The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-07
CONGRESS ON THE OUTRAGE.



Various memorials and bills were presented and
reported in the Senate and were appropriately
referred. After the expiration OF the morning
hour the Senate resumed the consideration Of the
resolution submitted yesterday, by Mr.. Thurman,
In regard to the Louisiana troubles the pending
question being on the motion OF Mr.. Conklng to
insert the words iii not Incompatible with the
public interests" .
sHERlDAN's REPORT OF LOUIsIANA's CONDITION.
Mr.. WEST, reD., Of La, said 1t was somewhat
remarkable mat those who thrust this resolution
upon the Senate declared they were in possession
OF all the facts about Louisiana, yet they wanted
the President to send Information to them He
then spoke OF the condition OF affairs In Louisiana,
ana quoted from the despatch OF General Sheridan
to show that 1t was necessary for the govern
ment to interfere to protect life in that State.
1t had been charged here by Senators on
the other side OF the chamber that the
President had used the army in Louisiana
In violation OF law. They need not think
the President had made q mistake. He
might make mistakes sometimes, but he never
made military mistake. It had been charged
here, further, that General Sheridan was ordered
to New Orleans over the General Of the Army and
contrary to all usage. He (Mr. Wesp before COM
menclng his speech fortunately had found upon
the floor OF the Senate the Secretary OF War, and
upon asking him II such had been the case, the
Secretary replied In the negative and handed the
evidence to him to contradict the statements that
the General OF the Army had been ignored.
GENERAL sHERMANs POSITION.
Mr.. West then sent to the Clerks desk and had
read the following letter received by him from the
Secretary OF War;
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, !
ST. LOUIS, NO.. Dec so, 1874.
General W; ". BELKNAp, Secretary Of War; Wash
GKNEkAL-I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt OF your confidential communication OF
December %. with the enclosures. Very respect
W. I. SHERMAN. General.
Mr.. SALISBURY, (dem.) OF De.-That Is simply
an acknowledgment Of the receipt OF condden-
tial communications and does not state the char
acJer OF them.
Mr. WEsT-When this resolution shall have been
passed, and all the information comes out, the
Senator will see that II was an nowledgment
OF the receipt OF all orders and communications in
reference to General Sheridan being ordered to
New Orleans. That Is the fact and know 1t to
be so. .
THE CONSERVATIVE ACTION.
He then proceeded TO review the circumstances
attending the organization OF the Legislature In
New Orleans on Monday last, and charged that Dy
the laws OF Louisiana the acts of the conservative
members OF that Legislature we're illegal, violent
and revolutionary, and, in fact, were the acts OF
mob. The seating OF i've members whose seats
were contested. before any permanent organiza.
ton, was without parallel. He quoted from the
records Of Congress to show that John Quincy
Adams at one time presided in the House OF Rep
resentatives temporary Speaker for sixteen DAYS
on account Of certain contested seats which were
not acted upon until long after permanent organi.
cation had been effected. The so-caed Speaker
OF the Louisiana House Of Representatives had
declared those who contested seats were entitled
to them without any evidence to show that they
were elected. The vote by which Witt claimed to
have been elected Speaker lacked i've Of legal
majority OF the body. He next read from tee-
gram stating that Congressman Potter was
present at the organization, and discountenanced
the action OF Witt.
SPEECH OF SENATOR GORDON.
Mr. GORDON, (dem.) OF Ca, said he did not pro-
pose to reply to the speech Of the senator tMr.
West). He was quite willing 1t should go to the
country and make It's own answer. But when the
people whom he ,Mr. Gordon) loved as his own
life, whose fortunes we're his through veal or VICE.
through life or death, were held up as assassins
and murderers, he could not and would not re-
main SILENT and II his voice and gestures were
tremulous now with emotion IL was not the emo
ton of anger, but the emotion Of indignation at
the outrage perpetrated upon his people.
He stood aghast at the spectacle presented
In this Senate yesterdays spectacle OF
one portion Of the members seeking to
ruin the fair name and the honor OF the people OF
one section OF this country before the civilized
world. He was amazed, utterly amazed that
there should be found In the hearts Of men with
whom he daily associated upon this floor so much
hate. He was totally unprepared for It, and II ne
believed to-day that the expressions which he
heard from Senator's lips yesterday reflected the
sentiments Of the Northern people he would feel
that IL was time for the Southern people TO die.
If he believed that those expressions fo~eshad-
owed the policy Of .his Governments toward the
South, then he would say let US have done with
this
FARCE OF LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT.
He did not believe that such sentiments were
entertained by the Northern people. He did not
helieya that ths brave men against whom the PEG.