New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-03
Senator C0nkling's speech.

The Washington correspondent of tn
New York Times, writing under date o
January 8, says:
If the interest in the debate upon Louis
lana affairs has seemed to diminish during
the last few days, it was possibly because
| the speeches were dull. The announcement,
that Mr.. Conkling would speak to-day at
tracted to the Senate galleries the larges,
crowd which has yet been seen at the CAPT
toll this winter. Those who came with the
expectation OF hearing great speech were
not disappointed. Besides the throng that
filled every seat in the galleries, the floor Of
the chamber was occupied by large num-
Der of members of the House and persons
having the privileges of admission, and a
great many chairs were brought in for
their accommodation. Mr. COnkling was
listened to with marked aud unusual
attention. Nearly all the Senators re-.
manned in their seats, following the speech
closely. instead of reading newspapers and
! writing letters, with which amusements dry
speeches are whiled away. To say that a
| Senator held the attention of his fellow
Senators through a speech more than four
hours long is to pay him very high COM
pliment. Mr.. Conkling devoted himself
mainly to answering Mr.. Thurman, vet lie
did not devote himself entirely to Thurman.
but took up and replied to the main points
in the arguments made by Messrs. Bayard,
Of Delaware; Hamilton, of Maryland, and
Schurz, who made the ablest arguments on
the Democratic side. Under the guise of a
simple resolution, the Democratic Senators
had opened the presidential campaign in
the Senate chamber, and denounced the
Chief magistrate upon mere ASSUMPTION.
which the full answer Of the President
shows to have been groundless. Mr.. Thur
mans speech OF yesterday he pro-
nounced carping criticism of the
constituted authorities OF the country. On
the subject OF the presence of the troops in
Louisiana, he said that they were sent there
in response to the demand of the Governor
to quell an instruction commenced on
September ID that instruction had not
been suppressed, the insurgents not having
laid down their arms i'll obedience to the |
proclamation of the President For the |
Chief magistrate to have withdrawn
the troops, with the rumble of haif-stihed |
rebellion in his ears, would have made him !
the accomplice OF traitors. He commended
the employment Of troops was proEer, and |
cited an instance when Washington ordered |
out $4,000 troops to quell disturbance in |
the western counties of Pennsylvania, and |
assumed the command himself. He de. |
tended General Sheridan against the |
unjust attacks n ade upon him. lie had |
done nothing to this day but assume |
coHIudnu anu nOlu IL. He was mere
spectator at New Orleans, and not for
hours after the trouble of January 4 did he |
issue the order that gave him more control |
than any waytarer. Coming to the acts of |
January Mr.. COnkling said Kellogg was
the acting Governor of Louisiana. The
powers we're his. and the attributes that
pertain to the office Of Governor he legally
held
The law plainly declares who constitute
The Legislature. and fixed the manner for it's
The clerk holds over for the
purpose of organizing the House, and this
was done to meet just such case "a was
presented on January A. The clerk holds
over until his successor is regularly
chosen. That is the rule in thirty
'ix States. The law provides a way for
organizing, and it could be done no other
way. Mr.. Conkling proceeded to discuss
What constitutes violence. 1t was not
necessary that blows should bs struck. If
pistols and bowie knives are brandished it
9 violence, and it is the right and duty of
he constituted authorities to interfere. The |
lall of Legislature has no immunities
rom law. If violence and disorder there oc.
urs, must the sworn guardians of the law
tand and look on like judges at a horse
ace or umpires at prize fight? Mr.. Conk-
ing cited from authorities a number of |
asses sustaining his position touching the
clinton OF violence and the manner in
hitch it may be proceeded against, and. !
'ithout concluding, gave way to a motion
} adjourn.