The New York herald., 1876-12-15
THE EVILS and BENEFITS on INTIMIDATION.
Mr.. Sherman in Defence of
the Returning Board.
OBJECTION OF DEMOCRATS TO PARTISAN REPORTS
Mr.. Morton on the Atrocities Perpe-
trated in the South.
SENATE.
ssts.f = II
WASHINGTON. Dec. II. 1876.

invoked the Divine blessing upon tho committees OF
Congress conducting the Investigations in certain
Southern states, AM prayed that they MIGHT ascertain
the whole truth, which so vital to tho honor and
welfare Of this great people.
Mr. DAVIS (dem) of w Va, gave notice that
Thursday next after the expiration OF the morning
hour he would ask that the ordinary business be
pended, that the senate might pay its tribute OF
specl to the memory OF Mr. A. 7. caperon, late SEN
ator from West Virginia.
THE LOUISIANA REPORTS.
Mr. SHERMAN, (rep) OF ono called up the Senate
resolution print 500 copies the Message OF
the President and accompanying documents regard
to the election in Louisiana for the of tho
Senate.
Mr.. THURMAN, dem of Ohio, moved to amend the
resolution that there should be printed aud stitched
or bound with the said Message and documents the
memorial OF Mcssrs. Boey. Stevenson and Mcdonald,
embracing the report Of tho democratic committee
which witnessed the count by the Returning Board in
louisiana lie sad II the testimony taken by the
democratic committee here lie would ask TO nave
u made a part OF The volume lie had been informed
that the testimony not here because " was
CURED before the investigating committee now in New
Orleans He would prefer that the printing OF this
documcnt be postponed until that testimony should
ARGUMENT or MR. SHERMAN
Mr. SHERMAN said he could not allow the statement
OF gentleman who represented tho democratic party
in Louisiana to DO printed with a public document
Without making a bricf reply He was sorry the
sgners OF tho paper presented by the Senator from
Missouri (Mr Bogy) known IS the report OF the demo-
cratic committee, did consider the question OF in
lmidation. They cvaded that question entirely. Their
whole paper consisted OF an array OF techncates 10
defeat the law OF louisiana The democratic commit
Tee, that paper alleged that under the law OF ousi
ana there was no provision made for ,hc election of
Presidential electors. II that was no one IN that
State had ever found II out
Mr.. sherman then read from tho law Of louisiana
anu sad Il manifest that The democratic commit
lee had taken very narrow WOW OF tho law II their
construction OF Tho law was ,rue there was no pro-
vision law in Louisiana for the election OF any
repealed the election law OF 1870, as claimed by tho
democrats and argued that the law OF 1872 merely
taanged the mode OF conducting elections Upon this
POINT the democratic committee had wasted about
column .heir report. The next objection
faiscd by the committee that the vacancy
pn the Board was not filed by the appointment OF n
democrat. He argued that tho question OF nling tho
Iacancy OF propriety, but such vacancy did
not affect tho legal status OF The Board He would not
iay whether the vacancy should have been iliei
Had he been member OF the Returning Board
ne would have been in favor OF appointing any demo-
era, who could DO found willing 10 serve on
The Board The dcmocratic committee also
lound fault because the whole clerical force
OF the Board was republican He knew of no law re-
quiring the Board to employ democratic clerks The
House OF Representatives had turned out every clerk
and employs OF ms Mir sherman's political faith, but
republicans did not mpain Mr.. sherman then
lerred 10 the charge hat the anidavits Of the Super
vSors oil Election IN Louisiana AS 10 Intimidation
made within twcnty-four hours after
the election, the laws OF State
requirsl lie quoted ut length from tho report made
by the republican committee OF which be was hem
Der, and claimed that the aiidavits wore properly
made by the Supervisors He argued that tho demo
mode OF conducting The or tho Returning Board
In parishes there intim da,on, and rs
TO the extent OF II these gentlemen OF the democratic
committee Jared not commit themselves He (Mr.
sherman was willing TO stand not only before the
senate but before tho people OF the United states aud
MAINTAIN that there was intimidation in Louisiana
10 extent which changed the result OF the whole
election There was murder, riot, whipping and vio-
lcnce by organized rife clubs OF the
party. The members of the senate as Senators and
men ought 10 Keep their minds cool and deliberate 10
decide The questions pending. The electoral vote
,f three or four Sta,es was in dispute As to South
Carolina he believed that II conceded by all that
The electoral vote for Hayes aud Wheeler
aessrs RANDOLPH aud wirHERs denied that there
any such concession.
