Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1876-12-14
FORTY-F0URTH CONGRESS.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, December 6.

Withcrs' resolution, offered yesterday, re-
questng the President to inform the Senate
under what authority United States troops
occupied Petersburg, Va, on election day,
came up.
Sargent, in his reply to Thurmans refer
ence to English law, said that elections in
England furnished no parallel to the election
IL Southern States. In England the rights of
both sides were protected What were the
events which had happened in the Southern
states during the recent Presidential election?
The air was full of reports and statements of
intimidation and wrongs toward Republican
voters. 1t was not wei! to be SO sensitive
about the use Of the army, when it was
known that rifle clubs had taken possession
of polls in the South. He regretted that the
strong arm of the United States was not at
Hamburg, S. c., last spring, and regretted
that there was not some power within strlk-
ing distance when Eliza Pinkston's husband
was killed in Louisiana before her eyes, her
babe killed, and she violated and cut SO badly
rs to hardly resemble human being. He
argued that Republicans in the South had
been prevented from voting, and that there
had been necessity for interference by the
army. He commended the President of the
United States for the action he had taken,
and the Senate of the United States should
not, by passing this resolution, throw out the
implication that he acted improperly.
Johnston said this resolution related to Vir-
ginia, net to South Carolina or Louisiana. If
the Senator from California, or any one else,
said there had been intimidation or fraud in
Virginia which justified interference by Un-
tied States troops, he labored under great
mistake. There had been no Ku Klux, no
rifle clubs, il Virginia, and the only intimi-
dation practiced there had been by colored
Republicans against colored Democrats. The
troops were a menace.
Logan made a brief argument, paying
tribute to the soldiers.
Morton referred to the rio; at Petersburg
few years ago. He presumed the President
had good cause for sending troops there. He
would, however, support the resolution, al
though he opposed it at first.
Thurman said Logan had intimated that
those who favored the resolution were en-
emes of the army. He asserted that the
army's worst enemies were those who desired
that it interfere in elections. 1t was duty
distasteful to soldiers, this interference. He
referred to the condition of Rome under
Caesar as despotism, whose liberty was
oyerthrown by military chieftain.
Eumunds claimed that the United States
army must support courts when legally called
upon, and the President should always have
a sufficient force at his command to execute
the laws. He believed the President had
good reason for sending troops to Petersburg,
and wanted all the facts.
The resolution was then agreed to.
The Chair presented the Presidents Mes
sage, and accompanying documents, and
moved that it be printed and laid on the table,
Thurman objected to printing the docu-
ments, but not the Message.
Sherman explained that communication
was prepared at the request Of the President,
asking certain gentlemen to visit New Or
leans and report. He explained the meeting
and action of the two committees before the
Returning Board, and declared that the can
vass was open and public, with every oppor-
iunity Tor Democrats and candidates counsel
to inspect and object. This was the result
Of such action by the Board, and the report
OF the testimony. He declared that the tes-
umony established both the legality of the
count and its justice. Such was the terror
ism, intimidation, etc, that the public would
believe any otker return by the Canvassing
Board was a reproach to our civilization He