The New York herald., 1876-12-07
IndigGan III DenunciatiOn Of the Use Of the
Army at Elections.
INDICATIONS OF The COMING CONTEST
Report Of the Republican Louisiana
Visiting Committee.
ACTION OF THE TWO HOUSES THEREON.
SENATE.

day. and prayed that II might a symbol the days
business. He invoked the divine blessing upon tho
members Of the Electoral College meeting to-day IN
several States declare the will OF God and tho will of
this nation in the choice Of Chief Magistrate.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate tue annual report
OF United States Treasurer wyman and also state
ment oil accounts settled by the First Comptroller
during the fiscal year ended June 3O 1876 Ordered
be printed
Mr. WINDOW, (rcp) OF Mimi, introduced a bill to
extend the provisions of the act OF July 4 1885, making
additional grant of land to Minnesota aid in the
construction OF railroads in that State Ordered to lie
on tho table till after the appointment Of committees
On motion OF Mr. WRIGHT (rep.) o. Iowa, the Senate
proceeded to the selection of standing and select
mittees The thityRt,h rule requiring the election OF
such committees by ballot suspended, and the
committees were announced
On motion OF Mr.. WRIGHT it was ordered that all
bills and petitions heretofore presented be referred TO
the appropriate committees.
Mr.. MORTON said tho resolution passed yesterday,
regarding the inquiry the late elections certain
Southern States imposed ON the Committee on PRIV
ieges and Elections important and arduous labors He
moved that three additional members that committee
be appointed to aid in the discharge OF the duties i'm
posed on the committee by the resolution. Agreed TO-
and IL ordered that the three members be ap-
pom ted by the Char.
On motion OF Mr.. MORTON 1t was ordered that the
testimony taken by the Special Com nittee to examine
INTO the question OF Chinese emigration be printed
THE TROOPS IN PETERSBURG,
Mr. WlTHERs (dem.) oi Va, called up The resolution
submitted by him yesterday requesting the President
TO inform tho Senate II not Incompatible with the
public interest, under what authority and Tor what
purpose troops OF the United States occupied the city
" Petersburg, Va on the 7th OF November 1876. the
Gay Of the general election.
Mr LOGAN. (rep of H., moved that IL be referred to
he Committee Military Affairs
A lengthy debate followed during which Nj. WITH
IRIS argued that was not usual 10 refer such rcsoia
Ions
Mr. LOGAN said he had heard no reason assigned for
his inquiry. There was no evidence that troops
)nt TO Petersburg Tor any improper purpose; therc
xas no evidence that they did anything wrong. Was
The doctrine TO be asserted that the troops OF tho
they could be stationed? The President the United
States had right send troops anywhere tue
United States for lawful purposes. Unless there
some charge against the President putting troops
In Petersburg improperly this resolution should 60
the Committee on Military Affairs
Mr. WrrHsRs SAID in the absence of information
The subject he could not whether the troops
shere lawfully or unlawtuy, and It was ior the pur-
pose OF getting the information that he offered the
outon.
6f this resolution 10 ind out II troops to
Petersburg for q lawful purpose He read from the
Revised statutes to show the law under which troops
could be ordered said the burden OF proof rested
upon those who the troops that city to show
that their presence was necessary TO repe armed
Of the United States, keep the nj the
polls He deucd that the resolution was disrespectul
10 the President. The Senate had perfec: right
ask the President his reasons Tor ordering troops to
Petersburg.
Mr. LoaAx denied that tho troops In Petersburg
polls intcrfcred in the election There
had been violation OF any law in sending The army
there. Suppose the country should be engaged to-day
in a troublesome war would the Senate OF the United
States right to inquire OF the President why
he made Movement of any branch Of the armyY IL
would have right to mako that inquiry that
it had to inquire why troops were encamped IN GER
State.
