Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-27
CatO's Patriotic Demand Rung
in the Ears of Ulysses.
Sheridan's Reign Of Terror in
the South.
A FerVent Appeal for American
Freedom.
- Reeord. 80 2.


the following:
That the action Of the President in protecting
the government Of Louisiana, Of which William
p. Kellogg is the executive, and the people OF
that State against domestic violence, and In en-
forcing the laws OF the United States in that
State Is approved.
ME-. JOHNSON, Of Tennessee. Mr.. Pres
ident: Notwithstanding 1 have been in
the habit Of speaking in public for num-
Der Of years, sometimes in deliberatiFe
bodies and sometimes before the people, /
confess that 1 appear before the Senate this
morning under great embarrassment.
fear that the fact Of my having obtained
the floor on Saturday nigh. and notice hav-
ing been given that L would address the
Senate TO day, may have created an eX-
pectation with some that cannot be real
lied, and especially 50 with those who are
not acquainted with me. If any such ex-
pectatiOn has been created in the minds Of
any Of those here present, trust and hope
that they will let themselves down, for
they will be greatly disappointed on this
occasion.
No Party Bias or Partisan Feeling.
II was my intention when this question
was first brought before the Senate not 10
participate in the discussion. Ny entrance
into the Senate. was of so recent a date
and under such peculiar circumstances, that
had determined that I would not partici-
pate in any discussion during the present
session Of the Senate; but things have
taken such a direction that feel it incum-
bent on me TO say something in reference
tOthe resolution now under consideration;
and what l may say on this occasion l want
it distinctly understood grows out of no
party bias or partisan feeling whatever, but
proceeds from theground which take that
the resolution proposes to cover and indOrse
an act and a meaure that think clearly vio-
lative Of the organic law Of the land. That
being so, 1 could not get my consent, being
compelled to vote against it in compliance
with my view Of the Constitution Of the
COuRtry, TO do so without assigning at least
some Of the reasons which actuate me.
1 ask the Secretary tn please read the
original resolution and then the substitute
offered in lieu Of it.
The President pro tem.-The Secretary
win report the resolution and the amend !
ment.
The Chief CIerz-The resolution orisi- |
nally submitted 10y Mr.. Frelinghuysen is in |
the following words:
Resolved. that the Senate approve the action /
heretofore taken by the President of the United /
States IN protecting Louisiana from domestic i
violence, and are or opinion that he should con-
time TO recognize in that State the existing Il
State government
1t is proposed to amend that resolution
by striking out all afJerthe word "resolYei"
and inserting
That the action Of the President in protecting
the government in Louisiana, OF which William
P Kellogg Is the executive, and the people Of |
that State against domestic violence, and in Ell
forcing the laws Of the United States in that |
State, is approved.
hr. johnson. of TCunesSee.-In the first I
place, MIR. President, it seems TO me that
resolution embracing questions Of such
great Importance IS not legitimately before |
this body, or, in other words, it is not legit-
innate to consider it before a Senate con-
vened in such a session as we are now
holding. understand that the Senate has
been convened in extra session for the pur-
pose mainly Of acting upon executive bust
ness, not embracing questions Of legisla-
zion, but simply to act upon business per
tanning to the executive department. The |
Senate being part Of the treaty-malzing
power, the senate having TO confirm OF re-
lect nominations that may be made, it is
convened for these purposes; and l consider |
The legitimate business Of the Senate dur
ing this session confined 10 matters falling
under these heads, but the Senate has as
sUmed and taken charge of measures that
look far beyond this. If it is legitimate to
consider the measure now under cOnsidera-
tiOn by this body, it is legitimate to con-
slider every question upon which the Ad-
ministratiOn has acted since its advent into
power. It would be as legitimate, for in
stance, TO offer a resolution expressing an
opinion in reference to reducing the ex-
panditures Of the Government, saying that
that ought to done, that retTenchment |
should be commenced, that we should re-
turn to a sound currency, and a long list Of
questions that might be enumerated.
Reversing the order Of Things.
Again, it seems 70 me we are travelling
stiIl further out of the record when the |
Executive goes forward and presumes to
act in advance Of the Legislature for the |
Legislature TO reverse positions with the |
Executive and take up his acts and approve |
them. Ordinarily measures are presented |
10 the consideration of Congress, and when |
Congress acts upon them it is the duty Of |
the President TO consider its acts and 10 ! ,
approve or reject them, and it is not the
duty of the Senate OF the Congress Of the
United States 10 sit in judgment, Is it |
were, upon his acts and approve or reject
such measures as he may think proper to
act upon. This is reversing the whole I
order Of things, reversing the origin Of legis-
lajiOn; It IS reversing the policy and the 3
principles on which the Legislature has
acted for a number Of years, or perhaps
from the very origin Of the Government TO
the present time.
| presume every Senator remembers well (
the famous resolutions brought forward
wears ago by the distinguished Senator from I
Kentucky, Mr.. Clay, in reference to Gen.
resolutions COndemning him for q
removal of the deposits from the Bank Of the g
United States, COndemning and censUring [
that act in strong terms. Both houses Of I
Congress were together then; they were sit
ting as the legislative department Of the :
Government. Notwthstandingth Senate &
passed those resolutions, it was considered,
and so determined by the country after I
wards, that they were Legitimate and that {
il was not the place Of the Senate TO pass 9
upon the action Of the Executive unless i
they were sitting as a court Of impeach-
ment. But now We are called upon as a I
Senate to approve past acts Of the President I
of the United States. The resolutions I
adopted by the Senate in regard to the &C F
ton of Gen. jackson when he was Presi- [
dent of the United States was at a time | Z
when both houses Of Congress We're in ses- I
sion, when they were c0nvenet under the '
provisions of the Constitution; and vet y
lhog-h they acted ia that position, the sep c
arate action of the Senate in regard TO the {
act of the Executive was subsequently de- o
{ rmiued and declared by this body to be a
and eNpuHged from the a
journal Of the Senate Of the United States. J,
Il seems to me that THAT should settle the q
question most clearly and prove that We a
have no such authority, especially in the b
absence of the other House. There are p
many things that it rs legitimate for us to s.
express an opinion up0n IS gP0n this reSO-
luton. What does this resolution propose?
ID seems that it has required great care and Il
attention Oh the part Of those who hsve C
prepared this resolution to Get it in its S
present shape. The first resolution, intro "a
luced by the Senator from Indiana, (Mr. 8,
MOrtCn.) was CraWn up IN somewhat | p
broader terms, perhaps too broad for some b
members Of the Senate to support. Then pl
be Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Freling- "
luysen) introduced a resolution, seemingly Il
lot so brOai. Then came the substitute fc
,roposed by the Senator from Rhode Island tl