The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-12
West Gets Off His Little Speech,
Thurman Annihilates Him.
The Cabinet Meeting.
Fish and BriStOw Of the Cabinet
Opposed to the Presidents
Action.
Especial to the Bullptin1

AoulSiaua question packed the galleries o
the Senate chamber this afternoon to thei
utmost limit. Every sofa upon the floor wal
filled with gentlemen lucky enough to hay
the entree within the sacred enclosure.
The lobbies We're crowded with ladies'. Ev
cry Senator in Washington was in his seat
Secretary Belknap came as soon as he coult
from the Cabinet meeting. Secretary Robe
son was there listening intently and morosely
for Mr.. Sch,trz's sentiments would scarcel,
harmonize with convictions fixed in the Cab
met atmosphere. The ambassadors of foreig,
nations crowded to their places in the diplo
matte gallery. Members of the House who
could be spared from the duties of "washins
day " in that turbulent assembly, came to ado
to the ovation, and saw in the front seats
opposite orr reporters gallery, Mrs. Secretar,
Fish, with other ladies. who are very rarel,
known to honor such places with their pres
ence, and Secretary Fish was also upon the
floor.
Some trivial amendment to a resolution
OF inquiry was brought up, and Powell Clay
ton, with characteristic ill-temper and ill.
breeding, argued against the Senator from
North Carolina. Then MIR. West, the Senator
God save the mark y from poor Louisiana,
arose, making speech which resounded like
virtuous indignation over paragraph in
Don Piatt's Capital, which Mr. W. asserted
suggested assassination but some yirtuous
anomaly could hardly arise in the breast OF
such man. 1t had little effect Some per-
sonal impertinence directed to Thurman, of
Ohio, brought that Senator to his feet with a
ringing answer, which utterly a1nihilated
MI. West, who sat listening as each incisiye
sentence struck home, till the waves of angry
feeling spread over his face, sufusing his
forehead.
His political sun will never rise again, am
sure. When at last Mr. Schurz had the floor
he begun calmly and quietly asserting that he
brought to the discussion Of the resolution
no prejudice or passion, but the most earnest
thought for the good of the republic in the
future as well as the present. He declared
that the one essential thing for the perma-
nency of republican government was absolute
freedom in the acts Of its legislative assem-
blies. They must know no coercion whatever
Then citing the dispatches of Sheridan he
him of the grossest maladministra-
lion.
He said however brilliant his military
achievements might be he was most conspicu-
ously unfit for so delicate mission as that
now confded to him. and then, in most vivid
y graphic language, he depicted the shame
'ul scene in your Slate-House; he declared
hat If this were sanctioned by the present
Congress in order to accomplish the ends of
he present Administration that the time was
'oon coming when armed soldiers might be
sent into the United States Senate to decide
Upon the right of Senators to their seats in
hat body.
He argued that the surest way to secure fair
treatment of the colored race was to allow
hem freedom of choice in voting, and not to
INSIST that they belonged Of right to any one
party, since that must infallibly bring upon
hem the i'll will of their antagonists, while,
f they were divided in their interests, both
parties would strive, by fair measures, to Sc
,ure their influence. Abiding to the stories
If outrage, he declared that the only outrage
If which he had any personal knowledge was
he clubbing and stoning of negro in North
carolina, by his own colored associates, be-
'ause he had dared to vote the Conservative
icket. He spoke Of the States which had
,een allowed to rule themselves settling their
,erous condition in contrast with the affairs
n Louisiana.
Then, referring again to the infamous acts
# Durell, he spoke of the Congressional
Committee as composed of fair-minded men
rom both parties, and they were prepared to
eport Kellogg illegally elected, the Return
ng Board guilty of shameful frauds, and that
hey by no means indorse the kilograms of
zen. Sheridan. This, of course, not being
to the Executive authority. the
'hole Committee on Southern Affairs pro-
ose now to go down and see for themselves.
hey were to start last evening.
The whole speech, with its faultless SEN
snces. brilliant periods and sound argument.
ill be before you almost as soon as this dis
atch.
1t has created the profoundest impression.
Letting even from decided Republicans great
gmpathy. Though Of course there will be |
.rong effort to sustain the President power
ii throe it doubtless will be, for the party is
but death throe nevertheless.
IL. Schurz read telling extract from a Re-
ublican paper, which severely criticised the
residents action. Senator Sargent, of Cali
'rnia, contemptuousiy inquired: From
hat Republican paper is that 1.-The
Philadelphia Inquirer" replied Mr.. Schurz.
Humph,' said Mr.. Sargent; that is a poor
oecimen Of a Republican journal.
1t is about as thoroughly Republican as any