Mr. SHERMAN, resumng. said the vote OF Florida and
LOUISIANA was in dispute. As 10 oregon, hc did not
tie believed tho domocratsc candidate himself would
corn 10 hold the office OF President in pursuance of
ARGUMENT OF MR. THURMAN
MI THURMAN argued that The document which It
was proposed TO PRINT presented bur ono side o. the
tase When both sides should be before the Senate
mother picture would be presented He
prlsed ut the remarks OF his colleague Mr. sherman)
md he disposed 10 some oil them now, but
he matter would be before the Senate again. The
people Of the country would that there another
word ending ID ION besides intimidation.' There
was such word As "exag aggeration.n He argued that
there should be time TO examine both sides OF this
matter Ho moved tha, the further consideration OF
lhe subject be postponed till tomorrow.
Mr. ANTHONY, (rep) OF X L., said II would be con-
Tenience 10 the printing office If this document could
printed now The speeches Louisiana could be
made at any other time. The document could be
printed at less than II such printing be post
poned
Mr.. THURMAN said the cost of this printing a
small matter compared with having proper be-
lore the people now. Early III the session it was
asked that number OF copies OF this sided
document DO printed, without waiting for tho other
side Why ITS passage In such haste should
be asked he could not understand, unless IL
was to manufacture public opinion upon ono
sde OF the question His colleague mir sherinan) had
spoken OF The report OF the democratic committee ms
being partisan. II they had manifested any mere
tNr Thnrman failed TO 500 II. Hs colleague, even
though ne was senator OF the United states, occu-
mad htri,o hafn fbc Ipuig Hoiu
ing Board tnan any other gentleman either side of
the committees. The President. IN sending u COM
nttec tnere, had acted outside OF his official duty and
the committee sent by him bad no Official authority.
Mr. EDMuSps that the President had right to
ask any gentleman 10 30 TO State 10 obtain inorma
uon Tor hm.
Nj TnuRMAs--oh, yes. He might write letter
asking some ono 10 20 witness the blowing up OF He'll
Gate. tLaughter)
Resumiug his argument, Mr. THURMAN said that the
President, In sending his committee TO New Orleans,
selected tho Senator from Ohio, his colleague,
tMr. Snermaul and three gentlemen who are
mcmbcrs OF the House OF Representatives;
therefore there was champion IN tho senate
TO present the Presidents side the anu, ho
suupposeu three champions IN Tue house. ne,
MT lhurman) said lie would be glad 10 see his old
friend Judge lrumbu occupying seat upon the floor
Today anu hear his reply To the statement just made
Mr. Thurman said he was requested 10 30 TO New Or
icans by somohody; but he could not Tor the life Of
him, sec what business he had there and he did not
go vi those senators on the democratic siie who
went TO New Orleans not one OF them attended ses
sion OF the Returning Board
Mr.. sNxRNAS said that there worc Senators and
Representatives IN New Orleans belonging TO both
parties
Ar THURMAN said that there was no question but
there democrats In louisiana and that there had
been more democrats than republicans tina; state
tor some years past Hc argued that II was Tho duty
oi the Returning Board ni the vacancy existing in
that Board; but Il not hcd because the Board IN
tended that democratic eye should see or demo-
cratic hear its proceedings when Il came 10 tnc
hna issue. The action OF this Returning Board so tn
cnseiy partisan aid unfair, must now be bolsierod up
~ MS colleague. Tho American people, no said, would
not take the assertion OF any man, no matter how
high his standing that this thing was fair They
"a M datl fhp f4rs He peI
aidavts OF The supervisors OF election as TO intinda-
ton, and argued that they not made within the
time prescribed by law but were made after the cleo
ia New Orleans, count out rilden and count in
Hayes; to count out Nichols ana count IN Packard.
Alr. KEENAN,. tdem OF y. ", said the senate had
sent to Louisiana strong and largo committee TO in
vestgate and report the iacts attending tho re-