The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-06

at least colorado claim to election, for other
wise the Returning Board, who were SO little
scrupulous in other cases, would have counted
them out in advance. They were in no sense
intruders, for it is customary in all Legislative
bodies to admit such claimants in the pre-
liminary organization and decide on their
right to seats afterward Their title to seats
was question within the proper jurisdiction
of the House by the law which makes it the
judge of the qualifications of its members,
and this jurisdiction was admitted by the Re
turning Board by turning over the question
to the Legislature
Here, then, was a Legislative body, organ
lied according to the usual forms, engaged in
the orderly transaction of business. In the
midst of their peaceable and orderly proceed
ings an officer of the federal army enters
their hall, interrupts their business accosts
their Speaker, and demands the surrender Of
those five members. He presently calls in o
body of soldiers, with another officer who can
point out and identify those members, puts
them under military arrest one by one, and,
against their solemn protests, marches them
out, with soldier on each side, to drag them
by force if they should make resistance.
Such a scene was never before wit
messed in this free country. The officer
who had charge of these proceedings alleged
that he was instructed to suppress o mob,
and that he seized those quiet members in
obedience to that order Those five mem
bers, sitting quietly in their seats by the
authority of the House, were n mob! 1t re-
quired the combined force OF the State militia
and federal army to suppress SO formidable
and dangerous mob and restore the public
peace! Those five unoffending gentlemen,
who were not likely to perpetrate any other
act of violence than to respond 'aye" or
may on questions which might be put to
vote, were seized in their seats and dragged
out of the Legislative body by federal soldiers
under the pretence of putting down mob!
A worthy occasion for the Intervention of the
federal army!
The country will await with impotence a
recital of the reasons for this extraordinary,
this unprecedented proceeding. and for the
daring acts of General Sheridan in New Or
leans. What information does the President
possess that the public does not know9 For
deeds far less arbitrary Andrew Johnson was
brought to the verge of impeachment The
country has right to know at once the pur-
poses of these strange proceedings. In mat
ter like this, where there is prina facie
invasion of the sovereignty of the people,
there should be no reserve and no delay The
of Mr.. Conkling that the President
should be permitted to use his judgment as to
whether he should answer the resolution of
Senator Thurman is mockery. The Presi-
dent should be compelled to answer, and at
once. Unless he has full cause-a cause
that will fully satisfy the country-he has
made himself liable to impeachment. We
do not condemn the President and General
Sheridan unheard, for we have too much re-
spect for their fame to rashly assail it. and
hesitate to believe what it is almost impos-
sible not to believe. The President has either
bursting civil war or he has
begun series Of usurpations that may lead
no one can tell whittier. In dealing with this
question we trust our legislators will rise
above partisanship. 1t is not the interest of
party that is concerned, but the honor of the
country and the safety of the Republic. The
President has gone so far that he must be
utterly condemned as military usurper or
sustained. There is as yet no
evidence but what leads to his condemnation,
and we sincerely trust he will show the coun-
try good reasons for reversing its judgment.