New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-17
BY TELEG GRAPH.
CONGRESS.
Senate.

CONGRESS.
Senate.
WASHINGTON, December l6.-The Senate
Finance Committee reported adversely tc
the bill authorizing partial payments OF
duties in greenbacks. -.. ...
The bill placing the telegraph lines CON
Meeting tho Capitol and the departments
under the control Of General Babcock was
passed.
The bill removing the political disabilities
OF William Steele, of Texas. was referred.
Mr.. Morton made long speech in favor
OF Mr. Pinchback. Mr.. McCreery speaks
tomorrow. -
Mr.. Chandler. of Michigan, introduced a
bill to amend the act relating to licenses
and the enrolment OF certain vessels Of com
merce.
Mr.. Anthony, of Rhode Island, introduced
bill appropriating $500 for the repair of
the monument erected at Newport, Rhode
Island, to the memory OF Chevalier De
Turney. In introducing the bill he spoke
in terms of praise OF the services of that
otfis in 1880. Passed.
MIR. Morton asked that the resolution Of
fered by him yesterday in regard to the ad-
mission Of Pinchback to the Senate be
taken up.
Mr.. Ferry. of Connecticut, had hoped
that this subject would be postponed until
after the holidays. A report of the facts
surrounding the credentials should be had
These facts had been Investigated last ses-
sion by a committee of the Senate. He
would not object to the resolution being
taken up now, but would object to q vote
being pressed this week, as he desi ed to
say something.
Mr.. Fenton. OF New York, inquired what
aH. tho dor ,f a.,
would have on the resolution reported by
the Committee on Finance; if the former
would be set aside BY the latter being
taken up.
The chair replied that the resolution of
the Committee on Finance was in regular
order under expiration OF the morning
hour-one o'clock.
Mr.. FentOn then gave notice that to-
morrow he would address the Senate on the
resolution reported by the Committee on
Finance.
Mr.. Salisbury. OF Delaware, hoped the
resolution OF the Senator from Indiana
would go over until after the holidays,
when it could be discussed calmly and de-
hberately.
Mr.. Stockton, of Kew Jersey, thonght it
an absurd proposition to admit Pinchback
on his credentials; he denied that those
credentials showed a prima facie case.
Morning hour expired and the chair an
nounced that the resolution reported by the
Finance Committee, on Wednesday last,
was in regular order.
Mr.. Morton moved to Law aside the regu-
lar order and proceed with the considera-
ton OF the resolution to admit Pinchback
offered by him. Agreed to. Mr.. Morton
then addressed the Senate in favor of his
resolution. He argued that the invesriga-
tiUn of last winter into Louisiana matters
had nothing to do with the present case and
he protested against having this case, over
laid by that sort OF argument and talk. He
did not mean that this case should be rushed
through without consideration, but there
were rights involved and the resolution las
in every sense a privileged question.
He denied that this was a question of
politics, but question OF law. He thought
this case similar to that of Goldthwalte,
and argued that Pinchback should be ad-
mitted and the legality Of his election de-
cided atterward. If it was the purpose to
call in question the character of the Legis
lature electing MIR. Pinchback it could not
be done until after his admission.
AS to the question of Mr.. Kellogg being
Governor of Louisiana, Mr. Morton held
that he is, and his title to that office is indis-
putable. His right had been recognized in
The most overwhelming manner, and the
Senate could not go behind it. Mr.. Kellogg
was IN cOnplete possession Of the office,
and had been so for nearly twelve months.
He had been recognized AS Governor by the
other State officers, and by the Legislature
of the State in various ways. That Legis-
lature had twice canvassed the election re-
turns and declared Mr.. Kellogg Governor
Again, he had been recognized by the
various courts in the State from the highest
to the lowest, by the House Of Representa-
tives and the President OF the United
States. He had collected taxes and en-
forced the laws, performing all matters
pertaining to the office of Governor. Mr..
Morton declared his belief that Louisiana
was better governed now than she had been
for the past seven or eight years, or since
the close OF the war.
There was more peace and good order
there now, and no considerable number of
people in the State desired the impeach-
ment of Kellogg. The solid men of the
State supported him, as they thought more
of peace and protection than they did of
mere party triumph. He sent to the clerks
desk and had read a statement showing the
amount of taxes collected to be larger than
heretofore during similar period, and ar
gued that the credit OF the State to-day was
better than before.
He denied The right of the Senate to say
that Kellogg was not Governor, after both
lives had acknowledged him to be Gov
ernor. Mr.. Morton then had read the
proclamation of the President of May %,
1873, and dispatches of Attorney General
Williams, sent by order of the President,
the Kellogg government.
The President had, he said, also acknOwl-
edged the Legislature of the State. The one
which elected Pinch 5a, k was the only Legis-
lature which ever acted.
1t would hardly be pretended on this
floor that General McMilien, elected by the
seat here. The Kellogg Legislature had
been sustained by the courts. The Su-
preme Court of Louisiana, composed Of men
of the highest ability, and there could be
no question as to the legality of the tri
bunal. The decision Of d State tribunal
upon any question of the laws of the State
was final, and from which decision there
is no appeal. The United States is bound
by such decision.
He did not believe in the doctrine of State
sovereignty, but did believe in the doctrine
OF State rights. He believed that the State
had rights which were sacred and inviOlate,
and Congress had no right to encrOach
upon them. If the States have not the
right to pass upon their own law, then there
is an end to State government.
Mr.. Stockton inquired as to what power
Congress lad to oyerturn the State govern
ments of the South under the reconstr
ton acts.
MIR. Morton replied that it was done by
Congress, aud not by the Senate alone. 1t
was the exercise of a great power, but
Congress had authority to do it. Continu-
ng his argument, he said the Supreme
Court of Louisiana had the right to pass
upon the legality of the returning board of
,be State, and from that decision there was
40 appeal.
Mr.. Stockton declared that all great