Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-10

I
affairs, but adjourned without coming +
any conclusion. Only a few Senators ex
pressed themselves in favor of intervention
and even these were not agreed as to tn
exact form of movement. Other
were disposed to postpone action, a
the present condition Of the State did no
seem to Justify Congressional measures
All accounts represent the people generally
to be satisfied with their present govern
ment, with no cause for violent disturb
ance.
The question Of the condition of Louisi
ana was also discussed. Several Senator
said it would be found on examination tha
the government of
One or Two Other Southern States
had no more legal existencs than that o.
Louisiana, and, therefore, there should bt
an investigation concerning all of them
in order to establish their validity.
SPencer's Sect.
The Alabama Senate has ousted Miller
Republican, and seated Martin, Democrat
| As this affair is of national importance, the
| following review of the facts is given: On
| the organization of the Attorney Generals
compromise Legislature in January, 1873, a
| quorum Of the Courtroom Republican Rep
reSentativeS was seated in the House. In
the Senate the Republicans required one
Senator to make aquOrum, and commenced
contest for Martins seat. The matter
was referred to a committee, who reported
that, counting all the votes, Martin, Demo-
crat, was elected by 269 majority; and that,
counting only legal votes, he was elected
| by 265 majority. But By certain rulings of
Lieutenant Gov. McKinstry, Miller was
seated and Martin Ousted without allowing
the Senate to vote on the question. The
Democrats, fearing that if they did not sub
NIT the Republicans would again withdraw
and set up new courtroom Legislature
and secure Federal recognition, cOntented
themselves with seeing that the journal
stated the facts as they occurred, and with a
formal protest entered at large therein.
1t was this seating of Miller which gave Mr..
Spencer the seat he occupies in the United
States Senate. After the last election, the
Senate holding over, Martin petitioned
for his seat. The petition was referred to
a committee, which reported the foregoing
facts and recommended that the Senate re-
sumo the proceedings at the point where
they had been broken off by McKinstry's
ruling, and proceed with what was in fact
the suspended contest. This was agreed
to, and Martin was declared entitled to his
seat.
Banquet 10 Democratic congressman.
Special to the Cincinnati Commercial.
Fernando Wood has just issued a very
unique card of invitation to the first of the
regular series of entertainments that he
gives in Washington every winter. The
card represents that the occasion will be a
banquet to Democratic and Conservative
Congressman, Sin cOngratulation of the re-
cent elections and bears at the top the
legend, "Justice is slow but sure"
The Republican Senatorial Caucus.
The Republican Senators are unusually
mysterious about the proceedings of their
caucus yesterday, but from creditable
sources it is believed that the following is
the outline lof the proceedings: The first
subject brought before the caucus was the
consideration of the question whether the
fact that Vice President Wilson had resumed
his position as presiding officer of the Sen
ate, made it necessary to elect another Vice
President pro TEN. here in case of the
future absence of Mr.. Wilson. There was
here some contest between the friends of
Matt Carpenter and his opponents, when it
was finally decided that another election
would be necessary, but that Mr.. Carpenter,
in case of the absence of Vice President
Wilson, could continue to be Vice Presi-
dent pro tempOre.
The next subject brought before the
caucus was the proposed change Of the Of
ficers of the Senate. There has for long
time been a strong opposition to Col.
French, Sergeant-at-Arms, on the part of
some Senators, and repeated efforts have
been made to secure his removal, but as
his friends maintain that he has always
proved himself an efficient officer, he has
been permitted to remain. The attempts
to make a change, to-day, were again un-
successful, and the caucus decided that the
officers should remain as at present.
The next subject was the appointment of
a committee TO arrange the order of busi-
ness for the session. Pending the consid-
Grafton of this question, a variety of mo
tiOns were made proposing instructions to
the committee. Among the propositions
was one instructing the committee to pro-
vide for a very early consideration Of the
Arkansas and Louisiana questions. This
motion gave rise TO considerable excited
debate. This motion, and all similar mo-
tioBs to instruct the committee, were final
ly voted down, and the committee was left
to arrange the programme for the session
without restrictions as to subjects.
The Attorney General Comes TO the
Rescue Of Harrington.
The ring influences have been potent, as
it was feared they would be, to persuade
the Attorney General to interfere to pre-
vent a second trial of the safe burglary con-
spiratOrs. 1t seemed perfectly understood,
that while Harrington should proclaim his
desire to have a speedy second trial, the
Attorney General should use his power to
prevent it. In an interview with Mr.. Rid
die to-day, Mr.. Williams stated that the
Indictment was a nullity under the recent
decision of the District Court. He ignored
the fact that in the same decision the court
ruled that the indictment would be good
if the plea in abatement should be with
drawn by any one of the defendants-at
least as far as that defendant was concern
ed; and that yesterday Harrington did
withdraw the plea in his case, and that
therefore the indictment is good in his case.
Then to back himself up, and as if be felt
the weakness of his position, the Attorney
General further explained that he did not
believe fair trial could be had Just at this
time anyhow. His action in putting a
stop TO all proceedings and in promptly dis
charging Mr.. Riddle from further duty in
the case, shows very clearly that he has de-
teImined to prevent a second trial at all
hazards.
An investigation by committee of Con-
greSs into the administration of Justice in
the District, and of the manner in which
the officials of the Department of Justice,
so-called, are used, voluntarily and other
wise, to screen offenders belonging to the
patty, is imperatively demanded. These
fellows seem to think that there is no pow
er able 10 scrutinize their actions and pun
ish them when they do wrong. They ought
to be taught lesson.
The Ohio River Commission
will meet in this city on the 10Th inst. 1t
is composed Of delegates appointed from
Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Pennsylva-
mia, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee, by
the Governors of those States, and the pur-
pose is to agree upon some plan for the i'm