The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-02
A TILT IN THE SENATE.
MIR. Cafery Intimates Mr.. Pettus
Afflicted with SeniIity.

WASHINGTON. July 1.-For nearly six
hours to-day the Senate had under discus
sion the Hawaiian annexation resolutions
The first formal speech in favor of the reso-
buttons was delivered by Mr.. Pettus (Dem
Ala.) His address was strong and patriotic
AS a Democrat he maintained that the
question was in no sense a party issue but
the proposition was one which ought to
command, in the circumstances, the support
or men of all parties. He had a heated
colloquy with Mr.. Caffery Dem, Lao, in
the course of which the latter intimated
that the Alabama senator was afflicted with
senll1ty. Mr.. Pettus's retOrt was vigorous
and resentful of what he termed an insult
Mr.. Caffery subsequently dsclaimed any in
tention of insulting Mr.. Pettus Mr.. Mallory
(Dem., Fla.) presented constitutional ar
gument against the acquisition of territory
by joint resolution of Congress.
AT the opening of the session Mr.. Sewal,
of New Jersey, of the committee on mill
tary affairs, secured the passage of a bill
to provide for a temporary increase in the
inspector generals department of the army
Mr.. Cullom directed attention to the re-
cent construction of the law providing for
the payment of volunteer troops. In some
instances the various regiments had not re-
ceived as much from the United States as
they were evidently entitled to, and he in
stanced an Illinois regiment to which about
$1,000 was due. MIR. Sewall said that the
matter would undoubtedly be taken care of
properly.
The Hawaiian annexation resolutions were
then taken up and Mr.. Pettus addressed the
Senate. His was the first formal speech de-
livered since the opening of the present dis
cussion in favor of the resolutions In be-
ginning he said he proposed particularly to
address himself to those with whom during
all his life, he had been associated
politically He requested that nobody should
call a quorum while he was speaking. Mr..
Pettigrew did so, however, a minute later.
Mr. Pettus took issue with Mr. Caffery,
who had argued that the acquisition of
Louisiana territory by act of Congress was
unconstitutional He related the anecdote
of the 'possum hunter who sawed off the
limb of a tree on which 'possum had taken
refuge, thus letting the possunf fall to the
ground, but himself falling to The ground
with it, He applied the anecdote to Mr.
Caffery, who he said had swayed himself,
for if there was force in Mr.. Cafferys ar
gument Louisiana was not legally in the
Union and he had come to the Senate bring
right to a seat. 1t will be strange news to
the people of Louisiana" he said that
their senator is denying his right to repre-
sent them here" Mr. Pettus ridicued Mr.
Caffery's argument that the question ought
to be submitted to the people of Hawaii
He said that such an argument had moral
but no constitutional bearing and while it
might be a nit representation to children in
the nursery it would have no force with
senators. 1t was too adolescent.
Mr.. Caffery replied tartly that as between
the adolescent expressions of sympathy and
the senilities of age he would prefer the for
mer.
Mr.. Pettus, stung by Mr. Caffery's retort,
said: THE senator from Louisiana has
made use of a custom of the Senate for d
grossly improper purpose. He rose to ask
me question, and, under the fraud of ask
ing me the question, he sought to denounce
me personally. Senators ought not to do
such small things. No interruption is proper
except for the purpose of d question or of
obtaining informa ton. And the man who
does interrupt another for the purpose of
offering an insult-well, Mr.. President |
was brought up Presbyterian. and can
not properly characterize such conduct"
Mr.. Catfery-Will the senator permit me
mo, 1 will not declared Mr. Pettus Il
will not again be interrupted | am an old
man. Mr. President. but this is the. first
time l was ever insulted in the United
States Senate by such language and l don t
intend to tolerate it,
Mr.. Caffery absolutely disclaimed that he
had intended his remark as an insult 1t
was, he said, merely a set-off to Mr.. Pet
tuss statement regarding adolescence.
Mr.. Pettus had begun discussion of the
present war when he was interrupted by his
colleague. Mr. Morgan, who read Asso-
ciated Press dispatch from Playa del Este
announcing that the battle of Santiago had
begun and fighting was proceeding along
the entire line. Yes, Mr.. President" said
Mr.. Pettus, the fight is going on along the
entire line, and it behooves every man, ado
descent or senile. to support the govern
ment, to support the army and navy of the
United States in all their actions. We ought
to support the President of the United
States. How many will die in the fight to-
day nobody can say But i pray God that
those brave men of ours. if die they must.
may die with shouts of victory IL their
ears
Mr.. Pettus said one of the objections
urged against Hawaiian annexa ton was
that the acquisition of that territory would
compel the United States to construct and
navy and perhaps maintain a large stand
ing army. 1T may lead the United States
God it will. 1 will welcome the day when
cur navy will be so powerful that no nation
of the world will ever dare to offer US an in
suit
When Mr. Pettus had concluded Mr.. Ma
son Qll) gave notice that if there was no
agreement to vote on the pending resolu-
ton, nor a move made to change the rules,
he would not stay in the Senate to keep
up the useless farce of the majority gov
erned by the minority
The conference reports on the bill 10 in
crease the efficiency of the quartermaster' 5
department. and that to increase the eff
cheney of the subsistence department, were
agreed to-
In beginning a legal argument against
Hawaiian annexation Mr.. Mallory said the
question involved new departure in gov
ernmental policy. an increase in our army
and navy and the establishment of a sys-
tenn of government in a colony of the
United States which never heretofore had
existed. He maintained that the resolutions
presented were fundamentally wrong and
orght not be adopted.
Mr.. Hawley presented the conference
agreement on the bill providing for the pun
is ment of persons VINO trespass upon or de-
stroy harbor defense works and fortified
tons of the United States. The report
aroused considerable debate upon its tech
meal and legal aspects, after the concu-
sion of which the report was agreed TO.
In the course of his remarks Mr. Mallory
quoted a decision of the Supreme Court
handed down by Chief Justice Marshall to
show that territory could be acquired either
by conquest or by treaty. but no other
method of acquiring territory was indi-
Gated by the Supreme Court.
At 5:05 D. Mr. Mallory concluded his
speech. On motion of Mr.. Davis. (MinnD
the Senate went into executive session. and
at $50 adjourned.
Filibusters Weakening.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. July 1.-Senator White
of California who. Jointly with Jones OF
Arkansas. has charge of the Hawaiian fill