The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-01-19

might be justified in the calling upon the
President for military to aid him, when
such request is based on the request OF a
majority Of the Legislature. Here oul
tifty-two members join in such request,
and that is admittedly not maJorlt! Oh
the Legislature-and so this prop fails
from beneath the President. de says
that in cases of armed insurrectlon, that
then the Governor might ask 1or the
military to assist him, but no one pre-
tends that such state of affairs exists
there. And so goes this prop. Then he
thinks some excuse ought to be received
for the action of the military, because
they are not lawyers-and having in all
other respects admitted himself out of
Court as the lawyers say, this is the
last refuge, and this is no new apology
for violations Of the organic law. 1t is
as old as the history of civil and repub-
lican forms of government. Such timid
and wary enroachments as this, are but
the inItiatory steps to despotlsm.
that comes not by one stride, but secretly,
steathily-"like thief in the night
Often it comes with lame apology us
in this case, usually the excuse is "State
necessity, as we hear from usurplng
power on the present occasion. The
remedy of the people is manifest. 1t is
a resolute, emphatic and instant Condcm-
nation and that in such tenor and man
ner that there can be no mistake that
the people will hold the guilty party to
strict and rigid accountability for each
and every infraction of the organic law,
or invasion of the guaranteed civil llbcr-
ties of the people. Happily for our pos
terity, the voice that reaches the National
capital render certain that the people are
awake to the danger. The emphatic
expressions of the people, it is accredited,
have reached the White House. What
would have been the tone of the message
on Friday last is not its tone as it went
to the Senate on Yesterday. The EXecu-
tive NAV not have measured the situa-
tion, but the more considerate Of his
Cabinet did, and forecaste the rising
condemnation. The general feeling
here. is rather one of sorrow and pity, at
the weakness of the defense. Of course
bitter partisans uphold the outrage in all
its enormity, and talk of ku-Klu1. But
the more consideratc still express regret
ut the occurrence. In d word, it may be
stated that the message has not thrown
any new light on the subject. The dis
cusSion will go on, but the result will be
the passage of such legislation as may be
dictated from the White House.
The substitution of Mr.. Marshall for
Robinson on the Committee on LouiSi-
ana Affairs will hasten 6 speedy report
from that committee, and of the character
indicated in the general press dispatches.
But for the absence of Mr.. Robinson, this
report would have been sent in early this
week 1t may be that this absence may
prove more serious to the country than
! is now expected. 1t is known that Mr..
I Foster, the chairman of the committee,
/ was in full accord with MessrS. Phelps
and Potter, ON their return here. But it
is said that great pressure Is being
brought to bear upon him and this pro-
longation of the coming in Of the report
may materially change matters. Much
Inconvenience, as stated on yesterday,
is being experienced here because of the
absence of Democrats from their seats.
1t is now expected that Senators Mer-
riman, Schurz, Bayard, Steinman, Sauls-
berry, Cooper and Gordon will take part
in the debate before it closes, Senator
Schurz closing. 1t is impossible o'tcll
now when it will terminate The sub
iect once entered upon is prolific of de-
bate and engenders much feeling.
The effort of General Logan, though
lengthy, has caused but little comment
and is generally regarded as falling short
of the requirements Of the occasion.
The Irwin contempt matter is likely to
assume new phase-a preliminary no.
tice of haJaS corpus has been given out
and to-day Ethe House ordered its Ser
reant-at- Arms to make return to the
same that Irwin was duly held under
its order for contempt. 1t is said that
the Judge hGs held that such holding Is
Illegal and if so there will be an
interesting conflict between the House
and Judge Macarthur. 1t is to be hoped
that the House will resolutely maintain
lis right to compel the witness to disclose
full answers to the questions propounded.
The House ought certainly to be as firm
in maintaining its rights as the witness
is contumacious in his resistance to all
efforts to reach the truth.
SoJOURSER.
Late dispatches give information that
Judge Macarthur has dismissed the court
and remanded Irwin to the custody of
the Sergeaut-at.arms.