The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-01-07
THE LOUISIANA TROUBLE !
NO ACTION TAKEN /!
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 1875.
THE SENATE.
AN INQUIRY INTO THE LOUISIANA MAT
TER,


TER.
Mr.. THURMAN offered the following
resolution and asked its present consid
Grafton.
ReSOf7,ed, That the President Of the
United States is hereby requested to in
form the Senate whether any portion o
the army OF the United tates or any Off
Ger or officers, soldier or soldiers of sucf
army did in any manner interfere or in
termeddle with, control or seek to contro
the organization Of the General Assembly
of the State of Louisiana or either branch
thereof on the 4th instant, and especially
whether any person or persons claiming
seats in either branch of said Legislature
have been deprived thereof OF prevent
ed from taking the same by any such
military force, officer or soldier; and il
such has been the case, that the Presi-
dent inform the Senate by what authority
such military Intervention and interfer-
ence have taken place.
Mr. CONKLING SAID he would sug-
gest that it would be better to preserve
customary phraseology of such resolu-
tions by inserting the words "if in his
judgment it is not incompatible with the
public interests"
Mr.. THURMAN said he did not agree
with the Senator (Conkling) as to the
propriety of inserting the words suggest
ed 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 sub
mitto the opinion or judgment Of the
President. twas proper that the Senate
should know the facts. 1t was not a case
where information would interfere with
warlike movements, although this Louis
lana trouble had the appearance of war.
1t was not war made by the people, He
would not say who did make the war,
but that he would wait for the facts in the
case.
Mr.. CONKLING moved to amend the
resolution by inserting the word IRE
guested, IF in his judgment it is not in
compatible with the public interest.
lHChhAN MI lONOhhNl OF GANLlA-
MENTARY USAGE.
Mr.. THU RMNN said he was familiar
with the usage of the Senate long before
the Senator from New York; 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, a simple resolution of
inquiry as to our domestic affairs was not
left to the discretion of the President for
him to answer according to his will or
pleasure. This resolution related TO
what had already taken place. 1t was
question of fact and there was no posi-
Bile way by which the President could
prejudice public interests by answering
it. Interference in Louisiana matters
did take place, the Senate could ask the
President to tell it by what authority of
law it did take place. The Senate had
right to request information, and if there
was any reason why the President should
not furnish it. it was for him to commu-
aicate that fact to the Senate under seal
Of secrecy to be considered in executive
session.
Mr.. EDWARDS inquired of the SEN
ator Thurman could name precedent
where the words submitted by the Sc Ia
tor from New York (Conkling) had been
emitted from resolution.
Mr.. THURMAN replied that he could
name hundred if he had time to search
the records. He did not think it was for
him, hat in hand, to bow before the Pres.
ident and say it was for him to exercise
his judgment. louisiana was not the only
State in which trouble had occurred in
reference to the organization of Legis-
lature. In Ohio, on one occasion there
was for two weeks or more two bodies
both claiming to be the Legislature ofthe
State, but, thank God, they had no fradu
lent returning board. They had not de-
scended to the depth of perdition.
If artin Van Buren,, who was then
President had sent the military to inter-
fere in that legislative conflict his troops
would never have left Columbus alive.
A SIMILAR INSTANCE IN .PENNsYLVA-
MA.
In Pennsylvania, also there had been
a similar instance, and now would the
people of that State have acted had the
Federal Government interfered What
would not be tolerated in Massachusetts,
Ohio, and Pennsylvania for a single mo-
ment was now the case in Louisiana.
lie desired to know whether, because of
the first fatal step in toisting an illegal
governor upon the people of Louisiana
all liberty and all law in the State was to
perish. He wanted to know who it W as
that called into use the army of the Uni
ted States to organize the Legislature of
Louisiana. He did not want this matter
decided by clamor or tumult. There
would be tumultuous spirit in New
York, Ohio and Michigan if either of
those States were suffering from the same
eau e
Mr.. CONKLING read from various
precedents to show that the custom had
been to request the President if not in
compatible with public interests to in
form the Senate, etc.
MI. L NJ NMAIN Sdlu' lltne rIcSluenl
of the United States were to overthrow
tomorrow any Southern State govern
ment he would be defeated by cries of
KusKlux, White League, murderer, &c.
That would not do. The time had pass
ed when plain violation Of the consti-
tuition and law coul be thus excused
The dominant party tried that last fall
when it set up Southern outrage mill
with the Attorney General as chlefmiller.
but the people of the country rejected |
the product OF that mill twas the duty
Of Congress to harmonic the people Of
the whole country, and not to produce
sectional hatred by constantly preaching
that the people Of one section are assas-
sins and murderers. What warrant had
the Senator from Vermont (Edmunds)
for charging that the people of Louisiana