National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-03-17
CURRENT CAPITAL TOPICS.
GConfiHusd from First Psqe-l

GunnEN IAfI Al IUfIIS.
CConfiausd from First PGqe-)
had undertaken to set up this Legislature. But
II the Senator would do the President the justice
70 take all his dispatches, his order TO stand BY
body; take his constant demands on this body and
the other House, to take means Is the rightful
judges to preserve order, and relieve him OF re-
iponsibility which he did not desire-then the
Senator would come nearer TO defining the action
Of the pr EST But he Ont e. was bound to
lumaterlal as bearing on the question now before
He knew Of nothing in the Constitution nor the
laws which gave the President the right to de-
eide upon the qualifications Of members of this
body, nor did the President claim any such power.
The Constitution confers upon the Senate alone
the power TO determine the question now before It.
and cannot be foreelosed or eoereed to come TO
else.
The only question before this Senate Is whether
the Legislature which elected this claimant
whether this Legislature, selected bya board
which had expired, and which had not before Il
single one Of the papers required oy the cGnstitI,
elect Senator. Much has been said on this floor
about the right Of Louisiana to be represented by
Of this representation. She is entitled to two
Senators, but unless this man be her Senator, We
SS@ittin9 him me MI 3 eOScludsd an el0 %S
peroration by saying he would stand by the law,
which drew forth applause from the crowded gal
Mr.. MCDONALD denied that the case was a
pTfnG fGcie one. He held that the Senate was
own members, and was bound by the actIop Of no
one else. He would vote against the claimant
Mr.. HOWE said the Senator from Vermont
was very able and acute lawyer, and If any one
could defend the cause he had espoused that
Senator was the man. But the Senator, nctHith-
vince him, (Nir. HI StiIl, it was delightful to
hear, as was the case now and then on this floor,
A DEMOCRATIC SPEECH FROM A REPUBLICAN.
But 1t would be more delightful to hear Rspub
have heard. and never viii. MI. II. tSen de-.
Tended the action Of the Lynch board and argued
that Kellogg received the majority of the votes
Legislature which elected Pinchback was the un-
doubted legal Legislature oEthe State as 1t made
Without concluding Mr.. H. gave way, and the
Senate went into executive session, AFTER which It
took recess to 7:30 p. N.
Evening Session.
The Senate reassembled at 7:3O D. m.
Mr.. HOWE resumed his argument. He con-
sdered 1t was his duty to follow the decision OF
the Supreme Court Of Louisiana because he
thought that court understood the law Of the
State as we'll If not better than the Senate. He
maintained that the Lynch board was the legal
returning board, and had the authority to declare
who were elected members Of the Legislature.
Pinchback, he argued, was elected by the loyal
Legislature, and should admitted.
Nj. LOGAN argued that the Senate should
either declare the Kellogg or the McEnery gov
eminent the legal government Of Louisiana, or
that there was no government in the State at all.
In deciding case Of this kind he was guided by
the decision Of the Supreme Court Of the State,
the recognition OF the President and all the at
tending circumstances. The Senate should have
some respect for the courts Of the different States
In deciding affairs pertaining to state laws.
State he would like to know where the power ex-
listed to determine which was the legal govern
argument of the Senator from Vermont mr..
EDMUNDsl denying this theory, denied the right
Of the State through any of Its departments to
save itself, is denied the right Of
THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT TO SAVE ITSELF.
He maintained that either the Kellogg govern
ment must be declared an Illegal government or
Pinehback must be admitted. The two cases go
together, and one Is as great as the other.
He then spoke Of the appeals made here on this
floor to Senators to rise above party considera-
lions. He said that these appeals were some
times responded to by those on this side, but he
had never seen an occasion when those on the
other side, who were so fond of making these ap-
rejected, then, perhaps, Mr.. Mcmillan would
present his credentials; and he ventured the pre-
Sict0n that u So the Democratic Senators would
perhaps, Senator would be elected by the Legis-
lature, which was now being cooped up, without
any authority OF law, by committee Of eX-mem-
befs of Congress over in New York. He then
urged that, for the sake of giving peace to Louis
lana, Il Pinehoack be not admitted, then
admit NcMillan, and let there be an end Of the
Mr.. Morton said It was manifest to all that this
QutsIlOn nhu Dteu udu6 party question ny OUR
Democratic friends. He sent to the desk to be
read an extract from an evening paper, to the
effect that the result Of the arbitration Of the
committee sitting in New York would be to tie
the Legislature and most probably elect q Demo-
cratic Senator. He then said that every Vo.e
against Pinehback would help to
DEMoRALIzE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
in Louisiana, disturb the peace Of the State, and
bring about scenes Of bloedshed. II Plnch0aek
should be rejected II would be accepted as de-
claration by the Senate that the Legislature
of the State. What would be the result Of this?
The next House of Representatives was Demo-
cratic, and he predicted that among its very first
acts would be the passage Of a resolution reeog-
the President to sustain 1t. 1.-THE Senate refused
now to recognize the Kellogg government, what
ground would be left for the President to stand
upon2 The Democratic Senators understood this
thoroughly, and saw the trap into which the Re-
publicans were falling.
In abiding TO the speech Of Mr.. EDMUNDs, he
had never heard q better Democratic speech or
more one-sided-no reference at all to the crimes
and murders committed in Louisiana.
Mr.. EDMUNDS asked If the Senator had not
heard better Democratic speech when he used
to make them himself Laughter.
Mr.. MORTON said the last Democratic speech
he had made was in 1852, and If he could not be
forgiven for that after the lapse Of tWenty-Ehree
years he never would be forgiven. lift was
TO BE THROWN IN HIS FACE
that he made Democratic speeches tWenty-three
years ago, what was to be thought Of Repu0li-
in 1878? Applause in the gslleries.l He argued
that the Kellogg government represented the
majority OF the people Of Louisiana.
Mr.. WEST moved to postpone the further con-
sldeTation Of the whole matter to the second Mon
day in December; which was carried, as follows: