The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-10
NEW ORLEANS BULLETIN
~~N->-~
NEW ORLEANS. JANUARY 10, 1875
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEBATE on, LOUISIANA AFFAIRS
. CONTINUED.
SENATE.

MIA said the first call for military interference i
she Legislature OF Louisiana came from I'd
I,evnocrats TO preserve order in the lobby, bu
that fac. had been Ignored by the Dcmocra ii
Senstors here. He alluded to the banditti dis
natch of Gen. Sheridan, and said the men b
IsberIdsn) desired TO have declared bandtG wer
those men who had covered the South witt
murder and assassination, burned schoO-h0use
and committed all kinds of depredations.
The Democrats might raise this cry OF consti
futiona liberty being destroyed they NIGH
raise it in their subsidized press but when tho
story Of these fearful outrages in the South came
70 be fully understood, public opinion would "nn-
denim ths Democratic party. he argued that inc
Republicans had been humane and kind, and
had willingly extended mercy to those vino Ut,
tempted to stab the nation. He did not Soy all
the Southern people were bad There were hum
dreds and thousands OF people there wh0se
souis revolt9d at these deeds o. iniqu,y ~
hoped the Senate would begin at the right end,
and have the information desired. before con-
Inning the debate.
Mr. West Of Louisiana, again referred to the
troubles in that State FOR years past and sa!d the
dlti were the same men who had taken the arms
from the State and had never laid them down,
though commanded to do 10 by the proclamation
of the President. Ho then read list Of arms
taken from the State, which had never been re-
tarned, as follows: Two mountain h0witzers,
ga Springfield rifles. 301 Winchester rifles, Goa
Enfield rifles, 20 Spencer carbiues and 1880 bayO-
acts.
Mr.. Morton smoke In favor of his amendment,
and quoted from reports Of committees Of Con-
Sress to show that there were armed bands In
the South who defiee all law. KeferriCg 70 the
handiti dispatch Of Gen. Sheridan, he said it
vas true that Sheridan did not write like q law
ser; be did not write like those on the other side
II this chamber, who had assaulted him, but while
shey were studying law and learning how to
argue, Phil was in the field fighting for his
sountty He (Morton) had no doubt there were
more mon killed for political offenses in Louisi-
ana than had been killed in Ill the Indian wars
for the last twenty years.
This whole thing, he remarked, looked 10 him
RI IL it was precoDcerted plan TO exterminate
She Republican party in every Southern State.
Then the Democrats would have every one q
those States, and al they had to do would be to
get one or two Northern States and thus elect
The next President. 1t had been denied on this
door that any such thing = Ku-Klux Organiza.
aon existed.
Mr.. Thurman inquired when and BY whom such
denial WAS made.
Mr.. Morton said it had been repeatedly denied
by the Democrats.
Mr. Thurman said tho Senator could not name
an instance.
Mr.. Morton, resuming his argument, quoted
from tho speech Of the senator from Georgia
that State, and said while he had no doubt the
Senator was sincere in hisstatement, he (MortOnt
must be allowed to express his incredulity. He
had evidence that four hundred negroes in Geor-
cause they d d not pay the school tax.
Mr.. GOrden inquired tho name Of the writer.
Mr.. Morton said II was not very safe to mako |
public the names Of Rephblicans in the South.
Mr. Gordon replied that the reports Of out |
rs2es were exaggerated, and said in one |
instance, when he WAS o candidate for Office and |
hi, opponent was declared to have been elected /
= Republican there asserted that unless he was |
made United States Senator and Superintendent |
IT Roads he would show that Gordon defeated |
his opponent by six or seven thousand majority.
That man was elected United States Senator and
superintendent Of Roads too.
Mr.. Morton Who was that MANI
Mt. Gordon--fo ster Blodgett.
Mr.. Morton, resuning, said the Republican
vote in GeOrgis had fallen off heavily.
Mr.. Gordon said his predecessor in the Senate,
Joshua Hill. was Republican when he occupied
his seat in the chamber Since then he had seen
lit, FOR Causes which suited him, to change his
opinion. No man stood higher in the State than
Mr.. Hl' He was man Of influence, and when
he left the Republican party many wont with
him. There were manyc lored men in Georgia
who voted the Demoora tic ticket. His (Goriion'sl
carriage driver declared to him that he desired
10 vote the Democratic ticket, but he feared to
do SO. as hc would be murdered by mon Of his
own color.
Mr.. Morton said the language If the Senator
from Georgia, would do in this debate, but it
would hardly do in Georgia or in Faneuil Hall in
beston.
Mr.. Gordon said IL the Senator meant to saw
he would not utter in Georgia or in Faneu! Hall,
be uttered hbol on his (Ciordon's, character.
Mr.. Morton said the sentiments Of the gentle I
nan were not operative.
Mr.. Gordon said they wore operative, II
Mr.. Merrmon, of North Carolina, also spoke '
~ peace existing in tho South, especially in his
own state. IL
Mr. Scott. OF Pennsylvania, asked the Senator I
Shank or schenck in North Caroline, who had
Testified before the Congressional Committee
that he was . member Of the ku-Klux organiza-
ion, and who had subsequently been made !
udge by the people If that State7 IL
Mr.. Merrimon replied that he did. and the dis.
.rict of that Judge wss one of the most quiet {
districts in the State.
Mr.. Scott inquired IL that same judge had net i
shot down negro in the street and had never i
been brought 70 trial for the 0ifense. lI
Mr. Merriman it was not true that tho Judge 8
,Shsnkl had shot down . negro in the street.
The Judge was Assailed at his house by drunk {
sn negro, who refused to leave, after icing q
sarnod of. The indge fired and killed the negro
.pd Immediately went TO q magistr ste And sur &
rendered himself. He was tried and acquitted. il
Ia conclusion, Mr.. Merrimon said thero was q
l"t more quiet community than North Carolina
o-day. They had = Republican Governor . | Q
republican Judiciary aud . Democratic Tssis. 9
ature, but perfect peace reigped.
Mr.. Gordon said the Senator from Indiana 8
Morton) had spoken Of the Democrats carrying i
Georgia and the Republican vote falling Of. He {
now il WAS the Democrats carried Indiana how Q
hoy carried Ohio, which State short time q
,cey'ous gave forty Thousand Republican major Q
-. How they carried New York, how they car. Q
led Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, tho Key j.
stone State. He (Gordon) challenged COMPARE
ION Of tho court records Of Indians with those Of
ieorgia and WAS willing TO abide by the result.
Mr.. Thurman said Ill this cry II ''oatragos' Q
.nd White Lesguers on the Republican side Of y
.he Chamber WAS to obscure tho real question. Il
nd the Senators on that side think thew could Y
Receive such men as the x-Attorney General who
'ad signed the call for meeting in New York, I
nd another who signed is who was one OF the q
'idest Republican editors7 The people Of this u
country conld not be deceived. When the Henate .
got tbs information called for by the resolution.
would he only half Of the facte, bat IL N con. b
aiued the one fact that this action of tho mill 4
ary in New Orleans was sanctioned by the PrtSi- II
Lent, he (Thunnsnl would be satis66d Il
MIR. MerTimon then withdrew his amendment.
The amendments submitted bv Mr.. Norton was =
greed to. ii