New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-24
3 Y TELEG GRAPH
CONGRESS.
Senate.

| Se08Ies
| WASHINGTON, April Ex-senator Davis,
| up the bill giving $25, 900, 900 to the West
and South, withdrawn from the surplus of
the East and North.
| The Senate resumed the consideration of
| the Louisiana bill
Mr.. Merrimon, of North Carolina, ad-
| dressed the Senate as to the powers Of the
general government over the States, and
| said the Kellogg government was mill
tary despOrism, set up in defiance of the
| laws and constitution of the State of Louis
| lana. He argued that in addition to the OBJ
legations upon the general government to
Louisiana as one of the States of the Union,
| it was bound by the treaty stipulatiOns
| with France to secure the inhabitants of
that State in their rights and liberties.
He cOntended that Louisiana had never
| been out Of the Union, as the ordinance Of
secession was null and void; hence the re-
| construction acts were null and void. He
denied the right OF a State to secede. The
reconstruction acts were revolutionary on
the part OF Congress. though they were
| binding upon the South now, as the people
had accepted them, and the State govern
ments had been organized under them.
They had also been recognized by the
| revolutionary acts, but having been &C
| cepted on all sides, became valid.
Under these reconstruction acts Louis
lana had organized a government re-
publican in form, and under her constitu-
tion an election was held in 1872, the can
dldates for Governor being McEnery on
one side, and Kellogg on the other. He
read from the constitution Of Louisiana
as to the manner OF counting the returns of
elections and argued the McEnery was the
legally elected Governor. The returns de.
claring him to be elected having been
legally counted. Even if Kellogg had re-
ceived a majority of votes the returns were
not counted as prescribed by the constitu-
ton and laws of the State. Kellogg was a
mere usurper.
1t had been argued that kellogg was de
facto Governor, out he (Merrimonj denied
it. He was no more de factO Governor than
if he (Merrimon) should go before magis-
trate in the District Of Columbia and take
the oath Of Office and set himself up as Gov
ernor of the District, with thousand
roughs at his back.
Before concluding his argument, at 3:45
P. NJ. Senator MerrimOn yielded for a mo-
ton to adjourn. which was agreed to.
Senator Buckingham's bill to enable In
dians to become citizens of the United States,
provides that any Indian shall be declared
citizen of the United States who shall make
application to the Judge of court of re-
cord, and make the same proof and take
the same oath of allegiance as is provided
by law for the naturalization of aliens, and
shall also make proof to the satisfaction of
the court that he has sufficient intelligence
and prudence to control his affairs and in
terests and that he has adopted the habits of
civilized life, and has been for one year
previously, and is able to support himself
and family. 1t is provided however, that
becoming citizen shall not prevent any
Indian from continuing to receive any an
nuity or money payment of any kind to
which he may be entitled as member of |
any tribe, or band Of Indians.
Senator Scott's bill supplementary to the |
act Incorporating the Texas and Pacific |
Railroad Company, ratifes and confirms |
the consolidation heretofore made of the-I
Southern Pacific Railroad Company and the |
Southern Trans-continental Railroad Com |
pany, as authorized and required by the |
laws Of Texas, and provides also that !
of Fort Worth, shall be deemed |
and taken to be a part of the Texas Pacific /
and shall hereafter be subject to
the limitations and provisions of the act |
of Congress approved March 3, 1871, incor-
pOrating the Texas Pacific Railroad Com
pany, and the acts supplemental thereto
Senator Davis bill provides that from
or collected from any bank, cor
poratiOn or association. with or without
created or organized, or doing
business by virtue of any State or Terri
sOrial law any other or greater tax than is
now assessed or collected from national |
banks.
Several financial bills, looking to the re-
distribution of the currency, were intro
1uced.
The bill relieving the political disabilities
Of j. NJ. Burnett passed.
The legislative appropriation bill was
discussed.
An angry personal discussion occurred
between Messrs. Brown, of Kentucky, and
of Connecticut. Mr.. Brown
that Mr.. Stark weather had in
. speech published in the Congressional
Record, inserted an attack on him which had
lot been made publicly in the House, and
lad also printed, a letter written by him
Brown at the opening of the rebellion, and
when he was a mere youth. In retaliation,
le called attention to Stark weather's own
etter to Huntingdon, late cashier of the
first National Bank of Washington, asking
aid for his own election. He
characterized Starkweather as one who
Ombined the ins0lence of "DOgberry"
With the morals of "Peetsniff." Mr..
tarkweather replied and defended him
elf both as to his speech and as to the
huntington letter. The discussion was car