The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1873-03-01
LOUISIANA IN CON6RESS--REPORT OF
THE COMMITTEE.

"AS01NOIONs
Mr.. Carpenter, from the Committee on
on the credentials of Messrs. McNillen
and Ray, each claiming to be the legal
elected Senator from louisiana, accom-
panied by bill providing for new
election, for the purpose Of ofestablishing
in Louisiana Republican form of gov
ernment. 1fr. Trumbull said that
while he concured In most of the views
of the majority, he did not concur in
their recommendation, or favor the
passage Of the bill reported by them.
He presented his views in writing that
they might be printed with the report.
Mr.Morton said. "While dissent from
the report Of the majority recommend
ing that the recent election in Louisiana
be set aside and a new one be ordered
under the authority Of the Govern
ment Of the United States, dissent
also from tho views of the other men,
bers of the committee who would re-
cognize what is called the McEnery
to be printed with the report" Mr..
Hill submitted his views, dissenting
from the report of the majority, recon-
mending that the members of the Lou
isiana Legislature be declared legally
elected by both returning boards, to be
called together at the State-House rs
the Legislature Of the State, and that
they then proceed to count the election
returns and declare who are the legally
elected State officers.
Mr.. Anthony said that, while he
agreed with the majority Of the COM
mittee in their relation Of facts, and
also in their conclusion that there is no
legal State Government in Louisiana,
he was yet so reluctant to resort to the
extreme measure Of interposing the
authority OF Congress, that he should
reserve his judgment for time, to see
whether better way OF meeting the
case could not be found.
The several reports were ordered to
be printed, and the matter goes over
under the rules.
THE BILL.
The bill reported by Mr.. Carpenter
from the special committee on LOuisi-
ana matters, declares the election held
on tho 4th OF last November, to be null
and void, and rcinstatcs in Office tho
State officers and Legislature, who held
possession at that time. 1t further re-
quires new election to be held for
State officers and members of the Leg
islature on the second Tuesday of next
May, and directs VIM. B. Woods, Uni
ted States Circuit Judge for Louisiana,
to proceed to Louisiana, and appoint
two citizens of different politics to be
State registrars, who shall cause now
registration to DO made of all the legally
qualified voters Of the State, commence
ing March 18th and ending ten days
prior to the date Of the election: the
snid registrars to appoint two supervi-
sOrs of registration for each parish,
except jefferson and Orleans, for which
greater number arc to be appointed,
and in each parish registrars arc to be
divided in politics.
Tho President is empowered to em-
ploy military and naval forces on
application Of the Governor Of the State
or United States Circuit Court, to carry
out the provisions of this act and en-
force judicial process. Two hundred
thousand dollars is appropriated to de-
fray the expenses of registration and
election.
MAJORITY REPORT.
The committee reviews the testimony
at length, and gives various extracts
from the testimony from the status OF
Louisiana and from the enforcement
act of tho United States. The testimo-
ny does not show that voters were dis
franchiscd in many instances on ac-
count Of race or previous condition OF
servitude, and therefore the law Of tho
General Government was not violated
sufficiently to authorize the interference
OF Durell. The injunction placed by
the Eighth District Court of the State
| upon the counting OF the returns by the
Lynch board was legal and should have
been reported.
| The whole interference OF the United
States Court in the organization Of tho
| Legislature is gross usurpation. The
| constitution expressly gives to each
State tho organization OF its own Leg
islnture. A member has no right tt
| contest for his seat before court OF thu
! United States. 1t Is therefore eviden
that such court has no authority t
| seat a hundred members at the instance
! Of the Lieutenant Governor.
| In this connection it becomes TIN
painful duty Of the committee to expres
their opinion Of the action Of Judg'
Durell. A proceeding 80 manifest.
illegal has never come before Congre,
for its consideration, in connection witt
n court Of the United States, and th
committee fails to find words witt
which to express their nbhorrence {
the action Of Darrell.
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