The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-12-17

Debate in Congress- On the Missis-
General News.
Etc, Etc, Etc.
FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
THE SENATE.


WAsu1N afoN, Dec. 16.-Mr. Spencer, of
Alabama, said that OF the last session of the
Alabama Legislature q committee was ap-
pointed to inquire whether corrupt practices
had been used to secure. his election to the
Senate As the Legislature which appointed
this committee was not the one by which he
wal elected TO the Senate he had not APP
peared before it to answer to the charges.
He denied the charges OF fraud and corrup- Q
ton, and said the Legislature which appoint
ed this committee WAS elected by fraud-the a
same as the one, reosntay elected in Missis- 9
sippi. vo,1 sUe'sss xzsa1
Inc Alabama election, by which this Legis-
lature was put in, like that in Mississippi,
was part of q conspiracy to overthrow lawful
governmental the South. He recognized the
Senate of the United States as the only body
having the authority to inquire into his cleo
ton and his right to q seat in this chamber.
He therefore offered q resolution iastructing
the Committee on Privileges and Elections to
inquire whether George E. Spencer, Senator
in Congress from the State of Alabama, did
use, or cause to be used, corrupt practices to
secure his election to seat in the.Senate, and
authorizing said committee to send for per-
sons and papers, and sit during the holiday
recess. .-..'-'
on the table and be printed
Mr.. Conkling said the Senator from Ala
bama had been assailed, and he asked for an
investigation by q Senate committee. He
hoped the Senator from West Virginia would
not ask postponement.
Mr.. Thurman, OF Ohio, said he knew
nothing whatever of the case, but it seemed
to him that the resolution drawn simply
directed an inquiry as to whether the Senator
himself had used corrupt practices. The
broader question as to whether the election
was secured by fraud was not covered by the
resolution.
Mr.. Spencer said he would modify it to
meet the views of the Senator from Ohio.
The resolution was then modified to read as
follows:
RESOLVED, That the Committee on Privileges
and Elections are hereby instructed to inves-
tigate into and inquire whether in the election
of George Z. Spencer as a Senator from the
State of Alabama there were used, or caused
to be used, and employed corrupt means or
corrupt practices to secure his election to
the seat he now holds, and that said commit
tee be empowered to administer oaths, to send
for persons and papers, to take testimony, to
employ stenographers and such assist ance as
they may deem necessary, and to sit during
the recess OF Congress ii considered advisa-
BILE, and to report the result Of their investi-
cation as soon as practicable
The resolution as modified was agreed to.
The resolution which passed the House TO
adjourn Monday next to the 4th of January
was amended by inserting January 5th, and
passed. 1t goes to the House for concurrence.
Mr. Morton's resolution appointing COM
mittee to investigate the Mississippi election
was discussed with considerable bitterness
without action.
| memorial from practical steamboatmen
and persons engaged in navigation designa-
ted certain portions in steamboat laws which
should be changed. In presenting the memo
rial Mr.. Conkling said he took great pleasure
in laying this paper before the Senate, be-
cause it indicated particularly what charges
should be made, and it also showed that the
men engaged in steamboating had some re-
gard for the safety of those travelling on
steamboats,
| Mr.. Morton, calling up his Mississippi res
| olution, said ne had large number of docu-
| ments, written by q number of persons in
Mississippi, detailing the circumstances at
tending the recent election. The statement
he proposed to lay before the Senate was not
of his own knowledge, but was received from
others. He reviewed the elections in Missis-
sippi ss far back as 1869 The last election
was "a, 900 higher than any vote polled.
The Democratic vote in 1875 was 96 806,
against "A. ZIG in 1873. Tne Republican vote
fell off, but not In q corresponding ratio. He
read letters showing intimidation in several
counties.
Mr. Bayard said this resolution, 80 far as he
knew, was without precedent in the Senate,
and he would like to inquire of the Senator
from Indiana (Morton) under what clause Of
the Constitution of the United States he
found authority to make the inquiry in case
Of this kind.
Mr. Morton said he did not propose now TO
90 into constitutional argument upon this
question. He had only to say that it had been
decided heretofore as in the Louisiana case,
besides the enforcement act had been vio-
lated in Mississippi, and the blow had fallen
upon the colored people as it was intended
to.
Mr.. Bayard denied that the Louisiana case
was similar to this; that Investigation was
under clause Of the Constitution which made
the Senate the sole judge of the claims for
seats in that body.
II law had been violated in Mississippi the
courts were open and this was governmen t
of laws-those courts were open for the in
dictment of offenders, and for damages against
J those who wronged others. In those courts
, the remedy was to be found; 1t could not be
! said that the political or party friends Of the
7 Senator from Indiana In Mississippi had not
full and equal chance before the law eithe
in the United States or State courts.
The officers all over the State, from the
Governor down to the constable, were of tn
, Senator's party, and if they could not punish
yiolators of law, it was sad confession 70
the Senator to make. When the new Senate
from Mississippi came here with his creden
tails, ii there were grounds that he was no
qualified, then the Senate could sit as judges
=, but until that time, no action could be taken
When before in the history of this countr
did the Senate Of the United States propose t