, 1873-01-14

| nand OF Fedetal power TO comD1nhIlon OF lew
less men. It bad been stated by Mr.. Gheldo,
that this investigation WAS due the President o
! tho United States, and to Judge Durel, whict
meant that the object was to vhitewash thes'
men, who had iute1posed 1awless1y to overthrow
1ighiful, and constitutional, and regular Gov
ernment Of q Stnte. He (Kerr) was opposed II
| all such wIitewashing propositions.
Mr. DAWES What remedy does the gentle
| man propose 7"
/ 1Ir. KERR-Tho remedy ia as c1ear. as the
! light OF the sun. It consists alone in the Fed
| eral Government keeping it's hands OF the law
| loss power Of the people OF Louisiana, aud sui
| fcring them to 60 on in tue exercise Of tholl
| own power under tho Constitution in reorganiz-
| ing and re-establishiug order ii their oWu
State.
hIr. SMITH CN. Y.)-suppose the Presiden
| tial election hed turned OIL tho vote of Louis.
iana, would we not lave civil war in every State
Of tho Unona
Afr KERR-I do not gee any necessity fol
civil war arising out Of these Louisiana troubles
except for this lawloss Interference. It is true
that II this laWless interference had not taken
place first the part Of the Federal Judiciary in
Louisiana, and then on the part OF this Admins.
not bo cast for Grant. But now what ia the
remedy? Take off this lawless power and give
back to these people the right to control their
dcstinies within the letter and spirit Of the Con-
stitutlon OF the United 6tates.
Mr.: STEVENSON opposed the Ieaolntion ,.argu-
ing TINT there we're no Less than five Committees
in the two Houses. that had now Jurisdiction
over the question. viz: Tie Ku-klux Com
mittee, the Select COMMITTEES sent last winter to
Louisiana, the two Election Committees, and
tho resolution, saying something should be left
to time, tho great healer that Louisiana should
be left to take care Of hurseif, and that Con-
gress should be done with tho everlasting gues-
themselves somewhat. II they cannot havo
peace, let them havo trouble. He wouldn't care
il sonab Of these violent Radicals down there cut
each other's throats.
Mr. COX supported the resolution, desiring no
er parte statement by the Executive, but both
sides Of the question, SO Congress might deter-
mine the proper course. - 2
Mr.. POLAND argued that tho question WAS
mere election contest, and purely OF Judicial
nature. One party hnd gotta decision in ltsfavor,
right or wrong. It was the duty Of tho E1ecu-
tive to prevent civil war and anarchy, and TINT
he had done.
Mr.. HALE NIaine) supported the resolution,
arguing that tho 1 "caspet-bagg,n Government isn't
might have brought defeat upon it, but for other
overpowering considerations. Tho Republican
party will be held responsible in the future, it
anarchy and corruption prevailed in tho South
ern States, and. therefore, he wanted some Kind
OF fundamental action.
Mr. BINGHAM sustained, and
Mr. PORTER opposed. =
Mr. DAWES opposed the resolution, stating
thero was more trouble with existing facts than
with my effort to search after others. The Con-
stitution imposed On the Executive the duty Of
when there is conflict in State,
which Of the two WAS the Government de jdcto,
and not de jure, and Congress was not to set up
BY enactment one set Of officers, but to decide
on its part who we're de facto officers. Tho qnes-
tion Of who were the de jure officers should be
left to the State Courts. Thus far, the Presi~
dent had acted in conformity with his duty.
Mr. SHELLABARGER endorsed Mr. Dawes
viewB, and Mess1s. POLAND and ELDRIDGE
those Of Mr. Kerr.
Mr.. GARFIELD offered, as a substitute,
resolution referring the Presidents message on
HE subject Of Louisiana to the Judiciary Com
tnittee, with Instructions to report whether any
FACTS in the case require action by Congress.
adopted.
PACIFIC RAILROADS.
On motion Of Mr.. HIBBARD, the rules we're
to allow his proposition in reference
10 the Pacific Railroads to be in order as an
amendment to the Legislative Appropriation
bill
Mr.. SARGENT moved the suspension of tho |
:ules to enable him to Offer Is an amendment to
he same bill, proposition directing the Attor- |
ley General to institute suit in equity against
he Pacific Railroad Companies to ascertain
whether they are in defnult to the Government.
Without vote, the House