New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-01-19
Discussion ON Louisiana Affafrs-Spirited
Debate in Congress.

brings us a fuller report of the debate in
| the House of Representatives on Louisiana
affairs than was transmitted by telegraph.
report that were omitted by the Associated
Press:
Mr. Sheldon offered resolution authoriz-
ing the appointment of q special committee
of three Senators and six Representatives
to inquire into the election Of State officers
and members of tue Legislature of Louisiana
at the election OF November, 1872; and to
inquire whether, as the result of said cleo
ton, there is any legal and established gov
eminent; whether there are two sets of gov
eminent officials in the State, and what
action should be required of Congre IS in the
premises.
On motion, 1t was agreed that an hour be
devoted to debate.
Mr.. Sheldon said he supposed that before
this hour it was fact that Louisiana had
two State governments, and his object to
inquire was which of these State govern
ments was the legitimate one. Only Con-
gress could determine which was the State
government with which we would hold
practical relations, and it is perfectly con-
sistent, therefore, to prosecute the inquiry
suggested by his resolution. This investi
CATION is due to the President of the United
C'"ISo, "hO hdS bttu dJldChSu IOl
his course, and it is due to Judge Durell,
but more than all to the people of Louis
lana.
Mr.. Eldridge said it was not altogether
certain that Durell WAS a judge of the
United States, for if papers were to be be-
lieved Durell had said he was vicegerent of
GOO in his official capacity, and therefore,
according to his own confession, he was not
United States judge.
Mr. DID rot xI,;a ,axy
tigation WAS necessary. There were I'M
questionably two governments in LOuisi-
ana or, at least, two bodies claiming each
TO be the correct government. He had
no doubt of the power of Congress 70
order new election; but we did not
want this new committee, because before
it could report Congress will have ad-
journed, and Louisiana affairs will have been
left In a state of confusion worse contOund-
ed, and all the result will be that big book
will be printed which no one will ever read.
There is really no Legislature now in Louis
lana, and the State is, in fact, bankrupt,
while the people are gathering their sub
stance and leaving the State. 1t was the
duty of Congress TO act and to guarantee
republican government in form and in
fact. He purposed at the proper time, and
as soon as he had opportunity, to offer
bill declaring that Louisiana had no State
government, and authorizing the appoint
ment of a commission by the House to go
down there to hold fair election, so a gov
eminent might be established which would
have tie respect of the people of Louisiana
and of the people of the Unite States gen
orally.
Mr.. Sheldon inquired whether Congress
had sufficient facts in possession to justify
such action.
Mr.. Butler said Congress had facts
enough, and he did not doubt the power of
Congress to do what had been suggested.
Warmoth seems to have the regular ma
chinery which could declare his government
the proper one, while the members CT the
Pinchback government only had certiti
Gates. He Nould not pretend to say wheth
er WarmOth's returns are correct and legal,
but the fact existed that he had the proper
machinery.
Mr.. Sheldon said Cha: the returns we're
given by the State officers; and the United
States supervisors, of which there were two
at each polling place. had given the GER
titicates.
Mr.. Butler said that was why lie called
one set of papers returns, and the others
certificates. The State officers we're return
ing officers and could make returns; the su-
pervisOrs were only certifying officers. The
returning officers were the proper ones to
be recognized. and it was for Congress to
determine as to the legality of these re-
turns The question to be asked was, were
they the real returnsi The difficulty ID
that in louisiana each man sits i'll judg
ment on his own case. He did not wish to
set up one government over another but he
wanted to know which was the real govern
ment. We have facts enough to know that
there is anarchy in Louisiana.
Mr. Sheldon said there was no proof but
that the State was at perfect peace
Mr. Butler replied that peace and an
archy meant two different things. There
was peace in Louisiana in 1852, but it was
because there were federal bayOnets there.
There was also anarchy, for there was no
State government. Anarchy did not mean
bloodshed, but meant that u State was
without a government.
Mr. Hoar said if il was true, as his col
league said, that there were facts enough
now in possession to justify congressional
interference, the committee could get at
these facts ana report in twenty four hours
Mr. Butler replied that such thing was
never known as 10 committee reporting in
twenty-fcu r hours, or twenty four days
Immediate action. such as be suggested,
was required.
Mr.. FarnswOrth said she face that the
gentlemen differed 90 much as to the facts
shows the necessity for n committee. Mr..
Sheldon comes direct from New Orleans;
and being presumed tie know all the facte,
suggests 10 WhllC nt' buGitts
who comes from another end of the coun-
try, far off from the scene of action, pro-
poses at once to put in the congressional
sickle The only action that Congress ever
took upon cases like this was after an in
yestigation He would not vote to put
sach bill through as Mr.. Butler sug
gested until he could get all the
facts. Upsetting the government OF
State is no trihing matter. AS applied
4 ha If
might not have bad effect, but the preoe- |
dent would not be trit1ing in the future If
il should be applied to Massachusetts,, New |
York or other States. There was anarchy |
in Louisiana, but in his Judgment, not such !
anarchy rs would justify congressional in |
reference When Congress before inter |
fared there was no State government In |
Louisiana Since then State government |
has been organized. and Senators and Rep |
have been in their seats since |
that time. What right had Louisiana to be |
here if it was not State
Mr. Butler said the Representatives and |
Senators were elected when the State had
form of government.
Mr.. Kerr characterized MIR. Buffers
proposition rs subversive OF law and good
order. Louisiana has constitution repub-
ican in form, and II 1t was oVertnro~n AZ
all. il WAS oyerthrOwn by ore man, and he
was 6. federal officer, who had stepped IN
and put in power clique against the judg-
nent of the people: All here ought to
know that the Pincbbaek government was
lot elected by the people, and that 1t does
lot claim to be, and it is said IN behalf OF
Durell that he only wanted TO get at the
correct returns. This was not so, sut it
vas to cover up the returns. 1t was to
overcome the Judgment of the peop e that
his infamous Judge gave tho hand OF power
If the federal government.
Mr. Sheldon, who moved the resolution,
aid il was due to the President and Judge
)nrel that the investigation should take