Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-01-06
ALEXANDRIA, VA
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY e.
The LOuisiana Outrage.

The indignant outburst, cOuhned especially
to no party limits, that meets with overwhelm-
ing denunciation. the invasion OF the Lcglsa-
tive halls of the sovereign State OF Louisiana
by armed men, whose eficers hold commissions
10 the army of the U. S., is 40 evidence that
the country has not lost the spirit which BELTS
it to celebrate the coming centennial of rs.
In Congress, as published by US yesterday,
Mr.. Thurman. of Ohio, made the Senate ring
with his just deDunciation of the outrage
The debate was continued after our report
closed.
Mr.. Howe, (Radical,) was satisfied that the
army had been used either TO prevent the or
ganlzaton of the Legislature of Louisiana or to
drive out bowling band of mlscreants who
are trying to break up the Legislature.
He waited to know how it was.
Mr.. Salisbury, iD answer to query Of
Mr.. Howe as to "What will you do about it p
in case the President should decline to answer
the resolution, said that he hoped that 1t had
not come to this pass that any Ce 'ar Gould put
90 the purple gown and defy the representa-
tives of the people. If this was so, and the
House should not app y the remedy, the Amer
icau people would do it. They would tear the
Mr.. Logan characterized the language of
Mr.. Salisbury as revolutionary, aud said 1t
reminded him of the language used IN this
chamber and the threats made just prior to
the war. HI commented on the condition OF
affairs in Louisiana and other States OF the
South, and said that to day there was 10 that
section an organization as hostile as ever to
the National authority, and as much deter
mined as ever to get the political power 10 the
South. He then remarked that he Was no
revoutionist; he believed 10 determining &C
cording to law and to the torms oil law the re-
suit of elections, but be would say to his friends
on the other side OF the chamber that If their
friends 10 the South did not stop their mur-
ders and outrages they would be Tuade to do
it, and be was 10 favor Of usiug the army to
stop them. He thought further that the men
who approved Of their damnable crimes were
as bad as they.
Mr.. Edmuuds said the particular matter of
importance DOW at stake was whether the
amendments to the Constitution were to be eu-
forced, or whether they we're, to use u favorlte
Western and Democratic term, to be frozen
out. So far as he was concerned, the honora
Bile Senator on the other side was quiet welcome
to open 40 issue of this kind. Senators will
6nd that they cannot cover up the dolngs OF
the white league because Of any temporary trl-
unph at the elections. Tue people who raj
lied around the fag fifteen years ago are DOT
all asleep He could tell the Senators that the
Thirteenth, the Fourteenth aud the Fifteenth
Amendments would be as Grn,y fixed in prac
tice as they we're now 10 theory, aud that all the
people OF this county will have the free exer
else Of the rights secured to them by those
amendments The trouble in those States has
been that the minority always ruled them down
to the close of the war, aud the trouble is that
they cannot continue to rule them. There bad
been great deal Of talk on this floor about
despo,sm. The real despotism was the despo-
tism of the White Leaguers, who wish to right
things which they do not like in their ovn way,
not the despo,ism Of the Government, which
has preserved peace aud protected the rights
of all the citizens. He wanted to koow, in re-
gard to the occurrences Of yesterday, whether
the White LeaguerS had, 10 absolute defiance
of the laws of Louisiana, undertaken to usurp
control OF the Legislature. The laws Of Louis
lana were something with which the Federal
Government had to do. MIR. Edmunds then
read the telegram OF General Sheridan to the
Secretary OF War, setting forth the disregard
of law existing 10 Louisiana. Further, in com
mentiug on affairs 10 Louisiana, be said that it
grew out of spirit of opposition to the theory
ADD practice Of the amendments to the Constl
tuition, Any man, North or South who thinks
that he can make these amendments obsolete
is making great mistake,
Mr.. Thurman said 10 the FIVE years he had
been 10 the Senate he had heard this speech Of
Mr.. Edmuuds many times, and be had 90
hamlet in Vermont 1t was the same invoca.
ton of hate aud revenge. Suppose there has
been murders and assasSinatious 10 the South,
what had that to do With this resolution which
merely asks whether in def Auce Of the Coust-
tuition and the laws, the army of the United
States has forcibly iutertered with the organi
cation of State Legislature? But so 1t is,
whenever any inquiry is proposed 1t is met
With the cry of ku kluX, White Leagues, as
sassins, &c. But this won't do, the people
are tired oft An outrage mill was set up last
summer with the Attorney General as chief
miller. but at the elections the people showed
that they were tired oft
Incidentally the subject was referred to in
the House Of Representatives wheu an at
tempt was made to get up the Civil Rights
bill.
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts, said that 10
the present exigency of the country there was
other business besides the passage of appro-
priation bills and claim bills. He thought the
settlement of the question of the rights Of
American citizens had as high claim upon
Congress as getting money upon appropriation
bills. Would the otner side Of the house let
them consider any proposition looking to civil
rights?
mir. Cox, of New York, said bis side of the
house were ready TO 60 on with any legitimate
business. They did not propose to take up
this abstract question Of social equality, while
other and more important Interests demanded
attention. They could not consent to take up
this sort of business while bayouets were throt-
Ting sovereign State. If you do not waot
new civil war. you must draw of your bayonets
from Louisiana aud other States.
Voices on the Republican side-''Let your
civil war come"
Mr.. Cox, continuing, said he would not help