The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-01-21
Senator Sehurz' Speech on the Lou
isiana Troubles.

| The galleries of the Senate were
| crowded ON the 11th to listen to the
| speech of Mr.. Schurz on the Louisiana
| question. The following is the tele.
| graphic synopsis of his speech:
Mr.. Schurz then spoke in favor of the reso-
luton submitted by him. He said ne APP
preached the subject in no party spirit
About to retire to private life the success OF
no party would benefit him, nor the defeat of
any party injure him. The subject now be-
fore the Senate was so great that passion or
prejudice should find no place in the breasts
of Senators in discussing it. He did not
think the debate Of last week premature, or
in advance Of the facts. The all-important
facts OF the case were In possession OF Sen
ators
He then reviewed the scenes in Louisiana
of Monday last, attending the organization
of the Legislature, the interference of the
military, etc, and said: What provision of
the Constitution, what laws are there on the
statute book, furnishing a warrant for such
proceedings? 1t is said in extenuation of the
interference of the military power of the
United States that the persons elected
from the Legislature by Federal soldiery
were not legally elected members of that
Legislature. Suppose that had been
so; but that is not the question. The
question is: Where is the constitutional prin-
ciple? Where is the law authorizing United
s.,
to determine who ia s,egaly elected member
of State Legislature and who not? 1t is
said that the mode OF organization of the
1taf7nc rITU T5T.5sts ppost tAat nau been
so: But that is not the question. The ques-
tion is: Where is the constitutional or legal
warrant for the bayonets of the Federal sol
diery to interpret the statutes of the State
and to decide for and on legislative point OF
parliamentary law: 1t is said that the Gov
ernor requested the aid of United States SOL
diers to purge the Legislature of Illegal men,
bers. That may be SO. But that is not the
question. The question is: Where is the law
authorizing United States soldiers to do the
bidding of a State Governor who attempts to
decide who are to be members of the Legis-
lature, regularly convened at the place and at
the time fixed by law 1t is said that trouble
was threatened between the contending par
ties in Louisiana. Suppose that had
been So But that is not the question
The question is: Where is the law from
which the National Government in case OF
threatened trouble in a state. derives its
power 10 invade the legislative body by
armed force and drag out persons seated as
members of a State Legislature that Others
may take their place? Where is the law, |
ask? You will search the Constitution and
statutes in vain. 1t is my deliberate judg-
| ment, conscientiously formed, that the deed
| done on the 4th of January in Louisiana con-
| stitutes. gross and manifest violation of the
| Constitution and laws. We have an act be-
fore US indicating spirit in our Government
| which either ignores the Constitution and
| laws, or so interprets them that they cease to
| be a safeguard of the independence of legisla-
| ton, the rights aud liberties of the people,
| and that spirit shows itself more alarming
| still in the instrument the Executive has
| chosen to carry out his will. No American
| citizens can have read without profound re.
| gret and equally profound apprehension the
1 a ~ G.,, 80 ~ o.
| taIy of War, in which he suggests that a
numerous class of citizens should by whole.
| sale be outlawed as bandittl by mere proc.
| lamation of the President, TO be delivered
| over to the military commander fol
summary Judgment by a military com
| mission. Nobody respects Gen. Sheridan
more than do for his brilliant deeds on the
! field of battle. The nation has delighted in
| honoring his rame, and the nation would
sincerely deplore to see the hero of the ride
| to Winchester and the charge at Two Forks
stain his name by an attempt to over-rid,
the laws and lead a charge against the con
stitutional rights of his countrymen. 1t j,
another illustration OF how great man may
| be as soldier and how conspieuously un
| able to understand what civil law and a Con
| stitution mean; how glorious in fighting fo
you, but how little fit to govern you. On al
| sides we hear the questions asked If this cal
be done in Louisiana, if such things be sus
|
fore il can be done in Massachusetts ant
Ohio? How long before the constitutions
| rights Of all self-government Of all the peo
| pie will be irampled under foots How Ion,
| before General of the army may sit in tn,
| chair you occupy to decide contested elec
| tions in order TO make a majority of tn
Senate, and before a soldier viii stalk int.
the House Of the nations Representatives
and, pointing to the Speakers mallet say
| Take away that bauhlein
Mr.. SchurZ said he contemplated the pres
ent crisis with grave apprehensions that ou
| time -honored constitutional principles ma
be gradually obliterated by repeated abuse
of power establishing themselves as prece
dents, and that the machinery of the Admin
| istration may become more and more a mer
instrument of ring rule, tool to manufactur
majorities and TO organize plunder; that i
the hollow shell of republican forms the Coy
ernment will become the mere football of ra
! paeious and despotic factions. He com
| mented upon the condition Of affairs in tn
South, and said Congress passed laws confer
ring upon the National Government danger
Gus powers OF very doubtful constitutionalit,
The effect was most deplorable in severa
ways. Your partisans in the Southern States
and among them the greediest and corruptes
of the kind, began to look upon Congress an
| the National Executive as their natu
raj allies and sworn protectors, bound I
sustain them in power by whatever meani
| Every vagabond in the South calling hirnsel
Republican thought himself entitled TO al
from you when rushing on to Congress wit
an outrage story. The eolored people bega
to think that you were bound to protect theI
in whatever they might do, instead of de
pending upon the persistent and honest US
of their own political rights to establish thei
position. The Federal offiee-holders in tn
South became more than ever centers Of part
san intrigue and trickery. The Caseys an
Packards carried off State Senators on
| United States revenue cutter, and shut up
Republican Governor in the Custom. H ouse
guarded by United States soldiers, to kee
out another Republican faction. Nay, NOR
than that, the same Packard, during the las
election campaign, being at the same tim
| United States Marshal and Chairman of tn
Campaign Committee of the Kellogg party
managed not only the political campaign bu
also the movement Of the United States troop
" To enforce the laws" to keep his political OF
ponents from intimidsting his pelitica
friends. We have several Legislatures an
rival Governments calculating upon the al
they may get from the National GoyernIneI
and the Attorney General Of the United State
is called upon 10 make OF unnake State gov
ernments with the aid of his hand, and th
DepaTtmen Of Justice al most appearip
like ceptral bureau for the regulation G