The New Orleans bulletin., 1875-12-17
Ioovr1suxp FROM FIRST rAaE.l
members of the other House OF Congress as
Al ;. --.11.,;a, vropocad IN doS


this resolution proposed to do.
The Constitution provides that each House
shall be the Judge Of the qualifications of iti
own members. The Governor of Mississippi
asked tor Federal troops before the election tt
keen the peogle of that State in awe. The
correspondence between him and the head o
the Department Of Justice was known to all
Gov. Ames failed to show that any cause
existed for Federal interference.
Mr.. Bayard then referred to the late mes
sage of the President, and said there wal
not one word in it about Southern affairs
The Department of Justice had its agents
down there, grthering information for the
guidance of that department. There was moi
one word or suggestion as to these alleged
wrongs. If these things existed there, 1t was
remarkable that the President of the United
States maintaineda dead silence on the sub
ject.
All this matter came from the Senator from
Indiana, who always seemed to have IN bis
possession statements hostile toward the
peace of the Southern.S States s-some assertions
without character against the whole people OF
that country. This was q revolutionary
proposition. 1t was but another step in the
march toward the consolidation of power,
which the people of this country must see.
This was the first time that the Senate OF
concerning the election of members in the
other House Of Congress. At the time these
Southern people were helpless and bleeding
at the foot Of the Senator from Indiana and
his party, the Senators of his (Bayard's) side
asked when the time was to come that the
Southern States could be rehabited. The
Senator from Indiana (Morton) was asked
then what warrant he found in the Constitu-
ton for his action? He could give no ans
wer.
When asked if he would interfere with
Louisiana or Mississippi any more than he
would with New Jersey or New York? He
answered We claim the right to deal with
these Southern States.
In the Senator's own State Indiana) there
had been great change in tie popular vote
recently.
Mr.. Morton said ayes, and there might be
change in the popular vote of the Senator's
State (Delaware) soon."
Bayard-Yes, sir; but if my people express
their ballot against me at the ballot-box, /
will not come here to ask the Senate to revo-
lutionize my country. [Appiause in the gal
leries.
The Vice President announced, if the dem
onstration was repeated, he would direct the
Sergeant-at-Arms to clear the galleries.
Mr.. Bayard,. resumiDg, said the Senate, by
giving dSScAk w tBo pIOponAeiou VI tAo Ocoh-
tor from Indiana, would declare that cleo
tions in States we're to be judged by the SEN
ate of the States -4-r y.r.e
Mr.. Thurman said the resolution of the
Senator from Indiana had not been referred
to any committee. 1t was brought in by the
Senator yesterday, and contained the pream
BILE, Whereas it is alleged that these disor-
ders existed" He (Thurman) asked by
whom it was alleged-not by the President or
any department Of the government, or by any
paper before the Senate. 1t was alleged by
papers the address on which was in the pri-
vate pocket of the Senator from Indiana.
Did that Senator want to forestal the judg-
ment of the Senate by going into an inquiry
which should not come to the Senate before
1877 when it came to decide upon the cre-
dentials of person who might come there
claiming seat from the State of Mississippi
Other Senators would be in the Chamber then
to decide all questions, and this Senate had
no right to forestall their judgment He re-
ferred at some length to the Louisiana case,
and argued that it was no precedent for action
nov proposed in the Mississippi case.
Investigation was not ordered until after
the credentials of persons claiming seats from
that State were presented. 1t would not do
for him (Thurman) to say that this was an
attempt on the part of the Senator from In |
diana to get up an electioneering document at
the public expense, but when the Senator |
,Morton) asked himself what right the Senate
had to pass such resolution he would find |
It impossible to give himself a satisfactory
answer. He (Thurman) agreed with the |
Senator from Delaware that the courts we're |
open in Mississippi, and if the Enforcement
Act had been violated the offenders could be
punished.
Mr. Morton said in his opinion this debate
On tine part of his Democratic friends was
simply extraordinary. In was in conflict
With the whole of their course in the LoIisi-
ina case. He argued that the Louisiana in
Vestigation was ordered by the Senate before
he credentials of applicants for seats were
presented and be belived the investigation
vas ordered with the appreciation of his
riends from Ohio Thurman and Delaware
Bayard). Now they have discovered there
YES no power to make an investigation.
He (Morton) argued that the power to
make this investigation was derived from
everal clauses in the Constitution. That in
trument said the United States must guar
ntee a republican form of government to
very State. Ii -ballot-boxes were to be
tuffed as in Mississippi, the whole republic
would be overthrown. His friend from Della
ware (Mr. Bayard) had said this was a revolu-
ionary measure, but to guard against revolu-
ion the Senator (Nlr. Bayard) said if Repub-
leans should carry his State he would not
ome here for relief.
He (Morton) was quite sure if the Repub-
leans were to carry that State by the means
which the Democrats carried Mississippi the
asst Of it would never be heard. The Dem
crats would let these outrages go on and if
be Republicans made fuss about it, then
hey were told that they were lighting the
res of discord.
Mr.. Gordon, of Georgia, said he arose to
orrect to some extent some of the impress
ions about Mississippi, which the Sena or
rom Indiana had received from newspapers,
ut as he could not catch all the Senator said,
e would like the debate to 60 over until he
ould read his remarks.
Senate went into executive session, after
;hich it adjourned.
The Senate meets tomorrow.
NkGnINnIAN |