The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-01-28
Washington News and Gossip.
WASHINGTON. Jan. "

In accordance with the call Of the chairman,
a caucus of the republican members of the
house was held in the hall on Friday night,
with large attendance. The subject matter
of the discussion was the condition of at-
fairs in the South, and how best to legislate
that they might be improved so that each and
every citizen should be guaranteed and protec-
ted in his right of suffrage, and that elections
fair and without intimidation should be held,
and those legally elected permitted to hold the
position to which they had been elevated with
out fear or hindrance.
The discussion of the several questions sub
mitted were enthusiastic and nearly unanimous,
the only objection coming from j. Amber
Smith, Of Virginia. The first proposition was
resolution sustaining the Kellogg government,
which met with the approval of all as neces-
sity which could not and should not be avoid
ed Next was the bill of Mr.. White of Ala
bama, amendatory of the enforcement act.
This also met with universal appreciation,
and was warmly endorsed by severs! Of the
speakers, including Mr.. Williams, of Massa-
chusetts, as a just and necessary measure for
the protection of the people of the South.
| The third proposition was submitted by Mr..
Hurlbut, of Illinois, and supported by him in
an able and telling speech. 1t was that, in.
asmuch as the democratic members OF the
house have made threats that in certain events
they will, during the next congress, refuse to
make the necessary appropriations for the
maintenance of the army, that the present
congress, to prevent the possibility of such &C.
ton, shall, in accordance with the terms of the
constitution, which provides that congress
shall have the power ito raise and support
armies; but no appropriation of money for
that use shall be for longer term than two
years." take advantage of the authority, and
make the appropriation for two instead of one
fiscal year. The proposition met with great
favor, and while Mr.. Hurbut was advocating
it, Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts,, interrupting,
remarked: "That's sound doctrine, and if you
want any volunteers in the house to support it,
call on me-" Other speeches favoring the pas
sage of all the acts referred to were made, but
as the call had been brief and the attendance
was not as large as was desirable, the caucus
adjourned until tonight, when it is expected
that every republican member will be in at
| tendance.
In consequence of this adjournment the gen.
eral consultation of the Southern members, ir-
respective of party, which was to have taken
place tonight, will be postponed Until an early
day next week.
The President has told several friends, who
have called upon him within a day or two to
converse on the Louisiana and other important
questions, that he has been seriously consider
ing what course he shall pursue, should Con-
gress adjourn without taking any more definite
action in regard to these matters than hereto
fore. He says that during the last two years
he has been guided by but one impulse in the
performance of what he has considered his
share of duty under the consttution-that of
preserving order in the Southern States, and
protecting all classes of its citizens in the en-
Ioyment of their rights. He was always reluc-
tant to interfere in the internal affairs of the
Southern States, and now after waiting in vain
for Congress to mark out q course for him, ne
has determined to wait no longer than the close
of the present session before entering upon a
policy of his own. The President has, there
fore, decided that should the Senate admit
Pinchback to the seat he is now claiming by
virtue of an election by the Kellogg Legisla-
ture, he will consider that action as equivalent
To q recognition by the Senate of the Kellogg
government, and he will continue to support it
rs he has for the past two years. But should
the Senate adjourn, leaving Pinchback still
knocking in vain for admission, he will inter-
pret this action as indicating that the Senate is
unwilling to recognize the legality of the Kel-
logg government, and will, therefore, consider
himself bound to uphold it no longer.
The position the President now holds, there
fore, is this: If Congress, by q special act,
makes known to him its wishes in regard to
Louisiana he will execute those wishes; riff it
does not pass such an act, but the Senate seats
Pinchback, he will consider that as sufficient
warrant for him to continue to support Kellogg.
But if nothing is done, then he will, in the
spring, withdraw the United States troops from
Louisiana, leaving only enough to garrison the
forts on the Mississippi below New Orleans, and
leave Kellogg to take care of himself without
the aid of United States soldiers.