Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-01-17
CONGRESSIONAL.
The Louisiana Question Stin
Under Discussion.
A SHARP Passage Between Sauls-
bury and COnkling.
Blatherskite Clayton SqUirts
Some of his Venom at the
Southern People.
SENATE.

| SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. l6.-Mr. Morrill,, of
Vermont, presented a memorial from the
property holders in Washington, complain
ing of injury to their property north Of the
Capitol, on account Of the streets being oc-
cupied by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company In loading and unloading freight.
Referred.
Mr.. Clayton presented amemOrial signed
BY over 200 citizens Of Arkansas, formerly
soldiers in the Union army, endorsing the
course Of Gen. Sheridan in New Orleans,
and declaring that the statements made
by him were true. Laid upon the table.
The unfinished business, being the resO-
luton Of Mr.. Schurz instructing the Judi
eiary Committee to inquire what legisla-
tion by Congress is necessary to secure to
the people Of Louisiana their rights Of
self-gOvernment under the Constitution,
etc, was resumed, and Mr.. Salisbury con-
cluded his argument begun yesterday. Re
ferring to events which took place in New
Orleans on the morning of the 4th inst, he
said it was only by permission Of kellogg
that the members Of the Legislature could
enter the State-hOuse. He argued that the
organization Of the Legislature under Mr..
/ Wilt was perfectly legal. After Mr.. Wilt
had been sworn in, all members, Demo-
Gratis aud Republicans, took the oath, thus
| recognizing Mr.. Wiltz as Speaker.
Mr.. Sherman said as he understood the
facts, no Republican members had been !
sworn in by Mr.. Wilt.
Mr.. Bayard said he had positive informa- |
tiOn that one hundred and two members |
Of the Legislature were sworn in by Mr.. |
Wilt.
MIR. Salisbury, resuming, argued that |
there was rapid tendency toward central |
izatiOn Of power in this country, and that 1
the States were to be depleted of the rights |
guaranteed them under the Constitution. /
The Republicans argued that Mr. Wilt 4
was not elected Speaker of the Louisiana /
House of Representatives, because the
clerk of the old House did not put the mo-
ton. In Louisiana there was nothing in
the Constitution requiring the clerk Of the
old House TO organize the new. 1t was
simply matter Of statute law. He would
say frankly that he was pleased with the
tone Of the Presidents message. BE had
heard mumurings of discomfort in the
land. He referred to the speech made by
the Senator from Illinois SIR. Logan). It
was not an argument; 1t was denunciatOry
Of the Democratic party, an exhibition Of
skull and crOss-bOnes. Common rumOr
I
was an effort to prepare the public mind
for the Republican party's taking military
possession Of Louisiana, Mississippi, Ar
kansas and Alabama, and he did not know
how many more Southern States, and to
compel them to vote for the Republican
party in the next Presidential election.
Mr.. COnkling said tie remarks of the
Senator reminded him of certain newspa-
per enterprises, where newspapers some
times had news exclusively. The Senator
was the only one who had the news that
these States were to be taken possession Of
by the military power.
Mr.. Salisbury said if the Senator init
mated that he cOncOcted this story, it was
false.
Mr.. Conkling said if the Senator had
heard such remark he had capacity for
hearing greater than any other Senator. He |
did not say the Senator had cOncOcted the | :
story; therefore the remark he (Nr. Sauls-
buTy) made in reply was exceedingly out |
Of place. If the Senator wished 70 put |
upon him an affrOnt by the use Of
discOurteOus language, be (Mr. Cons
ling) would not avoid any
occasion he might seek of that kind. He
would say 10 the Senator, if he could not ,
observe good manners and decency in de
bate, he would not shrink from entering
upon the contest even with the Senator
from Delaware. l repel as indecent and
offensive the remarks he made. :
Mr.. Salisbury said he inferred that the
Senator (Ar. COnklIng) intimated that he
(SaulSbuTy) put the TumOr in circulation.
When the Senator from New York rose in
his place and said he CSaulsbury) put such
a rumOr in circulation, he would resent it.
He had never offered an indignity to any {
Senator, but, so help him God, no Senator
should offer an afirOnt to him. If the Sen q
atOr did not intend an insult, he was sOrry [
for what he said, but he would not tamely {
submit to what he deemed an insult, even {
before the majesty Of the Senator from New {
\ Ork. If that Senator desired to make re- I
ply, be could do it now or hereafter in his
way. q
MIR. salisbury then concluded his speech.
Mr.. Clayton spoke Of the existence Of {
Ku-Klux in the Southern States in years I
past, and lid it would be seen that the 2
White League Of to-day was but the Ku- a
KluX of two years ago. He knew the or /
ganizatiOn did exist in Arkansas, for it be C
came his duty as Governor of the State to O
investigate it, and read extracts from the I
LOJisUllle C0lTier-JOUnGi. Referring to p
Tennessee, he said that STATE was handed b
over five years ago, by treachery, to Demo 4
cratic rule, and read from the report Of the
for the Western District Of that &
State, in reference TO the troubles last sum- a
mer, sent TO the Senate by Attorney Gen d
eral Williams. He quoted from a dispatch Il
Of Gov. Garland, of Arkansas, to the Pres
dent, and said A. II. Garland, who stvled e
himself Governor of Arkansas, had in 5
formed the President that there were no ii
Inv in hot l., I -,
,ause when the Democrats came into power c.
hey Immediately became State militia and II
we're armed by the State. In Arkansas, of q
i've hundred white Democrats who had o
murdered negroes, not one suffered the ex- Ii
RENE penalty of the law. He would ask s.
he Senator from Tennessee Mr.. Cooper 81
f he knew Of any in his State.
Mr.. COOper-Yes, several q
Mr.. Clayton said he would inquire Of the | ti
Senator from Georgia, Mr.. lNOrwoOd) if he C.
knew Of any in his State. c
Mr.. Norwood said the Senator from
Arkansas seemed TO be on a general tour Of ii
He (ClaytOn) had better in n
iorm himsef before he attempted to in a
Orm the Senate, and address the country. | q
Mr.. Clayton then inquired Of tie Sena- u
or from Kentucky (Mr. StevensOn) if he VI
Knew of an instance where a white man u
vas punished for the murder of a negro. I
MIR. Stevenson said Kentucky had time OF
md again punished them. While he was l.
Governor he had frequently refused to in Oi
eTfere with the punishment Of white men p
or the murder Of negroes. He would G
corn, either as Governor or as a citizen, to u
Excuse crime on account Of politics. When tC
senator Clayton desired to compare notes d.
between Kentucky and Arkansas, in honor, D.
n punishment Of crime, in purity Of ad- D;
Of the Government, he
StevensOn) was ready. fc
Mr.. Clayton said the editor Of the COIr- is
said the law was not enforced. |
lie would ask the Senator from North Caro- al
ina (Nr MerrymOn) if he knew of az in al
tanoe in his State where a white man was
,nnished fOr.the murder Of a negro d
Mr.. Merrymon replied in the affirmative, "a
md said one white man was executed in Ii
six months ago. Two white I r
nen in another county were found guilty d
# killing a negro aud sentenced to death, al
Dut the Republican Governor cOmmuted b
heir sentence, and they we're in the peni- al
entiary now el
Mr.. Cooper asked the Senator to yield al
he floor, that he might read a dispatch Of es
IOv. Brown to the President.