The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-01-06
: could so act, and say 10 the Presi.

il could 80 act. and say 20 the Presi-
dent, he must with all promptness
communicate to the Senate, so that
there can be dashed back to Louisiana
by telegraph the exact truth in respect
to the employment, in respect to the
location, In respect to the proximity
OF that power which may alone, of ali
other powers, be used to trample out
disorderly despotism on the one side
or on the other. This resolution was
especially one In which the Senate
should leave it to the reason. the pru-
oence: the discretion Of the President
as to furnishing the information. It
should be left to the President to cay
whether this publication would be in
compatible with the public intorests.
The Senator from Ohio (Thurman) de.
sired the Senate to direct the Presi-
dent touching the army. of which he
was Commander-in-Chief. In oonclu-
zion, Conklipg moved to amend the
resolution by Inserting after the word
requested. ''if. in his judgment, not
lncom patible with the public inte-
rests" Thurman inquired if the
amendment would preclude ON objec.
ton. The Vice President inquired if
there was any objection to the consi-
deratlon OF the resolution at the pre-.
sent time. Several Senators: "Oh.
no-don't object" No objection
being made, the Vice. President an
nounced the resolution was before tue
Senate. Pending the question-beiug
on the amendment of Conkling-Thur-
man said he was familiar with the
usage of the Senate long before the
Senator from New York (Conkling) was.
In respect to foreign affairs, it had
always been the usage to use the words
moved by the Senator from New York;
but In time OF profound peace, a sim
pic resolution of inquiry as to our do
mestIc affairs was not left to the dis
oretion of the President, for him
to answer, according to his will or plea
sure. This resolution related to what
had already taken place. 1t was a
question of fact, and there was no pos
sible way by which the President GOULD
prejudice the public interests by an
swering it, Ii the interference in
Louisiana matters did take place, the
Senate could ask the President to tell
1t by what authority Of Law it did
take place. The Senate had the right
20 request the information, and if there
was any reason why the President
should not furnish it, it was for him to
communicate that fact to the Senate;
or II he deemed it proper, he could
send it to the Senate under seal of
secrecy, to be considered In executive
session. Edmunds, OF Vermont, in
quired If Senator Thurman could
name q precedent where the words
submitted by the Senator from New
York (Conkling) had been omitted
from resolution? Thurman replied,
he could name hundred, il he had
time to search the records. lie didn't
think it was for him, hat in hand, to
bow before the President and say it
was for him to exercise his Judgment.
Louisiana was not the only State in
which trouble had occurred in refer
ence to tue organization of the Lee
gislature. In Ohio, ON ono occasion,
there were for two weeks or moro, two
bodies, both claiming to be the Le-
gislature Of the State, but, thank God,
they had no fraudulent Returning
Board; they had not descended to that
0Sfsh VA PCAattiOAs IL van
Baren, who was then President, had
sens the military to interfere in that
Legislative conflict, his troops would
never have left Columbus alive. In
Pennsylvania. also, there had been o
eimilar instance, and how would the
people of that State have acted. had
the Federal Government interfered?
What would not be tolerated in Mas
sachosests, Ohio or Pennsylvania, for
single moment, was now the case
in Louisiana. He desired to know
whether, because of the first fatal step
in hoisting an illegal government upon
the people Of Louisiana, all liberty
and all law in that State was to perish !?
He wanted to know who it was that
dared to use the army of the United
States to organize the Legislature of
Louisiana. He did not want this mat
ter to be decided by clamor about
tumults; there would be tumultuous
spirit in New York, Ohio or Michigan,
If either OF these States were suffering
from the same cause. Conkling read
from various precedents, to show that
custom had been to request the Presi-
dent. il not incompatible with the
public interest, to inform the Senate,
&c. Morton favored the amendment
Of Cenkling. He said the Senator
from Ohio (rhurman) agreed to the
resolution ae if il Wne in tha n atnra of