Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-01-12
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

man offered resolution requesting the Press
ident to inform the Senate whether any part
of the army, or any officers or soldiers OF the
United States, interfered with or sought to
control the organization of the Louisiana Leg
islature on the 4th instant, and especially
whether any persons claiming seats in that
Legislature have been deprived thereof by in
PREVENTION of United States forces, and if so,
by what law or authority of law such inter-
vention has taken place. An amendment
was offered that the President should give the
information asked for ''if, in his Judgment,
not Incompatible with the public interests"
Quite an acrimonious debate ensued. Mr..
Thurman was unwilling to leave the question
to the Presidents discretion. The Louisiana
outrage was not case of war by the people,
but of war on the people, aud the people have
right to know by what warrant of law that
Intervention has taken place. In time of
peace he was not willing that the answer to
Senate resolutions should be left to the judg>
ment or the prcjudices or the interests of the
President. He desired to know what possible
harm to the public interests could come from
the Presidents answer to the resolution be-
fore he took his hat in hand and bowed his
knee to the great majesty of the President
and humbly solicit him to exercise his judg-
ment whether he would answer the questions
propoundcd. In Ohio there once prevailed
similar state of affairs in reference to tho or
ganIzItlOn of the Legislature; but if Martin
Van Buren,, who was then President, had sent
the army to interfere in that legislative con-
fct, his troops would never have left the State
capital alive. Mr.. Salisbury, in answer to
the query, tWhat will you do about it in case
the President should decline to answer the re-
solution" said he hoped it had no. come to
this pass that any Cesar could put on the pur-
pie gown and defy the representatives. of the
people. II this were so, and the House of
Representatives should not apply the consti-
tutional remedy, the American people would
do it-they would tear the gown from the
shoulders of this Cesar. In tho House, in
committee of the whole on the army appro-
pratiOn bill it was stated that the policy of
the bill was to limit the army to %, 600 men,
Mr.. Edredge inquired whether it would not
be necessary to increase the army in view of
the service in which it is employcd-that of
organizing legislatures. Mr.. Beck was un-
willing to vote the army appropriation until
he had Official information as to how the army
is employed. An effort was made to bring up
the civil rights bill, and several hours were
spent in fiIibustering to prevent its considera-
ton, and it was stated by democratic members
that no honorable means would be neglected
to thwart the passage of the bill. Mr.. Cox,
of new York, said his side of the House was
ready to go on with any legitimate business,
but they did not propose to take up the alb
stract question Of social equality while moro
important interests demand attention-while
bayonets were throttling sovereign State
He said: eff you do net want new civil
war, draw OF your bayonets from Louisiana
and other States" Pending discussion the
House adjourned.
In the Senate, on the 9th, the unfinished
business, being Mr.. Thurmans resolution cal
ling on the President for information as to the
action Of the military in Louisiana, was taken
up. Mr.. West, of Louisiana, stated that
General Sherman was duly and officially in
formed of the Presidents action in sending
General Sheridan to New Orleans. Mr. West
then proceeded to review the circumstances
ate ending the reorganization OF the Legislature
in New Orleans on Monday, and argued that
under the laws Of Louisiana the acts Of the
conservative members were unlawful, violent
and revoluntary, and were in fact the acts Of
mob. Mr.. Gordon said he had heretofore
thought It better to submit in silence to the
the chamber were so fond of casting at some
of US; but after what he had heard yesterday
he could no longer sit silent. lie could not
hold his voice when his people were held
up to the gaze of the civilized world as MUIR
derers and assassins. He had hoped that this
feeling Of hate was dying out, but if this is
to be the policy toward the South, if the North
is again to be stirred up in this way, then we
had better know there is nothing left for US
but to die. We had been threatened Yesterday
with the brave men whom We met during the
war, but he did not believe that any con>
siderable portion of those brave men coin>
cided in the sentiments expressed on this floor.
No people in the world had been more miss
Judged, more misrepreseuted aad more crGelly
ma!igued than the people of the South
Never since tho close of the war has single
white man in the South raised his arm in OPP
position to the federal government, and yet
the South is constantly branded as hostile to
the government. Men come down among US
who have no interest in common with US. they