The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-01-28
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.

Washington. Jan. 25.-Mr. Burrows.
ilep.) Of Mchigan, presented an appeal
by the presidential electors of Delaware
for congressional investigation of al
legged Irregularities by which. in Kent
county, u majority of about 500 voters in
favor of the union republican ticket was
changed into a false and apparent demo-
cratic ma ajority of about 200
Another document presented by Mr.
Burrows was signed by Speaker Handy,
of the senate and Speaker Moore of the
house Of one of the bodies claiming to be
the Legislature of Delaware. Its -allega-
tions We're of Il sensational character, as
serting that ''the powers of government
are usurped by corrupt oligarchy." with
leaders who curse the law and defy the
courts. Using ''violent. profane and OBJ
scene language to direct partisan mobs." !"
1t is declared the votes have become Il
''merchantable asset" and that the courts
are under the influence of political parti-
sanship. Under the circumstances IN ,ip-
peal Is made 10 congress to re-establish re-
publican forms of government and for
recount of the vote of Delaware. The
appeals were referred to the committee
on privileges and elections.
Mr.. Chanler said it was his purpose to
endca'vor ito devise means by which this
wholesale larceny.Of states and of United
States senatorships shall be prevented. w.
Mr.. Pettigrew (rep) of South Dakota
offered a resolution for special commit
tee of five senators to inquire into the
issue of land patents of the Pacific rail
ways and to the California and Oregon
railways and to the diversion from re-
ports of gross earnings to the sums paid
to the Pacific Mail Steamship company.
The resolution was referred.
Mr.. Chandler presented bill providing
that no person shall be tried in the courts
of the United States for acts in aid of
was referred to the judiciary committee.
The military academy bill was considi
cred briefly. Mr. Thurston (rep) of Ne
braska urged that the West Point cadets
should be permitted to attend the ipaugu-
ration ceremonies. The bill was laid aside
to allow Mr. Turpc ldem.) of Indiana to
speak on the Cameron resolution for the
recognition of the independence of Cuba
The senator was given close attention,
and the galleries filling. As he began,
Senor Quesada and others of TIE Cuban
representatives entered the gallery.
SPANS tith 10 Cuba. Mr.. Turpie said,
was pot one She could alienate to any
power but the United States nor could
Spain retain her own title to the island
when its inhabitants concluded that the
sovereign of Spain and her advisers were
cruel enemies and oppressors of the peo-
pie. Oneof the great principles ssi:fiHSn-
ed in the western hemisphere was that n
people held alienable rights to establish
their own form of government. The
senator traced the bloody struggle of
Cuba to establish its own form ~ gov
ernment. There had not beer ten years
of peace since 1860. The present war
fare was but second period Of the first
warfare. 1t was inspired by the same
hopes and directed by the same ends.
The end in view was to throw off Spain's
control of Cuba 'and give it to the Cuban
people. What was the United States to
do in this case: Must congress- he ask
ed. wait for the; executive branch to act
and in answer he presented many opin
ions to show that the commerce clause"
of the constitution. giving congress pow
er over commence. was not restricted to
trade and traffic. but was a commerce
intercourse" and extended to |
the intercourse between the United |
States and all foreign governments and |
people. ~
This power of congress was so primary |
and paramount, Mr.. Turpie asserted, that |
could execute the powers of the |
president, even to the appointment of a |
postmaster, a minister or an ambassador |
if the executive branch failed to perform |
its functions established by law. When |
made law as to. the relation |
which the United States was to display
toward a foreign government, it could
perform all acts to carry this law into
execution, even to the appointment of a
temporary diplomatic officer, in case the
executive failed to act.
The senator said there was close an
alogy between an admission of new
state and the recognition of new gov
ernment Congress had the paramount !