The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-01-06

sual demonstrations il any quarter TIE
military still occupy the State. House.
New. ORLEANS, January 81 John McEpery
has telegraphed TO the President, ia the name
OF liberty and all lovers thereof throughout
the United States, q most solemn protest
against the military occupation of the State.
House and the forcible exclusion of men,
ibers oil, the Legislature. - ~
XIII. CONGREss-second Session.
WAsHlNeToN, January 5, 1875.
4 -. #iit'iE8 SENATE. II 1gssfs<Y
The Senate went into Committee of the
Whole. =. ~ -.
Mr.. THURMAN, of Ohio, offered the o.Jow.
ing resolution, and asked its present con-
sideration: - r - 81 -. II
Resolued, That the President, of the
United States is hereby requested to inform
the Senate whether any portion of the army
of the United States, or any officer or off.
GERS, soldier or soldiers, of such army did in
any manner interfere or intermeddle with,
control, or seek to control, the organization
Of the General Assembly Of the State of
Louisiana, or either branch thereof, on fine
4.h instant, and especially whether any per-
sen or persons claiming seats in either
branch of said Legislature have been
deprived thereof or prevented from taking
the same by any such military force, officer,
or soldier; and if such has been the case,
then that the President inform the Senate
by what authority such military interven-
ton and interference have taken place.
Mr.. CoNKLlNG said he would suggest that
it would be better to preserve the customary
nh &c ool, k.,
the words " if in his judgment 1t is not in
compatible with the public interest,""
MIR. THURMAN said he did not agree with
the Senator (Conkling) as to the propriety
of inserting the words suggested. This
question did not relate to any foreign Power.
If it was such question, then it would be
proper to insert those words. 1t was not for
the Senate to submit to the opinion or judg-
ment of the President It was proper that
the Senate should know the facts. It was
not case where the information would in
terfere with warlike movements, although
this Louisiana trouble had the appearance of
war. 1t was not war made by the people.
He would not say who made the war, but
would wait for the facts in the case.
Mr.. CONKLING said he inadvertently had
given the Senator (Thurman) the opportunity
to make quite an impressive and eloquent
speech. When the resolution came up for
consideration he (Conkling) would move to
amend it by inserting the words which he
had suggested, and he would ask vote Of
the Senate to see what the usage of the SEN
ate bad been. a single objection, he be-
leved, would carry the resolution over, and
it was not yet before the Senate. The Sena-
tor from Ohio seemed to think that he dis
this case from all others by OBJ
serving that the topic did not concern
our relations with any foreign Power. If
there was sense or reason in the rule which
committed something to the Executives dis
erection he (Conkllpg) thought 1t should ap-
ply to this resolution, which related TO
serious disorder in one of the States
of this Union. He thought this rule
was suggestive Of considerations which
should address themselves TO every SEN
ator not as partisan, but as he stood
upon his oath to be true to the great
trust committed to him. Turbulence and
defiance of law stalk high.headed in public
way, and the Senate did not know but that
now, even while it was celebrating over this
resolution, peace, order, security Of life, and
law, were being trampled in the mire in the
streets of New Orleans. The Senator
(Thurmsn) says it is for US, in the
uncertainty, the danger, and the grave
peril which surrounds the subjecf, to
say absolutely, in the twinkling Of an
eve, before the sun goes down to.mor.
row, that the President must communicate
all the facts 10 the Senate. He (Conkling)
argued that the Senate bad no facts upon
which it could so act, and say to the Presi.
dent he must with all promptDess communi.
cate to the Senate, so that there can be flash.
ed back to Louisiana by telegraph the exact
truth in respect to the employment, in re-
>pect to the location, in respect to the prox.
unity, of that power which may alone OF all
other powers be used to trample out dis
orderly dispositions on the one side or
on the other. This resolution was especially
one in which the Senate should leave it to
the reason, the prudence, the discretion Of
the President as to furnishing the informa-
ton. 1t should be left to the President to
say whether this publication would be in
compatible with the public Interest. The
Senator from Ohio (Thurman) desired the
Senate to direct the President touching the
army, of which be. was COMMUNICATIVE chief.
In conclusion, Conkling moved to amend
the resolution by inserting after the word
requested, elf, in his judgment, not incom:
patible with the public interest"
Mr.. THURMAN inquired if the amendment
would preclude an objection. ...s{
The VIoE.PREsIDENT inquired If there was
any objection to the consideration of the
resolution at present.
Several Senators: =" Oh, no ! don't object"
No objection being made, the VIcE-PREsI-
DENT announced that the resolution was be-
fore the Senate.
The pending question being on the amend
ment of Mr.. Conkling's, Mr.. THURMAN said
be was familiar with the usage of the Sen
ate long before the Senator from New York
(Conking) was. In respect to foreign affairs
it had always been the usage to use the
words moved by the Senator from New
York, but in time of profound peace simple
resolution of inquiry as to our domestic at.
fairs was not left to the discretion Of the Pre-
sident for him to answer according to bis
will or pleasure. This resolution related to
what bad already taken place. 1t was a
question OF fact, and there was no possible
way By which the Precedent could prejudice
the pu interests by answering it. II the
in Louisiana matters did take
place the Senate could cali upon the Presi-
dent to tell it by what authority OF
law it did take place. The Senate had
the right to request the information, ana II
there was any reason why the President
should not furnish it it was for him to COM
mnuicate that fact to the Senate; or, II he
deemed it proper, he could send it to the
Senate under the seal Of seeresy, TO be con-