The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-03-17
PRICE-FIVE CENTS

Mr.. Logan, of Illinois, asked il there we're
two bodies of men in State claiming to be
the Legislature thereof and two men ca ming
to be the Governor, how the people could as
certain as to which they must obey Ii the
courts could not determine. Mr. T.lnunls
replied. II there We're fifty pretended govern
inenls III a State az q time, the courts of one
could not decide upon the Legality OF the
| otter.
kesumIng bis argument he said ha had
| listened to tho arguments of Louisiana for
| two or three years, and he had no hoard the
most Jealous advocate of the KELLOGG and
Pinchback side maintain the s1unduess # the
decision OF the Supreme Curt Of that State
| The Senator from Indiana (Mortonl had
| argued that the Supreme Court of III, United
States was bound to follow the decisions of
the State courts.
He (E!munds) thorght the Senator from
| Indiana was mistaken in this propo ition and
| read from several legal decisions to show
| that tho Supreme Conrt did no. follow the
rulings OF State courts in the class OF eases
| mentioned by the Senator from Indiana.
Mr.. Eamunds next referred to the argu-
| ment of Mr.. Morton that the credentials of
fnchback made priHu ft"ie case, and said
Such an argument would have been better in
1913, when the applicant first presented his
credentials. He then read from the Journal
| '1AO''
credentials of Plnchback and MeIliilen were,
on motion OF Mr.. Morton, referred to the
Committee on Privileges and Elections
On the 10th OF December, Mr.. Morton re-
| ported back the cred, ntials. with the report
| that the committee was equally divided upou
| the question whether Pinchbtcl was entitled
| to be sworn III on his cit lentias and remit
ted the whole question to the Senate; and on
the 10th of January, 1874 the credentials of
n oFy
committed to the Committee on Privileges
| and Elections, and the committee was au-
| thorlzed to send for persons and papers
Mr. Edmunds then argued that it WAS an
utter confusion OF terms to say that Piuch-
back had prlna ftcie case, and must be ai-
| mitted upon the merits thereof, or he had no
case at all. To be told now tn 1t the Senate
should admi. Pinchhack upon one part of his
case, and consider the other part ut some
other time, was, in all due respect to the
Senator from Indiana. a mercy;a to do so
would be an act of justice to the other States
which wero interested; to the next man who
should be in the Senate who had not the
right to be there.
The Senator from Indiana had claimed that
the President OF the United States had recog-
nized the Kellogg government, ana he having
recognized it the Senate was bound to do SO.
The recognition OF Kellogg by the President
was not the recognition of tho Legislature
which elected Pnchback He (Elmuudsl
denied that the President had recogn zed KEEL
lo5 The President, fifteen hundred miles
away, recognized the fact that il was the duty
OF everybody to obey the lnand ties OF the
law.
Then came the revolution in Louisiana and
then came the President with the declaration
that he would take the man whom the courts
had put II possession and npho!d him until
Congress should act. The President had APP
peaied to Congress again and again t. act in
the case.
Mr.. Morton said the Presidan. had reaog-
nizcd tho Legislature which elected Mt
flncaback, and read The dispatah Of the
Attorney Genera. recognizing the Legislature
III session at Mechanics In ,titute
Mr. Edmonds said he had not forgotten
that dispatch, but did not construe it IN the
same way as the Senator from Indiana.
If that Senator would do the President OF
the United States the justice to take all he has
said on the subject, take his immediate COM
munication to the Senate stating the circum-
stances which attended his interference,
then he would come nearer in defining the
attitude OF the President. Though he, Ed
munds, was bound to say as a Senator of the
United States that the attitude Of the Presi-
dent was absolutely immaterial to the Senate
He knew Of nothing in the Constitution or
law giving the President the right to bind the
Senate, and tho President would be tho last
man to claim any rights to Judge Of what the
Constitution has RENTED to the Senate I'M
der the Constitution, to decide upon the cleo
ton OF Pinchback, and no action of the Presi-
dent or any one else could bind the Senate.
The question to decide was whether the body
OF men electing Pinchback was the true
Legislature of louisiana
The Constitution said only the true Legis-
lature could elect a Senator and it also said
the Senate should be the Judge Of the election
of its own members. The question must be
met and 1t must be declared once and for all
whether tho men returned as members of the
Louisiana Legislature by IL bo4rd which had
no evidence before it, composed the true Leg
lalatufe OF the State. 1t had been argued
here that Louisiana was entitled to two Sena-
tors Oh. this floor
That was true, but if this man Pinchback
Was net her Senator a gross outrage upon the
State would be committed by seating him.
Ia concluding he referred to the arguments
made IN favor OF seating Pinchback and said
II there was any policy III this line Of argu-
ment, although he knew of no policy but that
in which looking to the past seeks the truth
1t was the policy of strict adherence to the
law. That was the guide which in the heat Of
conflict, in the tempest Of passion, in tho
tumut Of politics was the Sole guide OF cur
ship OF State to a safe haven.
To turn away from that and speak of party
wishes or party symptthies, all would be lost
III that sea Of turmoil that has ruined 80 mlny
republics in the history of our times. lie,
for one, would stand by the Law.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Il imunds speech
there was applause in the galleries, bat II was
soon suppressed by the Chair. The debate
at great length and is proceeding
tonight.
WAsHINGToN, March Is, II 40 Z. M.-The
Senate, by vote OF thirty three yeas to thirty
nays, postponed further consideration Of the
resolution tor the admission Of Pincaback TIL
the second Monday in December next.
WAsHiSGToN, March 1.-The result in the
Senate tonight occurred upon motion OF Mr.
West The point seems to be that the called
session OF the Louisiana Legislature viii be
stopped from the election of a Senator, and
the issue at the opening of tho next session