Mr.. wIrHERs said drawing the resolution he
careful not TO be dsrespectfu TO the President He did
intna'e a II that the troops there for
lawful purpose He inserted the words ''lf not ncom-
patbe with public interest" that the resolution might
sf,l tI.o
effect that ordered there IN response to the
applications o United States Marshal Tor the
District OF Virginia remain during the
He tMr. Withcrs) had heard OF committees shelving
resolutions and never reporting them. He waned tho
resolution passed now because he wanted The inlorm
ton.
Mr.. LOGAN sad tho motion he made not with
view to prevent The Information IRON coming 10 the
Senate but he objected 10 the passage oil the resou-
ton now because IT prcsupposed an unlawful act.
Mr.. THURMAN spoke of the British laws and said
under the act OF Parliament no troops could be
Ioned within mc Of u polling place election day.
rney were somewhat careful IN that country, mon
arcny that Is that the military shall interfere
with he election. Tie senator from Illinois tMr
Loaun) seemed TO think that tho President OF the
United states could MI town iull OF troops on AN
election day without any violation OF law The Sen
ate o the United States had right TO know whether
not the President had been imposed upon m order
ing troops TO Petersburg.
Mr. LOGAN said il the doctrine of the Senator from
Ohio tMr Ihurman) was orrect soldiers could not 90
QUArtcrvd any state on The day OF election
nc (Mr Logan) supposed arrangements must be made
send them up a balloon ana leave them up uatI
after Mr. Logan argued that the of
the statute road by he enntor from Ohio (hr. Thur
man, wGs that troops should not be held ut polls TO
intimidae men. The argument that troops could not
be toned town when election being neld
there contrary TO common sense
At the request or Mr. Logan Mr.. wiihers then modi-
hcd his resolution TO read foilows:-
Resolved That President be- and he Is hereby rc-
quesod inform the Senate II not Incompatible til pub
toned az the city Of Petersburg Ia the state o Virginia on
the th Of November 1876 dav OF the general
II 80. under what authority and tor what purpose
Mr.. MORTON said there Allegation that these
troops interercd with overawed an body. They
had right TO be Petersburg and the general condi-
sufficient warrant to the President put sroops
any Of those states without being catechsed about
Mr.. SARGENT, (rcp OF Ca in reply to tho reference
OF Mr.. Thurman TO the Elgsh law, that elections
the Southern States. In England the rights both
sides protected. What the events which
happened In the southern States during the recent
Presidential clectong The air luil OF reports and
statements OF intimidation ana wrongs toward repuD-
about tho OF the army, when IL known
that rifle clubs had taken possession OF the polls
South. He (Mr. Sargcuu regretted that the strong
arm Of the United States was not at Hamburg s. e.,
last spring. He regrVltal tnai there was not somc
power within sirikns distance when Eliza Pnkson's
husband was Killed IN lousiaua becre her eyes her
bsbo killed. she violated and cut so badly to hardly
resemble human beng. He argued lnat the republI-
the South had prevented from voting, and
there had been necessity Tor interference by the
army He commended the Presiuent OF the United
states for tho action he had taken. and tho Senate OF
the United States should not BY passing this resolution
throw out the implication that he acted Improperly.
Mr. JOHNSTON, (dcm.j OF Va, SAID thus resolution re-
lated TO Virginia. not to South Carolina or Louisana-
II the Senator from California, any clso. said
there had been intimidation or fraud in Virginia which
justified Interference bv United states troops ho
laborcd under great mistake there had uccn no
Ku Kiux. no rifle clubs IN Virginia, and the only in
timidaton practiscd there had been by coored repub
licans against colored democrats. lie denied tnat
there had been any violence al Petersburg.
expected that there would be any trouble there,
election day. The people OF Virginia regarded tho
presence oil troops there as menace, as n threat
Mr. LOGAN asked II the people OF Virginia we're so
hostile 10 the defenders Of the country that they would
not give them a resting place.
Mr.. JoHSsroS-Ihcy are welcome TO any part OF tho
State wnen they come for a lawful purpose
Mr. LOGAN SAID his friends tho other side of the
cnarnber were getting technical 10 the OF the
army and navy that they had better drive them 10
The sea.
Mr. JoHxsroS-The navy should be at laugh
teri