New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-01-14

|
Mr.. Sheidon-He is United States Judge,
nevertheless. do not say whether he has
done right or done wrong. 1 pass no oninion
on MS action. II right, let him be vindi-
Gated. If wrong, let him abide the c0nse,
quences OF his actions. l therefore proDose
inns investigation in no party, but in the
spirit OF peace and good government.
Mr. Butler, of Massachusetts, opposed
the resolution, arguing that the inyestiga-
ton would not be closed before tLr cIosa of
this Congress, and that the proper course
would DE the passage of bill now before
the Judiciary Committee for the appoints
ment of commission charged with having
new and fair election in the State Of
Louisiana. He argued that neither the
Warmoth nor the Pinchback governments
had any legal standing.
| Mr.. Farnsworth, of Illinois, replied to
Buffers argument, and supported the reso-
luton. Before Congress could take the
| ground that there was no State government
in Louisiana, 1t would be necessary to turn
out the men now sitting as Senators and
Representatives from that State.
Mr.. Butler-The State had government
when they we're admitted.
Mr. FarnsWorth-But their office ceases
| as soon as the State government ceases.
| Mr.. Kerr, of Indiana, regarded But.
| lers propositions not only as untena
| able, but as mOnstrouS. No one
| could deny that Louisiana has
constitution that was republican in form.
| 1t had been organized under congressional
dictation, and the Republican party could
| not go back so soon on its own offspring.
1t had been made by the people of Louisi-
ana, and after manner it had. not been
Overthrown by the people of Louisiana.
| 1t has been overthrown alone by
the lawless conduct of one man, aided
by many others equally as bad, and
revolutionary in character, and as infae
| nous Of purpose. That one man was an
| officer OF the federal government, not of the
| State government at all. 1t was the Judge
| of a United State District Court in Louisi-
| ana who, without one single scintilla of
| legal right or authority, undertook to step
| between the people of Louisiana and the
result of leg al and constitutional election
held in that State, and to put it in the
| power of a combination and cliaue there to
| take control of the State government by
overruling the popular will They all knew
that the infamous Pinchback government
was not elected by the people of Louisiana,
and did not claim to have been so elected.
1t was for the purpose of setting aside
the Judgment OF the people that that infam-
GUS judge gave the hand of the federal
powers to combination of lawless men,
1t has been said by Mr.. Sheldon that this
investigation was due to the President of
the United States and to Judge Durell,
which meant that the object was to white
wash these men who had interpOsed law
lessly to overthrow rightful. and consti-
tuti0nal, and regular government of q
State. He (kerr) was opposed to all such
WhlteWashlng propositions.
Mr.. Dawes, Of Massachusetts-W rem
edy does the gentleman propose2
Mr. kerr-Ihe remedy is as clear to me
as the sight of the sun. 1t consists alone
in the federal government keeping it's hands
OF lawless power off the people of Louise
ana, and suffering them to 90 on in the exs
ercise of their own power under the COM
stitution in reOrganizing and establishing
order in their own State.
Mr.. Smith, of New York-Suppose the
presidential election had turned on the vote
of Louisiana, would we not have civil war
in every State of the Unioni
Mr.. Kerr do not see any necessity for
civil war arising out of these Louisiana
troubles, except for the lawless interfer-
ence. 1t is true that if this lawIess inter
ference had not taken place first on the
part of the federal judiciary in Louisiana,
and then on the part of the administration,
the electoral vote of Louisiana would not
be a case for President Grant. But now
what is the remedy! Take off the lawless
power and give back to the people the right
to control their destinies within tho letter
and spirit of the constitution of the United
States.
Mr.. Stevenson, of Ohio, opposed the reso-
luton, admitting that there were no less
than five committees in the two Houses that
had now jurisdiction over the question.
There was the Ku-Klux committee, which
was, or is supposed to be- in existence;
there was the select committee which was
sent to Louisiana last winter, and there
were the two Election Committees and the
Judiciary Committees. If matters went on
as they were going, Congress would have
to keep up a standing committee on Lou
isiana.
Mr.. FarnswOrth asked Stevenson how the
Committee on Elections could get jursdc-
ton on the question.
Mr.. Stevenson replied that a vacancy for
a member of the House had been filled at
the last election, and that the contest for
the seat was now before the Committee of
Elections He went on to argue against
the resolution, urging that something
should be left to time, the great healer;
that Louisiana should be left to take
care of herself, and that Congress-
should be done with this everlasting Gues-
tion of reconstruction. Let them (said hep
construct themselves somewhat. If thew
can't have peace, let them have trouble
somewhat. | would not much care if some
OF those violent rascals down there should
cut each others throats.
Mr.. Cox, Of New York. supported the
resolution. He wanted the facts to come
out. He wanted no exparts statement by
the executive. He wanted to have both
sides of the question, so that Congress might
be able to determine the proper course te9
be pursued.
Mr.. Pollard, of Vermont, argued THAI
however much information Congress might
get on the subject, it would not authorize
any action by Congress. 1t was mere,
question of contest as TO the result of an
election. IT Congress were to interfere,
then whenever there was q contest in any
State. Congress would be called upon to in
terfere to decide the question. 1t was9
purely a judicial question, and the duty
of both sides was to resort to the Jude
cal tribunals of the State. One side i19
the contest had done so, and had
got decision in its favor 1t WAS not for
him to inquire whether that decision was
right or wrong. 1t was the duty of the ex-
ecutive to see that the people Of Louisiana
did not get into civil war and anarchy, anG,
that he had done.
Mr.. Sheldon said that Judge Durell had
never passed on the question of the Govern
orship, as there was no controversy about,
it until to-day when the Inauguration of the
Governor would take place.
Sir. Poland replied that the decision cJi'
Judge Durell was p,'Ima facie decision in
favor OF one side. The President had done
Just exactly what was his duty by saying
10 the people Of Louisiana that thcF should
not get into civil war ON thaT qut-jion, and
he would use the power of the government,
to keep the peace there.
M, Hale, Of Maine, supported the resC"
utiOD, and argued that the carpet-bagging
governments in the Southern States had
brought disgrace on the Republican party, o
and might have brought defeat to it in the
ast elections but for other Overpowering
The Republican party how
ever, would be responsible in the future if