The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-01-23
vestigation, but held that his Committee was

|
=, Mr. Farnsworth remarked that himself and
the petitioners were quite satisfied to have the
matter referred to that Committee.
| Mr.. Chapman, delegate from the District, dep
recated any prejudging of the case, and ex-
| pressed his own desire and that of the terrific
rial government for full and impartial inves-
tigation. The resolution was adopted.
Mr.. Negley of Pennsylvania, offered reso-
| luton directing the Committee on Commerce to
investigate the quarantine and harbor regula-
| tons of New York, and also into the means of
reviving and sustaining American commerce,
with power to send for persons and papers and
! to hold sessions in New York city. Referred to
| Committee on Commerce
MIR. Morgan, of Ohio, moved to suspend the
| rules and pass a joint resolution proposing TO
amend the constitution by making naturalized
citizens eligible to the Presidency and Vice
| Presidency. Negatived-yeas o. nays 75
! Less than the two-thirds requisite in the af-
| frmatiye.
Mr.. Whiteley of Ga, introduced bill re-
moving political disabilities from Herschel
johnson and other citizens of Georgia Passed.
Mr.. Cox offered a resolution calling for re-
ports and correspondence of agents sent abroad
| to examine and supervise cOnsulates and for
information as to the linguistic accomplishments
of United States consuls abroad, with a state
ment of consular fees, etc. Referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Mr.. Burlington of Mats, offered resolution
calling for information as the lights and buoys
in Proyincetown harbor, Mass. Adopted.
wi. w dlldCc VI o. ", lutIOuuCtu II Dill re-
move political disabilities of half dozen per-
sons in South Carolina. Passed
Mr. Garfield, from Committee on Appropria--
tons reported bill apppropriatng 100000 to
d eh the expenses Of the embassy from Japan
Mr. McNeely of ILL.,, objected Mr.. Garfield
moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill
After discussion the bill was passed.
THE NEW ORLEANS MATTER
Mr. Garfield, from the Committee on Appro-
priations, reported resolution instructing the
Clerk of the House to furnish funds to the Sc
iect committee going to New Orleans.
The Speaker, in connection with that subject,
announced that he had appointed Mr.. Archer,
of Indiana, and Mr.. Spear, of Pennsylvania,
members of the committee, instead of Messrs
voorhees,, of Indiana, and Marshall, of Illinois,
excused.
Mr.. Farnsworth argued against the propriety
OF committee going to New Orleans. :, He
thought the difficulty there was so far accom-
Besides he did not see what Congress was 90
ing to do about it. He knew the committee did
not want to go.
Mr.. Scofeld, of Pennsylvania, chairman of
OF the committee, understood that the House.
in directing them to investigate in Washington
or elsewhere, practically directed them to 20 to
New orleans, and, although at great inconveni-
ence, they would execute the trust assigned
In reply to Mr. Hale, he said that some Of the
aspects OF the case at New Orleans had changed
for the better, while others were quite as bad or
worse than before.
Mr.. Sheldon, of New York, was aware that
matters We're in a very disagreeable condition
in New Orleans but it was a thing with which
Congress had no right to NEEDLE, or, if it had
right, its meddling would not accomplish any
other result than to prolong that disgraceful
condition of things. His Judgment was that
these things had better be left along by Con-
gress and that matters would settle themselves
He did not think it necessary for committee
to go to New Orleans or to investigate the mat
ter here. r l.t
Mr.. Garfield was glad to see that Louisiana
was so nearly restored to her right mind 1t
seemed to him that there was little to be inves-
tigated concerning the State Government so far
as Congress had the power to investigate it; but
there was one element there that he thought
Congress ought to investigate. He referred to
the conduct of the officers of the Government
of the United States in New Orleans. If pub
lie report is to be trusted, the revenue cutter of
the United States had been used to carry away
portion of the Legislature to keep them out
of reach of the officials. If the officers down
there had done 1.-THE of what was alleged
against them it was high time their conduct
was investigated, and if they had not done it it
was high time the Government be freed from
the odium which would SO justly fall on it if
these things be done. y
Mr.. Sheldon remarked that the President and
Secretary of the Treasury were in possession of
all the facts relating to the action Of the United
States officers at New Orleans, and were COM
pCtChe W iiidildSS bllc dudlTS themselves. LII
believed that if any investigation was had it
should be held upon the spot, and the House
ought therefore either to withdraw the COM
mittee altogether or to direct 1t to 90 to New
Orleans and furnish it with the means of doing
So 1t should do something or do nothing An
investigation at Washington would amount to
nothing at all, and the reports from Louisiana
were not to be relied on. The way Louisiana
was going on was disgrace to American civili-
cation, and he trusted the committee would go
there, The committee cOnId not tOuoh
there that it would not find rotten to the core,
boiling over with corruption and rising to rot.
MIR. Sypher, of Louisiana, stated that he had
voted for the committee, and had done so in
view of the condition of things in New Orleans,
where there was no security for life or proper
ty. He concurred with Mr. Garfield, that the
investigation should reach the Government
officials there, and eoncarred with MI. Beck as
to the prevailing corruption in the State, but he
thought it among the Democrats as much as
among the Republicans. When the Democrats
warned ignorant members of the Legislature to
become their tools and TO vote for their schemes
were concocted by old citizens of the State If
ever an occasion existed for the committee to 60
there that occasion was now.
Mr.. Dawes said he had introduced the resou-
ton raising the committee, and had not done
so suddenly or until after deliberation and con-
sultation. Since the raising of the committee
it had been stated in the newspapers that efforts
had been made by the Executive and others to
YIoNcht W prevent III going TO New Orleans.
He had only to say that it was not true, Itwas
not true that the Executive was opposed to the
appointment OF the committee or to its going to
New Orleans; nor was it true that those people
in New Orleans who were generally supposed to
De adverse to the Executive were opposed to
/ this investigation. The necessity for it origi-
mated in the INTRINSIC difficulties of the case
The President had been applied to by the Gov
ernor to use the Federal forces to keep peace,
and his reply was that there was a conflict of
authority there; that there were two parties,
each claiming to be the legal Government of
Louisiana, and it was Impossible far the Exc
cutlve to comply with the request of either
party. 1t was because the President was una
BILE to decide between them that the resolution
for the appointment of committee was pre-
sented and adopted,
1t had been said by some when the resolution
was pending in the House that it was best not
to uncover the proceedings in New Orleans and
that such a condition Of things existed there,
that they had better not be brought to light
He did not belong to that class of men. He
did not know eithes side in the matter nor did
he care about either side, any farther than to
bring them to the surface and let the world know
who and what they were and what they were
doing. He did not understand that things had
50 changed that there was any less occasion for
an investigation, The officials of the United
States were banded with one side, whether
right or wrong the Executive himself confess
ed that he did not know. " y I'D
Mr.. Shellabarger defended the President from
the insinuations published against him, to the
effect that he was opposed to committee go
ing to New Orleans He happened to know
accidentally how exactly opposite to the truth
that statement was. sGf14tr - 1865
The debate was farther continued by Messrs.
Voohees, Shellabarger, Eldridge, and through
out was very exciting 1t was finally brought
without division
trIl.t asae