The age-herald., 1900-01-24

had acquired its island possessions free from any conditions, and said that the people If the islands could become citizens of the UnJted States only by act of con gress, for they had not been guaranteed rights of citizenship by tine treaty cession and the constitution of jts own inherent force could ot,confer such rights on them. Congress, in hds opinion, therefore, had plep power dn legislating for our newly acquired territory.
 Senator McEnery
 Mr. McEnery, democrat, of Louisiana, Gnen was recognized to deliver his an n9unced speech on the resolution of MT. Prltchard, republican, of North Carolina, 7 relating to the proposed amendment to the constitution of Ns.'eh Caro.ina. He sad the Iace question was one of the most se- i rious that had ever confronted the nation, ard added:
 50 far tle best intellects of the south have endeavored to find some remedy to make the south prosperous notwithstand ing dle presence of vast num3er of ig- noiant 'blacks 10 make her social posit on clear and defined in the separation of the racSS and to place tler on a political basis J.at will insure sta b-lity to ller insttu ions; make tae ballc,. box ,.he sacred depOsiafy of the liberties of the people instead of the dJlrnel house where under negro domina- ton they were assasslnated To prevent llem by means of i.ae ballot and superior numbers from again getting control of the s.ate and inauguqa ting the era of terror- ism and coreuptica wnacil prevailed under this goverrGnelt from 1867 to 1877.
 ''itlc recollection of that period is like hellIoorn dream, and one is almost un- nerVed at the mention. It is the darkest and most shameful pcTiod in the history C, the human race. The wonder now is that by force 1t was not sooner terminated by an outraged people.
 While Mr. McEnery was speaking he was interrupted by MT. Butler, of North Caro- laa, who inquired whe ther MT McEnery, whaa the amendment to the Louisiana con- stltur.on similar to that now pending in North Carolina, was under consideration, did not rroaource it unconstitutional. Mr. McEnery replied that he had pro- nounced it unconstitutional, but inasmuch as it was adopted he had said that he would support 1t in the senate. He felt it llis duty to his constituents to do SO, and ce would always be found supporting the laws and constitution of both his state and his country. Referring to the Filipino in surrecton in. this connection he said: "I do not stop to Inquire now. whether my coun- try in the Philippines is right or wrong; I do mot inquire who fired the first shot which precpitated d1ostflites. It is enough for me to know that my government has
 
 until its enemies are brought into subjec- ton.
 MT. Butler then read copies of letters written by, MT. McEnery in which he de- ciared the amendment to the Louisiana constitution was "grossly unconstitutional and that it was so regarded by the ablest constitutional lawyers in the senate.
 Collection of Abandoned Property
 When Mr. McEnery had concluded, MT. Tillman, of South Carolina, called up bill to revive and amend arr~St to provide for the collection of abandoned property, and the prevention of frauds in insurrectionary districts within the United States MT. Tnlman asked. MT. Davis to make an ex- plenation of the measure.
 Mir. Davis said the claims we're not only just, but 1t was the bounded duty of con gress to provide for their payment. Tn answer to an inquiry from MT. Hale, MT. Davis replied that the claims covered cap tured and abandoned cotton
 MT Hale-Why, that will amount to $90,- 000,O00 or $100,0O00O0.
 l.i To this MT. Davis dissented saying that nnder court decisions the claims for cap- gate about $9,0Oo,000. This money was in the treasury and had been held by the United States for twenty years for those to whom the courts had adjudged it to be- long.
 MT Davis said that the payment of the claims was as clear an act of justice as | ever was presented. "The bill is not" said he, "a sluceway for the payment of the claims which have been referred to by MT. Hale." The bill was objected to and it went over. The senate, then at 4:45, went into execu- !. tive session, and at 5;30 adjourned