The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-07-03
Kellogg's Force Bill.

ton at this time, ana may be attended
with important consequences. AS they
had culpably neglected the public
business-after having passed reso-
luton in January to adjourn on the
twentieth of May-it became necessary
to adopt some rnle by which the ap-
preparations could be passed within the
time last fixed for closing the session.
The Democratic minority willingly as
sented, and the following rule was
adopted instead Of the customary form
of general consent. The object was to
avoid all possibility of misunderstand-
ing on tho subject:
| Resolred, That during the present
session it shall be in order at any time
to move a recess; and pending an APP
preparation bill, to move to confine
debate on amendments thereto to FIVE
minutes by any Senator on the pend
ing motion and such motions shall be
decided without debate. And no
amendment to any such bill making
legislative provisions, other than such
as directly relate to the appropriations
contained in the bill, shall be received
Language could hardly be more ex-
plicit or forcible to express the purpose
of this rule, which was to limit the
amendments strictly to the objects of
appropriation, and to exclude that
vicious system of legislation by which
jobbing schemes have heretofore been
packed on the back of the supply bills
in the closing hours of Congress-
There was perfect agreement on both
sides. On Friday last some of the
Radicals found this rule too rigid for
certain private Interests, and applica-
ton was made to the Democratic side
to relax it for their benefit. 1t was
refused upon the ground that if the
door was once opened PARTISAN amend
ments would be introduced. This OBJ
lection was met by positive assurance
given to Mr.. Stockton and others BY
several Republican Senators that no
such purpose was entertained.
This was the condition of facts
under which the Senate met after the
recess Oh Friday evening, with the
miscellaneous appropriation bill pend
ing. Suddenly. and without notice of
any kind, Mr.. Kellogg, carpet-bagger
from Louisiana, moved an amendment
covering the bill to carlS elections by
the. bayonet, which had already passed
the Senate, and is now before the
House. He was evidently put forward
to do this dirty work, and came pre-
pared with the amendment printed for
distribution on his own side, without
any authority from the Senate. How
the public printer could do that work,
while orders regularly made are largely
in arrears, may become the subject OF
inquiry. AS it was withheld from tho
Democrats, Mr.. Casserly asked the
amendment to be passed over tenn
porarily, SO that it might be examined.
There Was reason for such scrutiny.
as this same Mr.. Kellogg had attemp-
ted to smuggle House bill for the
election in Louisiana through tn Q
Senate, by representing it to be ilenti-
cal with one already passed in that
body, when an examination showed
that there were very material diff
ferenees between the two.
Although this amendment flagrantly
the rule, it was held to be in
order by Mr.. Anthony, the presiding
officer, who was, of course, sustained
by the drilled trainbands that had
already decided the question in caucus.
The Democrats demonstrated in vain
against so palpable violation of
honor. Their protests in behalf of
free speech were scoffed at by the
very demagogues who had reached the
Senate by a clamor against the intol-
eiance of the "slave power" After a
protracted resistance through til G
whole night, and until near nine
o'clock on Saturday morning, brute
force at last triumplled, aud this out
rageous amendment was carried. 1t
extends the application of the act by
which the marines were paraded at i
the polls in Philadelphia, and troops
in New York, to every cleo
ton precinct in the United States, and
the appointment of super
visors of elections, with power to call
in the United States marshal and
special deputies appointed by him
without limit. 1t proposes a partisan
police of more than 1000 mer.
This monstrous attempt to invade
The States, and control the elections by
federal agents and the presence of
oayonets, is the most daring of the
many acts of despotism yet ventured
oy the party in power. The object is
1ot only to seize the polls in the
Southern States, but to apply this
desperate expedient to New York and
pennsylvania, Il c Ii are regarded
likely tO defiant Grant Tho non,o |