The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-03-18

would not consider MS freedom Of act1On
in open Senate compromised, nor would
he abide by 1t in violation of his own con.
yictlons Of duty. he didn't think legis-
latve matters proper subjects for caucus
action to the exclusion of the personal
views entertained. The House resolution
to appoint q committee Of investigation to
sit through the recess was then taken up
and agreed to, with an amendment that
said committee be joint on the part Of
both Houses, and that seven members be
added thereto on the part Of the Senate.
While this resolution was under discus
sion, the opinion was generally expressed
that while it was good so far as it went
1t made no Immediate provision
for protecting the Southern loyal
lists from outrage. Lewis, from
Virginia, said that it only provided for re-
cOrding the Outrages, and not for sup
pressing them, and that II something was
not done, and that quickly, to protect life
and limb in the South, there would soon
be no Republican party there. Senator
Sherman admitted the general truth Of
the statements made by the Senator from
Virginia, but thought that auylegislation
Of this character should be proceeded
with carefully and constitutionally. He
therefore submitted a resolution, which he
had offered in the open Senate, instruct
ing the Judiciary Committee to prepare
bill to meet the exigencies Of the case.
After some little discussion this was
agreed to byavote of 25 TO IS. Mr.. Conk-
ling, who all along has been opposed to
Ku-Klux legislation, submitted a propo:,
sition, which set forth that all action OF
this character, especially in the present
unsettled state Of parties, would be IN
wise and injudiCious, and would only give
to the charges being continually reiterated
against the Republican party that It was
bent on controlling the Southern States
through the military; that In view Of these
considerations, the Committee be instruct'
ed not to report until the December ses-
sion, andIthat oil other proposed legislation
be abandoned forthwith. This PROPOSE
ton was summarily disposed Of by laying
1t on the table, by vote Of IS to 10. Mr..
Sumner then moved that the Judiciary
Committee be instructed to report forth.
with, which was carried by 81 TO 10.
The question Of adjournment then
came up. The point was made that if
the House resolution to adjourn on Mon
day next was adopted the Democrats
could etiectually prevent any legislation
whatever being adopted, and that there.
fore, in view Of the previous action Of the
caucus, q resolution OF this character
should be tabled. A motion OF this char.
acter was carried by 81 to IL.
Alter these questions had been disposed
of the caucus was about to adjourn, when
Mr. Stewart brought forward a resolu.
ton 10 tho effect that no legislation should
be entered upon by the present Congress
unless the same looked 10 the suppression
OF Southern outrages or related to making
appropriations for general purposes. Mr..
Trumbul at once objected to this resOlu.
ton, unless coal and salt were added
thereto. Mr.. Morrill,, Of Vermont, re.
piled TO Trumbull, stating that action on
the tariff question would tend to demon.
alize the party throughout tho country.
Mr.. Trumbull thought exactly to the con.
trary. He thought no wiser party mea-
surcs than these could be adopted. Ger.
tain sections Of the country were now
more heavily taxed than any other por.
ton Of tho habitablc globe, and unless
some relief was given the consequences
politically could not DO foretold. After
more discussion Of this nature Stewards
resolution vas finally adopted by a small
majority, In consequence the coal and
salt bills arc now left In such condition
that single objection to their considGra.
ton will be fatal II the caucus action Is
sustained, but this is left an open ques-
ton. There arc a number of Senators
who, in this respect at least, will follow
Summers theory, to tho effect that in mat.
tess oflegislatiOn n caucus cannot control
Senators.