was an invocation to the
divinity to stretch out Thy right hand
to be defense against all our enemies.
Numerous petitions were presented
from the state of Delaware, South Dako-
ia, Kentucky and Arkansas In favor OF
recognizing God in the constitution OF
the United States.
A bill for the punishment of offenses
on the high seas (revolt, mutiny, assault
and rioD was reported from the judiciary
committee, and was, after some oppo-
sition on the part of Mr.. Call passed.
At 1:10 p. m. Mr.. Sherman called up the
conference report on the Cuban resolu-
tions.
Thereupon Mr. Hoar offered a resolu-
ton. which went over under the rules,
that the consdera tion of the conference
report relating to Cuba be postponed un-
til Monday, April 6, and that the commit
tee on foreign relations be directed to re-
port the facts which in it's opinion justify
the adoption of such resolutions, with the
Aevidence therefor.
Mr. Hoar also offered a resolution,
which was agreed to, requesting the pres
ident to communicate to the senate $50
far as not incompatible with the public
interests) all the facts in his possession
relating to the existing conflict in the
island of Cuba, especially such as affect
the interests and duties of the United
States in the premises.
The conference report on the CUBAN
concurrent resolutions having been laid
before the senate, Mr.. Hale spoke in op-
position to it. He was one OF the Few
senators, he said, who had voted against
The concurrent resolutions reported from
ahe committee on foreign relations, and
We had seen no reason since to regret his
faction and should vote against the con-
ference report.
All of the resolutions, which at that
time seemed to him pressing and conclu-
sive against the proposed action, had in
his mind grown in strength since that
day. He did not feel that on so important
a matter, closely involving relations with
hitherto friendly power, the senate pos
sessed information to justify recogni-
ton of belligerency against friendly
government and in favor of the insur-
gents on the island of Cuba. He had not
believed then that the infiammatory ap-
peals that were made by senators based
on alleged statements of atrocities and
horrors on the island of Cuba were suf-
ficient1y backed up as facts for the senate
to act upon. That feeling had become
greatly strengthened by the events which
had occurred and by other information
which had been brought to light since
then. He had voted no because the sub
ject of the treatment that should be ac-
corded to an insurrection in Cuba against
the Spanish government was not new
subject. In the Forty-first congress a
similar effort had been made and resolu-
tions of even stronger import than those
of the conference report had been report
ed by the committee on foreign affairs in
the house of representatives by General
Banks. Fortunately said Mr.. Hale, there
was then in the presidential chair man
whose love of liberty and whose patriot
ism were certainly equal to those of the
members of the committee on foreign re-
lations and who knew good deal more
of belligerency and war than they do or
than any of us-General Grant.
Mr. Gray-What was the action of the
house at that time in regard to those e-res-
olutions?
Mr.. Hale-In the presence of the mes
sage from President Grant the resolu-
tions came to nothizo. The message was
SO clear and distinct that in the presence
of it all the excitement disappeared and
the resolutions of the house went for
naught Extracts from President Grants
message having been reau, Mr. haze SAD
that no language could better picture the
present state of things in Cuba. There
was nothing in the message that was not
sound good practical sense. General
Grants propositions touching belliger-
ency presented as clear light for today
as they did then, when they were ac-
cepted without question and when the
subject passed. for the time being, from
the consideration of men, in or out of
congress The question of belligerency,
General Grant had said. was question
of fact Mere lighting did not constitute
war. There must be military forces act
Ing under military rules and laws. There
must be above all a distinct political
organization capable of discharg1ng the
ia.szt