The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-02-12
u. y. q. DICTATOR!

IFrom the Albany N. " Argus.

lege. tilePrivate secretary oil the PRESIDENT
stepped into his carriage and proceeded
first TO the Government Printing Bureau,
where he remained for few moments,
and then proceeded TO the Senate Cham
Der. He was attended by body guard OF
800 marines from the Capital Navy Yard.
On reaching the Capitol building, the
marines were ordered TO take possession
of the halls and corridors leading To the
Senate Chamber and the House OF Repre-
sentatives. The Senate was already In
session. and, AT the conclusion Of the
PRAYER by the Chaplain, the members of
the Lower House presented themselves at
the doors of the Senate Chamber, IN obedi-
ence to the constitutional order requiring
their presence at the counting OF The cleo
toral vote, seats being provided for them
on the floor of the chamber. At the prop
err moment Senator Frelinghuysen rose in
his seat and moved the vote be counted.
AT this moment the Private Secretary of
the President entered, and was recognized
at once by the Clerk Of the Senate, with
the usual "Mr. President, message from
the President In place of the expected
message, the following proclamation fell
upon the stunned ears of the Democratic.
Senators:
EXECUTIVE MANSION. February 20. 1877.
To the President Of the Senate
Extensive and glaring frauds having been de-
tected In the electoral certificates returned by Ger
tain of the States. therefore, as the Executive
head of the nation and acting in its behalf forbid
the counting Of the votes of the Electoral College
and hereby declare the senate dissolved
Given under my hand and seal this 10th day Of
February, 1871, etc.
THE SENATE sURRENDERs.
A similar proclamation was sent to the
House Of Representatives upon its reas-
sembing. The Senate, always The expo
nf liz QItrrnnflar- xx-ffbs.atr
struggle, after voting down a resolution
offered by one Morton To postpone the
counting of the vote to subsequent day.
The House, the Immediate representative
of the people. refused 10 adjourn, and a
scene of the widest confusion followed.
during which member from New Jersey,
Andrew jackson Smith. jumped into the
Speakers desk and commenced to address
the House. He had scarcely begun when
squad of soldiers under General Babcock
entered the hall. Order was instantly re-
stored, and in "A firm, distinctive tone the
proclamation of the President was again
read by the Clerk of the House by the or
der of the General. In five minutes the
hall was closed and the National Legisla-
ture was suspended, and guard OF 500
regulars was stationed around the Capitol
On passing into the street "A proclamation
from the President TO the people OF the
United States was in the hands of the
populace, now occupying every avenue
anu cross street leading into the Capitol.
Ii had been posted besides in every public
place. and read "a follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 20, ISL.
TO the People ofbe United States
CITfzENs-Frauds, the most garng and over
whelmng. have been detected in the returns Of
ahe ELECTORAL vote transmitted TO the Electoral
College.
The sacred right OF suffrage has been trampled
into the dust BY those who should have upheld IL.
As Commander In Chief OF the Army and Navy
Of the United States, have placed the whole
country under martial law. The military power
Of the nation il at this moment IN full possession
of every state and Territory. and subject to my
order.
have forbidden the counting of the electoral
vote IN the senate, and have dissolved the Ma
uonal Legislature.
A new election will be Immediately ordered, but
IN The Interim the civil power OF the nation VIII
give place to the military arm, In order that jus
sice may be promoted and the public tranquility
DC preserved.
SECURING THE CAPITAL.
Passing under the bayonets of a strong
guard into the street, the members OF both
Houses beheld scene never before wit
messed by Republican eyes in Republican
America. There were no barbados
thrown up at the corners of streets like
these that met the gaze of all Paris at the
fatal Instruction OF June, lSis. No mob
sent its discordant yells To the clouds on
that memorable day. In place OF barri- !
cades and bastions, the glare Of torches. |
and the sobs of women flying before an |
Infatuated populace. there were seen here |
ard there. at convenient places between |
the Capitol and Treasury. the mouth Of "A |
cannon guarded bya squad OF regulars or |
marines. In an hour. as If by magic. /
every vulnerable point In the city of more /
fhot,
was secure against any attack that could 4
have been made upon it by an unarmed l
mob. At the NAVY Yard. around the \
Capitol, the Post-ofiice, Treasury, Int
rior. War and Navy buildings strong
guard was placed, ready for any emer-
gency that might arise. AT the sight of 4
The soldiery panic ensued, not one which /
arose from any fear of immediate disaster.
but from nameless apprehension of some
thing terrible TO come. A vague feeling |
that the nation had surrendered and with \
out blow being any where struck In its I
defense parllyzed fear itself. and for the 1
moment resistance was impossible. I,
Would the reaction ever come, OF would
these little squads of armed men continue
20 hold nation in objection at will At
O'Clock rush was made for tie tcle-
graph offices throughout the city. The
military had taken possession of each, and
an order had been issued prohibiting the
sending OLA telegram not authorized by
the officer In command.
simultaneously with the order To place
Washington under martial law. a similar
order had been executed at each State cap
ital, so that by Encouragement, by the
click of a single battery, the whole nation
lay PROSTATE Mt the feet of its military
master. Five thousand cannon and 30 900
armed soldiers, without shedding drop
OF blood, had awed nation of 10000. 900
into silence profounder than death Itself
At several Of the State capitals feeble at