Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-12-06
l;i' 'IELEGRAPu.
DI5pA Giles 10 THE GAZETTE,
FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dee. G, 1871;
SENATE.
CONGRESS-.

MORALS the RESOLUTION c. iiF. W liners, asking
the PfesideD! 10 communicate the reasons Tor
the occupation Of Petersburg by U. s. troops
at the late election. Ea5 taken up.
Mr. Logan taoyaa - refer IL to the Commit.
tee OF Military Affairs.
Mr.. Withe?s said het when it vas raspond.
ed tc by the President the reasoaa for the step
would B. ina1e known, cca unit! then be san
90 reason FOR discussion,
Mr.. Thurman disspated ircG the opinion oil
the Chairman Of the COMMITTEE that the Pres
ideot had righ: t. send troops where he
pleaael. ;,
Mr. Logau.--i Sid ter lawful purpose, .
hIr. IhurDan.-rhst Is the very object OF
this resolution, 20 ascertain if the troops we're
there for lawful purpose. He quoted geo.
ton 2002 OF the Revised Statutes, as forbiddiog
the President tc send troops to any place OF
general CT special oiaotion except to repel in.
vasion OF preserve the peace, Mr, Withers
said lie had drava he resolution in terms
the a;os; perfectly respectful to the Presi-
denr, and thought he ought TO be given an
opportunity 10 give the Senate bis opinion.
fle would asiz tie Senator from Virginia Mr..
Wi.l1ersl il thess :Eoopa had committed uu.
lawful acte.
Mr.. WithcT4.-i have GOT charged that the
troops committed any unlawful acts, and l
have no Information that they committed auy
such acts. He understood the President had
ordare3 Che troops there upon the application
Ok the i. s. Marshal, to be and remain during
the eleetion. He Gid not know whether the
troops were aow there, but presumed that
they we're auE here. A resolution Of inquiry
yesterday IVES !arced through at once. He bad
kpown rIS5!uiors hat we're referred to COM
mittces 70 be quietly she!ved, and he preferred
direct actioa bow,
Nlr. Thurman t:s;eaiea :rom the opinion
that tie President (nGacr The law could send
troops To the town in which en- election is held
provided he did not Surround the polls with
them. lu England troops were removed, at
least, mile from the polls in all elections.
There is some care in that old country to pro-
vide that there shall be 90 military over.awing
at the polls. They did not allow the polls to
be oyer-aweI It he baycnets are not under the
noses Of the voters al the polls.
Mr.. Logan said that the resolution aVerrsd
that Petersburg was occupied viz: held by
force on the day q! election. IF the phrase.
ology was changed, liz would not oppose the
resolution. Let the word stationed be used.
Mr. Wihers said be Wss perfectly ready
to make the change.
The amendment vas D,4de.
Mr.. Morton opposed any inquiry at all. The
very fact that an inquiry is made was an impu-
ation Oh the Executive The state Of all the
Southern States Was a sufficient reason to keep
troops in these States at the polls.
Mr.. Wi,hers-rhc Senator from Indiana
has given reason for the President.
Mr. Thurman dis5ented entirely from the
opinion that The copdac! Of the troops had any
hing to 81 with this question. The troops had
no righ. there. e-ea if thsy behaved like
angels. /
Mr.. Sargcaut, il violent speech, wished |
there had beeu troops at places other than Pc
egsburg, While rife clubs held the polls, the |
United States military might be used with ef-
ect.
Mr.. !ohuscn sait that this resolution sp. |
3lied to Virginia aud not 20 South Carolina, |
here had been perfect peace ia that State |
nce the war closed. no ku kux, no rifle |
,iubs, the on!g intimidation was that of reprb
ican c1!orea men Hpoa democratic colored men. |
There waa no.hirs to call trcops to Petersburg |
ci Ike 4oading'nf them Jus! before the cleo !
ioL ,3 .c:G.a:u uuii aite! tho election, was an |
lnu,t, cnc, and The reason inr it vas proper |
ubjea; c; inquiry, It Was useless menace to !
aw abiding people, without just precedent, |
md tic President should be asked his reason |
or it.
Mr.. Logan Thought that il these ideas were |
. be carried ont the tIcops would have to be. !
;omc 7agaborls. or Oh cle2tion days be sent up |
n balloon. Is would like thc Senator to
~ Why he charged that sha troops were
here 10. "a Unlawful purpose
Sir. Johgsca-"l don't kuow and that IS
VIA; vast 10 AoI cut.
Dir. i!oeau-'T:.rn don't make an iDsinua-
ior, lie understood that sergeant and ten |
men we're seut there. Nae shat all 2"
Nlr. Johuacn--'' 'a:re ras > Major and
. company.
Mr.. Logao sid i! 4<yrai ;is; great terror
had stricken !o ,,co.:,c Of lrglala, especially
her W. SruaG1rs at :ir appearance Q! Major |
ia har u.ils,,. .,lr, Logan c>ulnued the dis |
.usS!oa il, opDn*,.ou.
Mr.. Wi;hcrs ezpyra=ed t:3 saspEi aa that
after ,ho resolution had been amended to suit
Mr.. Logan aai t:a>u agreed % By hin he
should n0W oapus2 II,
Mr., Morton vas satisfied to have the Iesolu
Ion passed, and /; you'd SOON be seen how
much peace there had been ia Virginia since
he war. Three republicans were killed in
Petersburg last Mag.
Air. Howe and others Discussed the question
Mr. Thurman said they were tho greatest
suenies Of I,r arsuy Who employed 1t to do
partzau work. Eek il this Vas contoued the
people would elect House Of Representatives
whose power over tLe purse would 5000 dwln-
die the army 10 Il mere shadow. 1t was no
hostility to the army that led to these reeolu-
tons. He waa satisfied tina. the officers and
the men OF the army you be rather makiog
a winter caiupaigl smoug the Indians than be
employed by part1ara Tor rartzan pur-
poses.
Mr. Eamunda e. j others further debated
the resolution, which was agreed to.
:aIter the passage Of his resolution mes
sage from the President was read. enclosing
Shs7nau's re;2!t III the Louisiana election,
which elicte;i a debate, participated 10 5y
Mcssrs. Bogy. Stevenson. Conkllng and others,
hu, which Wd, not cjncluced.
HOUSE OF RErREs ENTATIyEs.
Immediately ali :! lie reading Of the Jouroai
the committees were called for reports, uuder
which seGera! bill, i! private nature were in-
troauecd, e@ocrai!y :s!-:red, aud few passed.
\ h!! il reltierc. Ia NE receipt and dellV.
cry GA toac,i ve,S@ls III Intermediate ports, OF
,,a,charCiya, was passed