New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-20
THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE.


The committee appointed by Speaker
Blaine. under resolution of the House
of Representatives authorizing the same,
! to visit Louisiana and report upon the ex.
listing state of affairs, is one Of the most
important ever organized, considering
both the magnitude Of its labors. and the
personnel of its members.
Hon. George F. Hoar, Of Massachusetts,.
the chairman. is younger brother of
Hon. E. lockwood Hoar, President
Grants first Attorney General His father.
Hon. Samuel Hoar, OF Concord, who died
at ripe old age just before the war. was
many years ago appointed by his State to
visit South Carolina, and endeavor to
ameliorate the condition of colored citizens
of Massachusetts, visiting Southern ports.
who we're, under the brutal laws then ex.
isting in the South. subject to the grossest
indignities. His mission amounted to
naught, for he was mobbed and driven
out of Charleston. The present Con-
gresham is about fifty years Of age. is
graduate of Harvard. and is now serving
his third term in Congress.
Hon. William A. Wheeler is one of the
ablest lawyers of Northern New York.
He was president of the Constitutional
Convention of that State in 1867, and is
now serving his fourth term in Congress,
where he is chairman Of the Committee
on Commerce.
Hon. William p. Frye, OF Lewiston,
Maine. is graduate Of Bowdoin College,
was for several years Attorney General of
the State, and is now member of the
House Committee on the Judiciary.
Hon. Charles Foster, Of Ohio. ono Of
the ablest men on the floor of the House,
is comparatively a new man in political
life. He is merchant, and is serving his
fourth year in Congress.
Hon. William Walter Phelps, of New
Jersey, is the youngest man on the COM
mittee. He is in his first Congress. and
has unfortunately not been reelected; yet
in the last session he won the best opini ons
tor his able speeches on finance and
kindred topics He has immense railroad
interests in the South. He is graduate
Of Yale, very wealthy, has no love for
politics, and is IS independent as he is
brilliant.
These are che Republican members of
the committee. The Democracy is repre-
sented by Hon. James c. Robinson, OF
Springfield, Illinois, and Hon. Clarkson
N. Potter, of New Rochelle. New York,
neither Of whom has any sympathy with
the Southern White League Democracy.
It is stated, now, that this committee
will leave Washington for this city next
Their investigation here will
be searching and thorough. The North
ern people whom these men represent
Republicans and Democrats-are heartily |
tired of the continued disorders in the |
Southern country, and this committee is
bound to suggest remedy that will pre-
vent them in the future. Five times since |
he war it has become necessary to send
of Congress to New Orleans to
investigate and report upon the lawless-
hess here existing, but never has such
. temper existed in the matter at
he North as now. 1t would be un-
wise to attempt to predict the result,
IS to details. But this can be safely |
aid. The present Congress will not ad-
oura until such legislation is had as will
guarantee full protection to all the citizens
If the land.
If, to accomplish this, it becomes neces-
AIRY to abolish all the Offices, ambition to
cquire which is now the object of the
lungry, turbulent masses, to have the
labeas corpus writ suspended and martial
aw declared, it will most certainly be
lone. All of these are remedies within
he constitution, and are much less severe
ban the evil that is to be combatted. If
his and the other Southern States are
armed cut 10 military commanders to