The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-03-25
The Ku-Kiux DILL, and ths'Southern
Investigation Committee

The Ku-KIux Dill, and the'Southern
Investigation Committee
WAsHlseros, NJ rich I5.-The House
caucus last night agreed to report the
Joint Committees Ku.Klux bill, subject to
free debate, modification and amendment.
House flibustering to prevent Butler
from introducing his Ku.Klux bill.
Mr.. Eldridge, rising for a parliamentary
question, asked lift was in order to intro
duce a bill for the suppression Of ku-kluz
in New Hampshire
After long flibustering Mr.. Peters, Of
Maine, resolved that a committee Of thir-
teen be appointed by the Speaker, whose
duty it shall be to inquire into the condi-
ton of the late insurrectionary States SO
and the safety of the lives and property of
the citizens of the United States, and. re-
port the resulto f their investigation to the
House in December next, with such re-
commentator as they may deem expe-
dent, and that the said committee be au
thorized to employ . clerk and stenograpb-
er, to sit during the recess. to send for
persons and papers ; to take testimony, and
to visit ut their discretion, through q sub,
committee. any portion Of the Southern
States during The recess, and that the ex
pense of said Committee be paid from the
contingent fund of the House. The res
olution passed by a vote of 1876 to O.. re
The Speaker announced the following
committee under Mr.. Peters resolution.
| Messrs. Butler, of Massachusetts Shela-
harger, Kelly, Maynard. Coburn, Buckley,
Stevenson, Burdett, Cox, Beck, Archer,
Waddell and Robinson.
Mr.. Blaine was the author Of the reso'
luton which passed the House to day.
The vote on the appointment ofa select
committee of l3, was, ayes Republicans 1875,
Democrats "a; nays, 30 Republicans, ID
Democrats; a majority of each party.
1t is this resolution that closes out the
Ku.Klux bill this session, and an adjourn
ment on Monday is probable.
The Republican Senators cancuSed four
hours to-day without any conclusion and
meet again tomorrow. Messrs. Trumbull,
Morrill,, Buckingham, Conklin, Sawyer,
Kellogg and Robertson spoke in opposi-
ton TO Kn.Klux legislation.
WASHINGTON, March 1G.-Tbe following
is a synopsis of Buffers letter, which pro-
voked the row in the House. He says:
No good, bnt harm only can come of it to
the Republican party. s,a
First-Because this committee was
forced upon tie Republicans by the nearly
unanimous vote of the Democratic party in
the House, aided by some twenty or thirty
Republicans only, against the decision of
the majority of that party in a duly called
L. .n,nL~rx, &c &f,n uo,,cn
Se~cond-Because this committee was
raised by a combination of high tariff Re-
publicans with the Democracy.
Third-Because such committee would
be wholly powerless for any good purpose.
Fourth-Because my services as Chairman
of the Committee furnish the best election
eering document that could be placed in
the hands of the Democracy in the coming
contest. 1t is in this that the report of the
Committee would be wholly nngatory. illn-
sorry. and useless to show the exact state Of
things at the South. Whenever and
wherever the Committee would 60 there
would be sunshine and peace, and We
should be compelled so to report. Where
we were not'and could not be banded, muir
der, robbing and arson would stalk abroad
at night, to be disbanded by the rising
sun. I am compelled to take this mode to
address you in declining to serve, because
the announcement of the committee was not
made by the Speaker until after the vote
of adjournment,had been taken, and imme-
diateIy t%hereupon his hammer fell, by
which he adjourned the House, SO as to
preclude the possibility of resigning the
place thus attempted to be forced upon me
at the time. / believe I can demonstr ate,
even ifa majority of a parliamentary body
can force a Massachusetts, man off q com
mittee at pleasure, that it is quite another
thing for the Speaker to force another on a
committee against his consent.
The Senate Caucus to. day was long and
strong. Eight and ten Senators were fire.
auently on the floor at once. 1t was fl
naily agreed to lay adjournment on the
table. They propose a Joint Commission
of five Senator's and seven Representatives
to take evidence, instruct the Judici airy
Committee to report the Ku-Klux bill, and
to entertain no other legislation.
WAsHfNGTos. March 17.-SENATE-The
concurrent resolution passed appointing a
committee of Z Sen and 9 Rep. to investigate
affairs South, with power to send for per-
sons and papers, authorized to SIT during
the recess to hold sessions whenever and
wherever saits them, to appoint sub-com.
mittees with the understanding that both
parties stall be represented on sub commit
tees /, TO report at the next session, but
with the prisiledge-during the recess-to
report through the press Of the country.
1t is expected that the Ku-Klux will be
reported presently.
Adjournment again indefinitely postponed.
HousE-The entire day was occupied in
skirmishing.
Mr.. Butler wanted his Kb-Klux bill
printed, which meeting with objection,
Mr.. Butler objected to everything.
The Democratic cancus, to-day, resolved
to support the Senate resolution for a joint
committee, provided they make no report
until the next meeting OF Congress.
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Miscellaneous News.