Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-01-09
CONGRESSIONAL.
The President Called on for InfOrma-
ton in Regard to the Disper'
sion Of the Louisiana
legislature.
Information Wanted in Regard to the
Gibson Csdnty Affair.
Butler Introduces a Bill for a New
Election in Louisiana.


Election in louisiana
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. s-Mr. Sargent
moved that the Senate proceed to the con-
sidera.ion of House bill making apprOpria-
tions for the naval service for the year end
| ing June so, 1876. Agreed to. The bill
was thenread and the amendments reported
/ by the committee cOncurred in.
Mr.. Sargent said the total amount ap-
| pTopriated by the bill was a little over
| S16,O00,000, somewhat larger than the ap-
| preparation last year.
The bill was then read the third time
and passed.
Mr. Lewis, Of Virginia, int reduced a
bill to aid the Washington and Ohio Rail-
road Company in the construction OF its
road to the Ohio River. Referred.
The Senate then resumed the eonsidera-
ton Of the unfinished business, being the
resolution Of Mr.. Thurman in regard to
the Louisiana troubles.
Mr.. Bayard said two years ago be intro
duced resolution calling upon the Presi-
dent for information in regard to the con-
duct Of Major Lewis Merrill, Of the United
States army, in South Carolina. Then as
now the Senator from New York (Mr.
COnkling) offered the amendment, leaving
it discretionary with the President to an
sWer that resolution, which amendment
passed the Senate on the Sd of March
1876, and to this day the President had treat
ed il with contempt and silence. With full |
knowledge Of the conduct of Major Morrill, |
in South Carolina he had been sent to green !
fields and pastures, and is now in LOuisi- !
ana. Never since the time when the |
American Colonies hsd separated them |
selves from Great Britain, had the people |
Of this country been brought face to face |
with greater questions than those Of to-day. |
The issue was whether we should have a !
free Government or a military dictator |
ship.
Mr.. Bayard discussed the issues present |
ed in the Louisiana question at considera- |
bic length, condemniDg in the strongest |
terms the course Of the President.
Mr.. SchuTz said he desired to speak in /
regard to Louisiana, but was too much in i
disposed to do so to-day. He then offered /
the following resolution, and gave notice /
that he would call it up for consideration |
Monday:
Resolved, that the Committee on the
Judiciary be instructed to inquire what
legislation by Congress is necessary to Sc
cure to the people Of Louisiana their rights
under the Constitution, and to report with
the least possible delay by bill or other
wise.
Mr.. Clayton submitted a resolution re-
questing the Attorney General OF ihs United
States to communicate to the Senate 4 copy
Of the report Of the United States 4ss0I-
ney for the Western District Of Tennessee,
relating to the massacre in ,hd district
last summer.
Mr.. Cooper submitted an an 1dment 50
as to include all communicate on that
subject which passed between lie Rxecu-
tive Of the State Of Tennessee aad The
President Of the United States.
The amendment was accepted ani7eSO-
luton agreed to.
The question then being on the a1ae1f-
ment of Mr.. COnkling 10 insert in. tie ros-
olution Of Mr.. Thurman calling on lbe
President for information in regard 10 he
Louisiana trouble the words, s'if ft in4l
compatible with. The Pablis inSo-l 80
was agreed 10, yeas 81, nays y.
Mr.. Morton offered an amendment 70 add
the following words: "Or whether has
any information in regard 70 the exi. anca
in the State Of Louisiana, Of an arm . or
ganizatiOn hostile 10 the government r tlrs
State, and intent on OyeTthroWinl Heh
State government by force"
Mr.. MerrimOn moved 10 amend tha |
amendment as follows: "And particularly
whether the persons whom be has rec7
nized as the official authorities Of sl
State Of Louisiana were elected accOr--
ing to the Constitution and laws
Of that State, and, if so, how
and by what means he ascertained
such fact, and whether other persons than
those recognized by him as such authOri-
ties claim 10 be the lawful authorities Of
said State, and upon what grounds the last
mentioned persons claim TO be said lawful
authorities; with all the evidence furnished |
the Executive Department by said persons
to sustain said claim, and all cOmmunica-
tons between the Executive Department
and said persons in reference 10 said
claims, and all information be had aud has
to that effect
Mr.. Morton asserted that there were
armed men in the South who defied all law.
He (MOrtOn) had no doubt there were more
men killed for political ofIenses in LOUisi-
ana than had been killed in all the Indian !
wars for the last twenty years. This whole
thing looked to him as if it was a precOn-
certed plan to eXterminate the Republican
party in every Southern State. Then the
Democrats would carry every one Of those
States, and all they had to do would be TO
get one or two Northern States and thus !
elect the next President.
Mr.. MeuimOn withdrew his amendment,
and the amendment submitted by Mr.. Nor
ton was agreed to.
Mr.. Sargent submitted an amendment to |
insert in Mr.. Humans resolution after
the word Senate, where it last occurs, the ;
words "undeT what circumstances, so that
the resolution should read as follows:
Resolved, that the President Of the Uni |
ted States is hereby requested to inform the
Senate, if not Incompatible with the public
interest, whether any portion Of the army !
Of the United States, or any officer or Off
GERS, or soldier or soldiers Of such army, did
in any manner interfere or intermeddle
with, control or seek to control
the organization Of the General Assembly or
the State Of louisiana, or either Of the {
branches thereof, on the 4th inst, and I
whether any person or persohs-
seats in either branch Of said {
Legislature have been deprived thereof, or S
prevented from taking the same By any
such military force, officer, or soldier, and q
If such has been the case, then the '
President inform the Senate under what ]
and by what authority Z
such military intervention and inter {
ference have taken place, and whether he {
has any information in regard to the exist t
ence in the State Of Louisiana Of an armed [
hostile to the government Of I
the State, and intent upon OVerturning such '
State government by force.
The amendment of Mr.. Sargent was Z
agreed to, and the resolution adopted as q
{
The Senate adjourned till Monday. I
HOUSE.
AsTTNGrnN Ian On rnntinr of {