The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-03-27
SENATE.

Seventy-ninth Day-During the en-
tire session of the Senate the bill pro-
viding for the protection OF the Presi-
consideration. Mr.. Spooner, Of Wis
consin, made an extended argument in
support of the measure. He contended
that the government had an absolute
AMI inherent right to protect itself
from assaults made either upon itself
Or upon one of its officers. He main
tanned that an assault upon the Presi-
dent was in the very nature of things
2n assault upon the government. Tor
there never was a time when the Pres
ident was not in the exercise OF the
duties Of his Office. His argument was
largely legal and constitutional, but
throughout was forceful ald entertain
ing and instructive. Mr.. Hoar, in
arguments he had made previously,
Bailey. OF Texas. spoke briefly upon
the bill. The Texas Senator said he
could not support the measure as it
stands. because he could conceive Of an
assault made upon the President as a
person and as an enemy OF the govern
ment. Tho assailant in that event,
ought to be punished precisely as if he
had assaulted any other citizen.
Replying to Mr.. Bacon, Of Georgia.
Mr.. Spoocer declared that il Mr.. Ba-
ccl's argument was crystalized into
law, this would be an impoteat gov
crnment unable to protect itself
against obvious crimes. endangering
our institutions and obstructing the
operations Of the government" A legi-
innate conclusion from the Senator's
argument, he said,' would be that this
is the weakest government under the
sky. 1t Is not" 1t was an evident
right Of the government Of the United
States to protect its own officials from
assault or assassination while engaged
in the discharge OF their official duties
"If the function is a Federal one," he
declared. "if it involves the safety or
the sovereignty Of the government.
there are no State lines" He asserted
that there was no time when the Presf
dent OF the United States was not en-
gagged in the performance OF his ofi-
cial duties. He could perform his du
ties and exercise his powers anywhere
cay or night. An assault upon him,
therefore, was an assault upon the gov
ernment.
Mr.. Teller. Of Colorado objected to
the provision giving to the President
military guard and suggested that
the guard about him should be from
the civil department OF the govern
ment.
Mr.. Bailey Of Texas, maintained that
the government had ample authority
to protect it's officials in the perform
ance OF their duties but he doubted its
authority to punish man who should
assault or kill any government ofitiai
merely as a person. The demand or
the people was that the government
should lay its heavy hand upon the an
achist. He was in accord with that
demand and would hound the anarch-
lists from one section to another until
he had no resting place. but he warned
the Senators to not make anarchists Of
themselves in the effort to protect the
President against anarchy. He could
not support the measure as 1t stood.
Directly In line with the suggestion
contained in Mr.. Bailey's remarks. Mr.
Bacon, Of Georgia, introduced bill for
the deportation and exclusion OF alien
anarchists. 1t was the bill, he said,
which, introduced by former Senator
Hill, Of New lork. had been passed by
the Senate. but had failed in the House.
He offered it as a suggestion to tho
judiciary committee, Personally he
was in favor Of the most extreme leg
islation that can be devised and JUST
fed fer the accomplishment Of the pur.
poses sta ted"
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