New-York tribune., 1902-03-20
ASSAULTS ON PRESIDENTS.
SENATOR SPOONER CONTENDS THAT
THEY ARE CRIMES AGAINST
THE GONERNMENT

Washington. March 19-The entire session Of the
Senate to-day was devoted to consideration Of the
bill providing for the protection of the President OF
the United States Mr.. Spooner, of Wisconsin. con-
tended that the government had an absolute and
inherent right to protect itself against assaults
made either on itself any of its officers. He
maintained assault on the President was, in
the very nature Of things, assault on the gov
eminent for there never a time when the
President was in the exercise of the duties Of
his office. His argument largely legal and con-
stituuonaI. and forceful entertaining and in
struCtive
Replying to the argument of Mr.. Bacon, Mr..
Spooner said 1t did not follow because, under the
of Edward Ill assassinat ton or attempted assas
sination OF the King Of England was treason. that
the assassination of the President of the United
States treason. An assault on the President.
however was a crime against the government and
he did not think the government was disabled by
the constitution from punishinE it crime. BY
its very nature il insidinus assault on the
sovereignty of the United States. whatever might
be its motive He declared that If Mr. Bacon
argument were crystazed into law this would be
an impotent government. unable to protect itself
against obvious crimes, endanEcring our lnstitu-
tous and obsructing the operations of the govern
mcnt." \ legitimate conclusion from the Senator's
argument would be that this Is the weakest gov
ernment under the sky. 1t is not" 1t was an evi-
dent right of the government Of the United States
to protect its officials from assault or assas-
sination while engaged in the discharge Of their
one" he declared If it involves the safety or the
sovereignty OF the government. there are no State
lines" The President of the United States could
perform his duties and exercise his power any
where, day night. An assault on him. therefore,
was an assault on the government.
Mr. Spooner said he lever would believe in any
doctrine that a denial OF the right Of Congress
define "A crime the assassination or attempted
assassination Of the President Vice-Presdcnt, or
q conspiracy to take the life or either. He said
that if President Mckinley had been permitted TO
live, although he might have fingered wounded and
incapacitated for years. his assaillpt would have
been punished by ten years Imprisonment. .'lte-
Gardess, he said of the laws OF the States, be-
lieve that such crime ought to be punishable by
death"
Mr. Hoar in charge Of the measure eIucidated
some arguments he had made previously. and Mr.
Teller OF Colorado and Mr.. Bailey, of Texas, spoke
briefly. The Texas Senator said he could not sup
port the bill II stands because he could conceive
and not official Of ;hc government. The as
sailant. in that event ought to be punished pre-
Mr. tUlberSOn. OF Texas offered substitute for
the pending measure. II makes the assassination
or attempted assassination of the President. Vice
President or the sovereign Of foreign country
able by death and those who shall counsel or ad-
wise the killing Of the President who shall con
sQire to xiii him tho sovereign of any foreign
country. shall he punished ny Imprisonment not eN-
CeedinE twenty years.
In line with the suggestion contained in Mr..
Bailey's remarks Mr.. Bacon. Of Georgia introduced
anarchists. 1t was the oil. b" said. which. nitro
duccd by Mr.. Hin of NeH- York mad been passed
hy the senate. but had failed in th" House, u"
offered il suggestion to the judiciary Com
extreme legislation that he devised and justified
for the accomplishment Of the purposes stated