Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-01-14

original painting known as the FRS
Reading Of the EHdneipGtiOg ProclG
nation.
BY Mr.. Hill: To equalize newspapel
! postage.
By Mr.. SchofeId: For taking the cen
sus of various Indian tribes.
BY Mr.. Morey: To aid Ia rebuilding
| levees on the Mississippi river.
By Mr.. Coburn: To simplify the &C
counts of disbursing officers; also tC
limit the time for presentation and de-
cision of claims for commissary stores
also to repeal the law that prohibits per-
sons in the military service from obtain
ing royalties on inventions; also for the
establishment of large arsenal of con-
struction and repair, powder depot and
improving ground, at a suitable point
east Of the Allegheny mountains, and
for the discontinuance and disposal OF
some of the smaller arsenals.
Mr.. Kelley offered the following resO-
ton, which was adopted:
ResOlUed, That the Judiciary Commit
tee be instructed to inquire into the con-
duct of Edward II. Durell, Judge of the
United States District Court for the dis
trict of Louisiana, and ascertain and re-
mittee, be has, for the purpose of over
throwing or controlling the organization
of the government of the State of Louisi-
ana, usurped jurisdiction not vested in
said District Court by the Constitution
or laws of the United States; and to re-
port articles proposing the impeachment
of said Edward II. Durell if, in the judg-
ment of the committee, he has abused
.,
of jurisdiction and unlawful interference
with the constitutional privileges and
rights Of the people of said State; and
that the committee have power to send
for persons and papers.
Mr.. Hibbard New Hampshire intro
duced, and moved the previous question,
on the passage Of bill repeating the
section of the army appropriation bill
Of March 8, 1871, which requires the
payment to the Pacific Railroad Com
pany of one-half of the charges for
the transportation of mails and Govern
ment supplies, instead of allowing a de-
duction to meet the payment of interest
on their bonds.
Mr.. Sargent moved to lay the bill on
the table, which was egatived-yeas
II, nays l63.
The morning hour having expired,
the bill went over without further action
until next Monday.
Mr.. Beck moved to suspend the rules
and pass the bill repeating the law for
the irOn-clad test-Oath. Lost-ayes,
l23; nays, Sc; less than two-thirds vot-
ing in the affirmative.
Mr.. Sheldon moved to suspend the
rules and pass the concurrent resolution
for the appointment of a joint select
committee of three Senators and six
Representatives to inquire into the
Louisiana election, and report whether
there is any legal government there,
and if there are two sets of persons
to exercise the authority.
which should be recognized by Congress,
with power to take testimony in Wash
ington and Louisiana, and to send for
persons and papers.
Pending the vote the rules were sus-
pended to allow an hours debate. Mr..
Sheldon opened the debate by a state
ment showing the necessity and pro-
Driety Of the investigation proposed.
He said that it was due to the President
Of the United States, who had been at
lacked for his action in the matter; it
was due to Judge Durell, and it was due
10 the representatives Of that State, and
10 the people of that State. If there had
been corrupt and extraordinary proceed
ngs there, the masses of the people of
both pdrties were entirely innocent OF
hem.
Mr.. Eldridge suggested that Judge
Durell did not claim to be acting as
1 United States Judge. but Viceregent
If Almighty God, sitting to dispense
ustice.
Mr.. Sheldon-He is a United States
Judge nevertheless. | do not say
whether he has done right or wrong,
pass no opinion OF his action, let him
abide the consequence of his acts. Il
therefore, propose this investigation in
10 party spirit, but in the spirit of peace
md good government.
Mr.. Butler Massachusetts, opposed |
he resolution, arguing that the inves- !
igatiOn would not be closed before the |
lose Of Congress, and that the proper
.Ourse would be the passage of the bill |
low pending before the Judiciary Com |
nittee for the appointment of a Com |
charged with having a new
nd fair election in the State of Louisi- |
md. He argued that neither the War |
moth nor Piuchbeck governments had |
NY legal standing.
Mr.. Farnsworth replied to Buffers |
and supported the resolution. |
Before Congress could take the ground |
hat there was no State Government in |
louisiana, it would be necessary to turn |
Ut the men now sitting as Senators and /
from that State.
Mr.. Butler-The State had a govern
nent when they were admitted.
Mr.. Farnsworth-But their office /
eases as soon as the State Government
eases.
Mr.. Kerr regarded Mr.. Buffers propo-
itiOn not only as untenable, but as
nonstrous. No one could deny that
louisiana had a constitution that
vas republican in form. 1t had
eel organized, he continued, under
dictation, and the Repub-
can party should not go back so soon
n its own offspring. 1t had been made
y the people of Louisiana, after man
er, and had been overthrown alone by
be lawless conduct of one man, aided
Y many others of an equally bad and
evolutionary character and infamous
arpOse; and that one man WIS an Off
er of the Federal Government, and
OF Of the State Government at all. 1t
las the Judge of the United States Dis
rict Court in Louisiana, who, without
ne single scintillation of legal right or
uthority, undertook to step in between
he people of Louisiana and the result
legal and constitutional election
ad in that State, and to put it in the
over of a combination and a clique
here to take control of the State Gov
rnment by overruling the popular will.
hey all know that the infamous Pinch
eek government was not elected by
he people of Louisiana, and did not
aim to have been so elected. 1t was
n the purpose of setting aside the judg-
lent of the people that this infamous
udge gave the hand of Federal power
, a combination of lawless men.
. had been stated by Mr.. Sheldon that
lis investigation was due to the
of the United States and to
ldge Durel; which meant that the
1ject was to whitewash these men,
no had inteTposed lawlessly to over
ROW the rightful, constitutional and
,gular Government of a State. He
Kerr was opposed to all such white !
ashing propositions.
Mr.. Dawes-What remedy does the
entleman propose?
Mr.. KeTr-The remedy is as clear to
e as the light of the sun. It consists
one in the General Governnne keep
e its hands of lawless power off the
sOple of Louisiana, and suffering them !
go on in the exercise of their own
)wers under the constitution, in reor- {
tniZing and establishing order in their