Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-03-23
SDeecl, OF Senator Johnson.

In the u. S. Senate, yesterday, the resolu'
ton endorsing the action of the Administers
ton 10 Louisiana being under consideration,
Mr.. johnson said that for many years he
had been accustomed to speak before the peo-
pie and 10 dcliberatve assemblies; yet he now
confessed that he appeared before the Senate
with some embarrassment. He feared that
MANY had been dlawo here with expectations
that would surely be disappointed. Tie had
not expected to take any part ID the debate at
! this time, but circumstances had occurred
which Induced him to change his resolution.
| He wished it, however, understood that III
| what he would say he was not guided III any
| manner by party bias, but solely by his regard
| for the good and happiness Of the country
| He then called for the reading of the resolu
TOD, and said he did not consider that it was
at this time legitlnatey before the Senate,
which had been called together solely for the
purpose oil disposlug OF executive business. Ii
| this resolution was proper to be considered,
| then it was proper TO consider any act ot the
| Administration slnce It's advent 10 power. 1t
was reversing the policy and the principle upon
! which the Legislature had always acted. He
! said Senators would no doubt remember the
resolution brought in by Mr.. Clay denouDcing
| President Jackson for removing the bank de-
POSTS. This was at the time when both Houses
were in session, but it was then urged that The
| Senate had no rig bit to pass upon the action OF
| the President unless sitting as court OF lm-
pcachment The Senate was now asked TO ex-
| press its approval OF the action OF the President
! IN interfering In the affairs Of u State. Now,
| what had usually been tic Course OF the Gov
| ernmeu in cases similar to that which had
| a,iscn in Louisiana? He referred to the case
| in Tennessee in iSGti, where the Governor and
| the Legislature were at Vullauce, AMI where
! the Governor undertook 10 control the l4agls-
| lature. The Legislature then reduced itself
below u QUORUM Here was contest between
two ot The evil departments Of the Govern
lucnt. In principle this case WAS exactly the
same as the case Of Louisiana Now, what
! was the action Of the Federal Government
then? He read from Il letter Of Governor
Browul0w refusing 10 receive the resignation
OF Il member of the Tennessee Legislature, be
cause he alleged the object OF the resignation
was TO break Zip quorum. The Governor had
nothing To do with the organization Of the leg
islature. 1t was not for him 10 preserve Il quo
,um. Governor RrownlUw then applied to
General George Fl. Thomas, commanding at
! Nashville, Teun. He read FROM the dispatch
of General Thomas OF July, lSGG, covering The
r,uucst OF Governor Bruwnlow for military us
sis, ancc to compel the Legislature TO preserve
its organization, addressed to Lieutenant Gen
rrai Grant, at Washington, aud lDqurlDg
whether he should &rulsh military assistance.
lie tMr. } was only now speaking oil the
public acts Of pubic men, and he would not on
this occasion indulge Ia one personal remark ur
one personal reflection. He theu read from
the telegram OF Secretary Stanton dIrcciiog
General Thomas that it was ~ part Of the
military to Interfere, and that he must scrupu-
| lousy abstain from any interference. This Was
the precedent set by the Government, and it
was known to the low President, who was
then the Lieutenant General, and through
whom the correspondence passed. But there
was further than this La 1867 Gen. Sheridan
was 10 command at New Orleans When, 10
consequence Of his oticious interference and
his oppressive course, au universal demand
came up from that country for his removal.
He was removed aud Gen. Hancock was sent
| in his place, and immediately peace aud quiet
was restored. Gen. Hancock on assuming cum
| mand, issued an order recognizing the supre-
macy OF the civil law, aud setting up the true
| line between the civil and military authority.
The General of the Army (Gcn. Grant, at
that time protested against the removal Of
Geo Sheridan, but his assertions, which were
mere assertions, were shown to be without
foundation. Then, why at this time is This
man sent back TO the people whom he had OPP
pressed and who had prayed for his removal
Why was he sent when there were So many
other officers Of the army who could have been
sent, unless ii was TO carry out certain policy
to irrltatc and goad these people tie knew
those people. All that they wanted was their
rights in the Union their right to self gov
crnment. Now, he would tell those people
that were behind the curtain, that were trying
to stir up auother civil war, in order that one
might ride into power on third term over the
| ruins OF the Union, over civil war, that II
| their plans succeeded then farewell to liberty.
| Applause in the galleries.
The Chair Mr.. Ferry reminded the gale
ries that applause would not be permitted.
MIR. }. then commented 90 the views OF
Washington a. to u third term. He then refer
| T, d TO the prUvlsU Ia the Constitution prohibit
ing The President from receiving any gifts, &c,
| from aug foreign prince or potcntatc. Ii 1t
had been added, "or from any American cti
zen, " it would perhaps have been we'll.
Laughter. Ii the Senate was now discuss
ing the prupriety OF adding such clause to the
Constitution it would be very pertinent
He then lnsanced the resolution passed by the
House of Commons in 1918, arrai going their
speaker Sir Johu Trevor, Of high crime and
mi-demeauur, because he accepted gratuity
of one thousand eulueaS lrOm tue city vi Loo-
don for assisting in passing bill in which 1t
was interested. Aud he was made to read the
resolution himself, and the resolution expeIling
hi,n for such Conduct And this was 10 cor
rupt EuglaDd. Now, it would be very proper
under the circumstances, it this Senate was at
this very time discussing this question of gifts
TO an American official, it would be quite as
proper as 10 discuss the resolution now before
the Senate He theo alluded TO the Govern
ment interference in Louisiana. He said the
Constitution SAID the United States shall guar
antce to every State republican form of gov
erument. 1t does Tot say the President, nor
CONGRESS-, bur the United States When did
the President become the Uuitod States He
read from the report of the Committee 90
Privileges and Elections made 10 1878: that
there was no legal State government in Louis