Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-06-29
KelIogg's Force Bill.

Il
thus closes an editorial:
The latest outrsgo perpetrated b,
the Radical majority engages. atten
tion ut this time, and be attended will
important consequences. AS they haze
culpably neglected the public business
after having passed q resolution il
January to adjourn on the twentieth
OF May-it became necessary to adept
some rule By which the appropriation
could be passed within the time last
fixed for closing the session. The
Democratic minority willingly assent.
ed, and the following rule was adopted
instead OF the customary form Of gen.
eral consent The object was to avoid
all possibility OF misunderstanding OH
the subject:
Resotred, That during the present
session it shall be in OF der at any time
to move a recess; and pending an ap.
preparation bill, to move to ceufine de-
bate on amendments thereto to five
minutes By any Senator on the pend.
ing motion; and such motions shall be
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 he more ex.
plicit or fOrcible to express the purpose
Of this rule, which was to limit the
amendments strickly to the objects of
appropriation, and to exclude that
virious 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 a perfect agreement on both sides.
On Friday last some of the Radicals
found this rule too rigid for certain
private interests, and application was
made to the Democratic side to relax
il for their benefit. 1t was refused
upon the ground that ii the door was
once opened partisan amendments
would DC introduced. This objection
was met by positive assurance given
to Mr.. Stockton and others by several
Republican Senators that no sue 4
purpose was entertained.
This was the condition of facts I'M
der which the Senate met after the re-
cess op Friday evening, with the mis-.
cellaneOus appropriation bill pending.
Suddenly, and without notice of any
kind, Mr.. kellogg, carpet Dagger from
Louisiana, moved an amendment
covering the bill to carry elections BIZ
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 IRE.
pareti with the amendment printed for
on his own side, without
any authority from the Senate. How
the public printer could do that work,
while orders regularly made are large
~ in arrears, may become the subject
Of inquiry. As i: was withheld from
the Democrats, Mr.. Casserly asked the
to be passed over, tempo
rarily, SO that it might be examined.
There was reason for such scrutiny.
az this same Mr.. Kellogg had attempt,
ed to smuggle House bill tor the
election in Louisiana through the Sem
ate, by representing it to be identical
with one already passed in that body,
when an examination shove d
that there were very material differen.
ces between the two. s tsa
Although this amendment fragrant.
" violated the rule, it was held tn he
in order by Mr.. Anthony, the prpsid.
ing officer, who was, of course. sus-
tanned by the drilled train. bands that
had already decided the question in
The Democrats remonstrated
in vain against so palpable violation
OF honor. This protests in behalf of
free speech were scOffed at by the very
who had reached the Sen
ate By o clam0r against tile Intolerance
Of the "slaye p0wer.n After prO.
resistance through the whole
night, and until fear nine o'clock ON
morning, brute force at last
triumphed, and this Outrageous amend.
ment was carriesL 1t extends the an.
pllcation of the act by which the
marines were paraded at the polls in
Philadelphia, and troops mustered in
New York, TO every election precinct
in the United States, and authorizes
the appointment of supervisors OF cleo
tons, with power to call in the United
States marshal and special deputies
appointed by him without limit. Il
proposes partisan police OF more
than 1OO, OO0 men. az
This monstrous attempt to invade
the States, and control the elections
oy federal agents and the presence of
oayOnets, is the most daring of the
many acts Of despotism yet ventured
" the party in power Tho object is
not only to seize the polls in the South.
ern States, but to apply this desperate
expedlent to New York and Peuusyl.
wanna, which are regarded likely to de-
'gae 1rane The Democrats in the
House promptly determined to oppose
Inc conspiracy by the use OF every
riQhf. and fhnu cn;..x