The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-07
CONGRESSIONAL.
Louisiana AFFAIRS.

LOUISIANA AFFAIRS.
WAsg1SGroS. Jan. 6-House. III
transaction Of some local business, MIR. Hale
of Maine. offered the following resolution:
Whereas the disturbed and revOlutionar
condition of affairs in Louisiana threaten tn
destruction of law, order and civil rule i,
that State; and whereas by section four o
article five of the Constitution, it is made tn
imperative duty of Congress to guarantee I,
every State of the Union a republican form O
government; and whereas in the Judgment o
this House the most practical mode OF render
ing this guarantee etfectual in the case O.
Louisiana, is to remove all sense of wrong
and oppression from the minds Of its people
by a new, fair, well guarded election for theil
civil officers; therefore
Resolred, That the Judiciary Committee
be instructed to prepare and report
without delay bill providing for a new
election Of State officers and Representatives
in Congress, in Louisiana, under such guards
restrictions and guarantees AZ will insure the
fullest liberty to every citizen to exercise the
rights Of suffrage without restraints, and as
will provide for such count and declaration
of the result as will insure to the majority
their constitutional and legal rights.
Mr.. Willard, of Vermont said he should
object to the present consideration of the
resolution in that form. He had no objection
to its being referred to the Judiciary Commit
tee, but he did object to declaration by the
House that it could order an election in Lou
isiana or any other State.
Mr.. Hale remarked that the resolution was
offered only for the purpose of getting IN ex-
preston Of the sentiment Of the House on
this most solemn matter. He did not care
particularly whether the subject went to the
judiciary Committee, or to the Select Com
mittee on Louisiana Affairs, but he wanted an
expression of the House SO that the House
would at once begin to grapple with this i'm
portant matter; 1t was not q new question for
him; he has no doubt that the solution of the
matter was in accordance with what was en-
bodied in his proposition; he had believed SO
for two years, and that conviction had been
strengthened every day.
Mr.. Kasson, OF Iowa, said he desired to in
terpose an objection SO as to prevent debate
in anticipation of the report of the select
committee.
Mr.. Cox, of New York, wanted to know
whether debate on the resolution was to be
general
The Speaker replied that debate could only
proceed by unanimous consent.
MIR. Kasson-Then l object to precipitating
debate at this time.
Mr.. Randall, of Pennsylvania is better
TO preclpltats debate than to precipitate
civil war.
Mr. Willard do not approve, by anv
means, of the course taken in Louisiana dur
ing the last two years, but do object to hav-
ing this House brought at once to vote upon
such an important proposition as the right of
Congress to fix aud determine the election of
State officers.
Mr.. Edridge, Of Visit seems to me that
this is the most opportune occasion. [Objec- |
ton by NJ. Kasson. There can be no more |
pressing question in Congress. Renewed |
objection by Mr.. kasson, enforced by the |
Speaker with vigorous hammering Of his
gayel; but MIR. Eldridge, in spite of the noise
thus made, continued his remarks, which
We're to the effect that the proceedings in
Louisiana were now being managed by the
same individual who had lorded it over that
people when that State was being reconstruct
cd by the same tyrant
Mr. Hale-As objection is made. 1 now
give notice that ] will, on Monday next,
move to suspend the rules in order to adopt
this resolution. do not propose to take the
subject from the select committee if the b
House chooses to send it but the impotency
OF any committee getting any information
that will help the question is already shown
by the fact that the most high-handed pro-
ceedings have taken place while the commit I
tee is sitting there.
Mr.. Randall-Who has committed these
proceedings?
MIR. CQx-The gentleman from Maine has I
given notice that lie will offer his resolution
next Monday. l give notice of another reso-
luton, on the same subject, which compre-
bends the idea of the withdrawal of the mill I
tary from Louisiana. l hope the line will be {
drawn on that.
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts,, made a re- t
mark that Cox had offered similar resolution +
before the fall of Fort Sumpter {
Mr.. Hale-This is no new idea of mine. "
Mr.. Eldridge-I object to further debate. I
If l have to run o race with the Speakers I
gavel, the other side must do the same thing. 6
Mr.. Negey, of Pennsylvania-Befor this
question is settled, we will have to send more {
military force to Louisiana.
MIR. Hale's resolution was returned to Linn 6
rom the Clerks desk, and there the matter
ended for the present. House went into Com I
mittee of the Whole ON FORTH cation bill. t
Among the appropriations were: Fortress 7
Monroe, $4,000; Fort Moultrie, $4,000; t
Fort Pickens, S25, 900; Fort Jackson, S25, 600: a
Fort Jefferson, $4,000; Fort st. Phillip. s
S25, 600; Fort Morgan, S25, 900.
Senate. After local business the Senate re- r
'umed the consideration of the resolution o
yesterday by Mr.. Thurman in re- S
gard to the Louisiana troubles, the pending o
question being on the motion of Conkling to 9
insert the words, IF not incompatible with q
public interest" "
Mr.. West, of Louisiana, said it was some a
What remarkable that those who thrust this b
resolution upon the Senate declared that they a
we're in possession of all the facts about X
louisiana, yet they wanted the President to II
end information to them. n
He then spoke of the condition of affairs in v
louisiana. and quoted from the dispatch OF II
ien Sheridan to show that it was necessary 81
or the Government to interfere to protect life a
n that State. 1t had been charged here by
senator's on the other side of the chamber q
hat the President had used the army in Lou n
siana IN violation Of the law They need not 81
hlnk that the President had made a mistake Il
he might make mistakes sometimes, but he
lever made a military mistake. Il
1t had been charged here, further, that b
zen. Sheridan had been ordered to New Or m
cans over the General of the army and con- m
rary to all usages. He (West) before com Il
nencing his speech, fortunately had found e,