The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-09
LOUISIANA IN CONGRESS.

LOUISIANA IN CONGRESS.
THE DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 1875.
The Senate to-day resumed the consideration of
the unfinished business, being the resolution OF
Mr.. Thurman, (dem) Of Ohio, IN regard to the
Louisiana troubles
FORMER DISCRETIONARY RESOLUTION
Mr.. BAYARD, tdem.) of DEL, said Two years ago
he introduced resolution calling upon the Pres
ident for information IN regard to the cond uct Of
Major Lewis Merrill. Of the United States Army in
South Carolina Then, as now. the Senator from
New York (Mr. Conklingl offered an amendment
leaving 1t discretionary with the President to
answer it. That resolution. with the amendment.
passed the Senate on the Sd OF Marcn, 1873,
and to this day the President had treated it with
contemptuous silence. With the full knowledge
OF the conduct Of this Major Merrill in South Caro-
lima, he had been sent TO green fields and pas
lures new" In Louisiana. Never since the time
when the American colonies had separated them
selves from Great Britain had the people Of this
country been brought face to face with greater
questions than those OF Neutrality-suspicious. needing
the most careful consideration. The issue was
whether We should have
The remarks OF the Senators from Indiana (Mr.
Norton. Vermont (Mr. Edmunds) and Illinois
tMr. Logan) were calculated to OBSCURE the ques-
ton by partisan appeals to divert the minds OF
the people from the true merits OF the case. Mr..
Bayard then spoke OF the circums tances attend
ing she organization OF the Legislature OF
Louisiana, the action OF the Returning Board. &C.,
and said IN States Of three and four times the
population OF Louisiana the election returns were
tabulated and promulgated within q week after
the election. In great cities. with population
equal to that Of Louisiana, they had been promul-
gated within iOrty-eight hours after the polls
closed; but In Louisiana the Returning
Board was occupied In canvassing the returns
nearly two months, and In every case OF dispute
or doubt they decided In favor Of the Kellogg
party. He read from the constitution OF Louisiana
and argued that there was an organization of the
House OF Represen tatlves OF that State on Mon
day last by the conservatives, that there was a
quorum OF the House present and that the or
ganizati0n was under the constitution. He asked
the Senate and the American people II President
Grant had the legal warrant to interfere in the
organization Of that Legislature and declared
that this debate would close and no lawyer would
be able to produce any statute showing the war.
rant for any UGH action.
DIRTY WORK.
Mr.. BAYARD then quoted from a speech deliv-
cred by him in the Senate on the 9th OF February
1873 IN which ne argued that the dangers which
were menaclng the liberties OF the people OF Lou
lsiana then were also menacing the liberties Of
the American people. Had the policy OF the
President been modified since them No, sir; 1t
had been doggedy intensified There was not one
case where the dlspleasure OF the President had
been signined by the removal OF an improper
a u1a nj rehu ka
dan had been sent 10 New Orleans secretly to
dragon the people Of Louisiana. He arrived
there only three days before the meeting Of the
Legislature. He conferred with none OF those
who had the welfare OF the State at heart,
but only with Kellogg and his adherents and
then produced from his own pocket the authority
to assume command. Other officers OF the army,
higher and lower than General Sheridan, had been,
passed over, and ne was personally selected to
teriere thus with the organization OF the State
Legislature. He (Mr. Bayard) did not wish to de-
tract from the glories Of this officer. They were
won in a career OF rough war; but he was an
officer OF the army OF the United States fed and
clothed by the people, and servant Of the people,
ana In no way their master. He then read from
the constitution of the United States, and said If
this cavalry officer, with whatever glory he may
have attained by his sword, is stronger than our
The issue cannot be raised Too soon.
THE 'BxNprrrI" DESPATCH.
Mr.. BAYARD then quoted from dispatches OF
Sheridan to the Secretary OF War; and asked, Who
would say that this onlcef (Sheridan) was ever Il t
to breathe the air Of republican government
He next quoted from the despatch Of Sheridan
urging that certain persons be declared ''ban-
dittln and said II there was now the tone In the
Executive Department OF this country that there
once was that officer lSheridan) would never sign
his name again as Lieutenant General OF the
United States Army. II that oilcer had
been In a hostile country he could not
have maze o more brutal or bloody
threat such language as that used in his de-
spatch was like that used by captain OF . band
OF janissaries asking Tor instructions from some
oriental despot. General Sheruan had no one
quality to 1T him Tor the duties Of commanding
in Louisiana. HIS first quality should be good Will
toward the people OF the State.
PRERoGATIvEs OF THE STATE.
Mr.. BAYARD next read the despatch OF Secretary
Belknap approving the course OF General Sheri-
dan and said the disgust which he (Mr. Bay ard)
felt at the language of General Sheridan was
rather Increased toward him who would pen
such an answer. He believed the American
people would repudiate Mr.. Belknap and al
those who undertook to indorse the action
OF General Sheridan. The proposition was here
presented lor the first time mat the President o
the United States could OF his own motion I'D
Judge the fact that such domestic violence existed
In state as would justify him in interfering II
the organization OF q state Legislature. TIT
powers OF State Legislature to judge of the
qualification and election OF us own member
we're Just as secure as the powers OF the Congress
OF the United states to judge OF its members.
Congress permitted sucn power as this to be ex
creased 10y the President in Louisiana to-day 1
might be exercised IN New York tomorrow, MASS
achusetts me next DAY and IN the Congress OF th'
United states on the Attn OF March next
single brigade could take charge Of the Capitol OF
the Attn OF March next shut out the people
and Give seAs To tina jrisnds Of The dnmtnan