The record-union., 1896-03-10

Recognized as BeIigerents-They
Even Have Not Won Battle, But
Have Not as Yet Engaged in One.
WASHINGTON. March 9.-The Gu
ban belligerency resolutions as reported
from the conference committee did not
have the plain, smooth sailing in the
Senate to-day which the resolutions of
The same import had when they were
reported from the Committee on For
eign Relations. At that time there was
practically no obstacle interposed to
them, but to-day when the conference
report was taken up in the Senate it
was attacked by Hale of Maine in a
two-hours' speech of great force and
earnestness, and then it had to give
way to a question of still higher priv
ilege than a conference report; that is,
the right of each State to. be repre-
sented in the Senate of the United
States. That question is directly in
vclved in the report of the Committee
on Privileges and Election to the ef-
feet that Dupont is entitled to the va
cant seat in the Senate from the State
of Delaware
The negative of that proposition was
asserted to-day in a speech by Turpie
Oem.) of Indiana, one of the minority
of the Committee on Privileges and
Elections. His contention was that
Watson, while acting Governor of Del
aware. was still in law and in fact a
Senator in the State Legislature, and
had right to vote in the General AS
sembly, and that, his vote being
counted, Dupont had not a majority of
all the votes cast.
The question may come up tomorrow
whether the report of the conference
committee is not a matter of higher
privilege than the claim to seat in the
Senate.
Sherman, it is understood, holds that
it is, but if the decision should be other
wise, and if there be any real desire to
defeat or postpone the Cuban resolu-
tions, the Dupont case may be used as
a parliamentary means for doing so.
There We're large crowds in the gall
leries at the opening of the session this
morning, in anticipation of action and
discussion of the Cuban resolutions.
The Chaplain's prayer was terse and
comprehensive. It was comprised in a
single sentence, and was an invocation
to the Divinity to stretch out Thy
right hand to be a defense against all
our enemies
Numerous petitions were presented
from the States of Delaware, South Da-
kota, Kentucky and Arkansas in favor
of the recognizing of God in the Consti-
tuition of the United States.
A bin for the punishment of offenses
on the high seas (revolt, mutiny. assault
and riot) was reported from the Judi
ciary Committee. and was after some
opposition en- the part of Call Oem) Of
Florida, passed.
Dubois (Rep.) of idaho reported from
the Committee on Public Lands a bill
which he explained as one meeting the
objections of the President and of the
citizens Of Arizona to the bill on school
lands recently passed by Congress and
vetoed by the President. He said the
report was unanimous, and that he
would ask action upon it very soon.
Cockreil Dem) of Missouri gave no.
t1ce of mis- purpose 70 address the Senate
tomorrow on the question of amending
the revenue bill
At 1:10 o. m. Sherman (Rep) of Ohio
called up the conference report on the
Cuban resolutions.
Thereupon Hoar ;Rep) of Massachu-
setts offered a resolution, which went
over under the rules, that the considera-
tion of the conference report relating to
Cuba be postponed until Monday, April
9Th ana that the Committee on Foreign
Relations be directed to report the facts
which, in its opinion, justify the adop-
ton of such resolutions, with the evil
dence therefor.
Hoar also offered a resolution, which
was agreed to, requesting the President
to communicate to the Senate $50 far as
not incompatible with the public inter-
ests) all the facts in his possession re-
lating to the existing conflict in the
Island of Cuba, and especially sucn as
affect the interests and duty of the
United States in the premises.
The conference report on the Cuban
concurrent resolutions having been laid
before the Senate. Hale (Rep.) of Maine
spoke in connection with it. He was
one Of the few Senators, he said, who
had voted against the concurrent reso-
lutions reported from the Committee on
Foreign Relations, and he had seen nc
reason since to regret his action. and
should vote against the conference re-
pert.
All the reasons that he gave. since
then have grown in strength. The con-
ditions existing did rot, he believed
Justify a recognition OF those in rebel
lion against a friendly Government as
belIigerents. The infammatory ap-
peals Of Senators, based upon state
ments that were not corroborated, was
not sufficient to persuade him to act
other than he had acted. Subsequent
events and later information only
proved. Hale said, the business of the
position he had assumed.
Hale then reviewed the history of the
previous insurreetion in Cuba, and the
action Of the House then, which was
almost identical with that had at this
time. Fortunately for the country and
its peace. General Grant was in the
Presidential chair at the time, and re-
fused to take the action urged by the
House. General Grant was as great a
lover of liberty. Hale said, as was any
member of the Committee on Foreign
Relations. and knew probably a great
deal more about the subject Of bellig-
erent rights. The message he sent tC
Congress was such a clear expression
of the law that the resolutions Of the
House went for naught. and all the ex-
citement was at once abated. Hale
said he did not intend to speak at length
upon the subject. but would be content
to cite quotations from President
Grants message, which although sent
10 Congress in the year of the previous
iBsurrection, was as applicable to the
present day as though it had been fresh
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