Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-04-04
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENTS.
WASHINGTON, D. o.,
March 3Oth. 1871.

of Mr.. sumner on Monday, and that Of Sem
ator Carl Schurz of Missouri on "Wednesday.
Both are eminent and Influential radicals. who
have broken the letters of party 20 ex pose the
disregard and ignorance of law that mark the
administration of Grant, and especially his
usurpatiOn of the war-makiug power 10 his
corrupt negotiations for the acquisitiOn Of San
Domingo Both speeches, which drew TO the
galleries and the floor Of tho Senate all who
could secure admission 10 either, were char
acterised by great ability, judicial fairness,
(Which for Sumner is uncommon) aud an ar
ray Of proofs and authorities that no inge-
nuity can confute or explain away, ard both
are worthy of perusal rs specimens of high
senatorial elOquence. And yet strange to say
Mt the very time these two Senators, disre.
garding the threats aud ex pOstulations Of their
associates, are piliDg up proofs of the Presi,
dents incApacity and military usurpatiOns, the
discOrdant republicans of the House. have obe-
diently fallen into line ut the word of command
from that President, aud are about to adopt a
bill placing in his hands absolute military
power over the southern States and this upon
the plea only less false than wicked that
armed combinations exist in those states to re.
slst the laws. and render the lives aud prop
erty of 'lOyal" men insecure, which the State
governments are either unwilling or unable 10
has issued proclamation warning the insur.
gents in South Carolina to disperse. aud from
the white House, the Capitol and the radical
press we are daily Informed that the country
is again involved in-war.
AS last week we glanced at the Senate, so
to-day We may Look in upon the House while
this important measure is before il, a measure
which, in the melancholy language of Senator
Thurman, is to put upon our poor injured aud
racked constitution the heaviest strain it has
yet had TO bear. Leaving the packed galleries
OF the Senate with the eloquent peroration of
Mr.. Schurz still ringing in our ears, looking
IN as We Pass the Supreme Court, to see dis
tinguished southern lwyer, Mr.. Philips, late
OF Mobile Alabama Jew-addressiDa that
tribunal, We make our way to the South wing
OF the Capitol. The galleries are unusually
empty-owing to the attraction at the Senate,
but the floor Is comparatively full and for a
wonder comparatively quiet, usually while
mere speaking is in progress the confusion
upon the floor is particularly great, half The
seats are empty, and members are reading.
writing, moving about or gathered in knots
conversiny in tones that frequently drown the
voice OF the party speaking, who meanwhile
l"h"rs on listened to by the reporters for the
Gt"be. personal friend or two. and-as
etiquette requires but does not always secure
the uehOeES from MIS- own state,
But this evening The House is more ORDERLY
a Democrat from Tennessee has the floor aud
ia energe'ically reading a speech TO which
perhaps fifty members are giving respectful
attention. The orator has laid of his vest
aud his collar and with sleeves we'll rolled up.
Is doing his best to fill the hall with voice
that Is neither very strong nor very clear
The leaders of both parties are in their seats
Among the Democrats there are Brooks, Cox
and Wood. of New York, Morgan of Ohio.
Kerr and Voorhees, of Indiana, Eldridge of
Wisconsin. Beck of Kentucky; among the re.
publicRns Banks. Butler and Dawes of Mas.
sachusetts, Bingham and Shellabargero of Ohio.
Farnsworth of Illinois Speeches are limited
to an hour and the Tennesscan is followed
by radical of the ultra type, Judge Kelley
OF Philadelphia, lie has a strong voice and
commands good attention rs Il speaker Forth
with We have fearful picture of the disorder
and anarchy IN the South, only to be repressed
by the strong arm of military power The
dreadful ku- klux (the radicals call il HOO.
kt"r) is marched out with his repeating rife.
his brace of revOlvers. his midnight gatherings,
terrible Oaths, murders, arsOns &C., or through
the usual staple of n radical harangue Twice
the speaker allowed himself to be interrupted
once by asking IL there was a State in the
South to which q northern man could safely
move with his family aud property aud quietly
identify himself with the republican pnrty.-
a member from Alabama who at the begin
ming of the speech had seated himself imme-
dIately before the speaker aud had been in>
tently gazing up into his face with counte-
nance that in turn manifested interest, as
constituent, indignation, here leaped to his feet.
and shaking his fists in n very excited manner.
exclaimed, that it would be perfectly safe in
his district and in his State. The words were
scarcely out, before a mulatto from South
Carolina sprang to the floor and declared that
I'm the State, which. he had the honor in
part to represent upon that floor it would nat
be safe" The old Albanian, whose size was
not Liliputian remained but. 4 moment
longer, rising from his temporary seat he
stalked away with bearing, that spoke aug
er, disgust aud contempt, to the remotest part
OF the Democratic side.
Encouraged by this help from his cOlored
brother, the speaker uuwarily accorded Mr.
EldrIdge permission to ask u question, which
was somewhat as follows. Surprising the
degree of lawlessness in the South which ths
gentleman afhrms-and | entirely DENY
will he tell US how far that state of affairs is
due to the efforts of Congress aud the ad
mIn'stratIun to force upon the States govern.
ments and rulers that are obnoxious TO the
people p
This question. which sums up the whole
matter OF disorder 10 a nutshell, was too
much even for a Philadel phia lawyer, aud after
saying that he would answer the speaker very
carefully avoided doing So aud resOIuieIy
oaWIed down all attempts at further interrun
ton, holding the floor until the adjournment
of the House