Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-12-07

Sargent IN reply 10 the reference Of Senate
Thurman 10 the English Law, said the elec
tons in England furnished no parallel to tn,
elections III the southern States. In Englant
the nights OF both sides were protected. Wha
were the events which happened in the south
ern States during the recent Presidential
election: The air was full Of reports anC
statements Of intimidation and wrongs to
ward the Republican voters. X was not vel
TO be so sensitive about the use Of the army
when It was known that rife clubs had takeT
possession Of the polls in the south. H,
Sargent regretted that the strong arm wa,
not at Hamburg, South Carolina, last spring
He regretted that there was not some power
within striking distance when Eliza Plnks
tons husband was killed before her eyes iT
Louisiana, her babe killed, she violated ano
cut so badly as to hardly resemble a human
being. He argued that the Republicans in
the south had been prevented from voting,
and there had been a 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 had acted I'M
properly.
Senator Johnston said this resolution re-
lated to Virginia, not to South Carolina OF
Louisiana. If the senator from California,
or anyone else. said there had been intimida-
ton or fraud in Virginia which justified in
reference by United States troops, he labored
under a great mistake There had been no
luklux. no rife clubs in Virginia, and no IN
tinndation practiced there had been by col
ored Republicans against colored Democrats.
he denied that there had been any violence
~ Dofars l,,,rcr anI M ono avrapfal that thprp
woull be trouble there on election day. The
people of Virginia regarded the presence of
troops there as a menace-as threat.
Senator Logan asked if the people Of Nir-
ginia were so hostile to the defenders of their
country that they would not give them Arrest
ing-place.
Senator JohnstOn-lhey are welcome TO
any part of the State when they came there
for lawful purpose.
Senator Logan said hisfriends on the other
side of the chamber were getting so techni-
cal as to the use Of the army and navy that
they had better drive them into the sea.
Senator Johnston-The navy should be at
sea. Laughter.
Senator Logan, resuming, argued that the
President was the judge as to where the
troops should be stationed. This resolution
appeared to him Logan as the entering
wedge against the man to whom the people
were indebted more than any other for the
preservation Of this government and its laws.
| lApplause in the galleries.
Senator Morton said that a few years ago
there was a bloody riot at Petersburg. He
presumed the President had good cause to
send troops there on election day.
Senator Withers commented on the oppo-
sition shown against the resolution ON the
Republican side of the chamber, and said
that in the presence of existing events, when
he had an army ready, and a senate ready,
apparently to back the President, he thought
another step had been taken toward depriv-
ing the American people Of their liberties,
and the opening of new era IN the history
OF the American nation.
Senator Morton said he opposed the reso-
luton at first, but he would now with
draw his opposition. There had been
violence and bloodshed in Petersburg few
years ago, and as his friends on the other
side of the chamber were in quest Of infor-
nation, he hoped they would get it. He had
no doubt that the President could give per-
fectly satisfactory reasons for ordering troops
to that city.
Senator Thurman said the senator from
Illinois Logan seemed to think that those
WHO IdNOftu lIllS ItbOlullOl NcIC tilC
enemies of the army. He Thurman had
only to say that the very worst enemy the
army of the United States had was the man
who wished to see it used IN interfering in
the elections of the country, Applause in
the galleries. There was no duty performed
by soldier SO distasteful to him as interfer-
ence in elections. Rome had government
once. the officers of which were chosen by the
people; yet a military chiettain overthrew
the liberties of Rome, and from the time he
passed the RubicOn she was q free country
only in name, but despotism In fact.
Senator Edmunds argued that the army Of
the United States was bound to support the
processes Of the courts when legally called on
to do so, and it was one Of the duties Of the
President to so have the force at his COM
mand stationed that the laws should be exc
cuted. He believed the President had good
reasons for sending troops to Petersburg, and
he would be glad to have all the facts land
before the country.
The resolution as modified was then agreed
to without division.
The chair then laid before the senate a
message from the President of the United
State, inclosing the report of Senator Sher-
man and others, members of the committee
which visited New Orleans, together with the
ACCOMPANYING testimony in regard to the re-
cent election in Louisiana, and moved that it
be printed and lie on the table.
Senator Thurman objected to printing all
the matter accompanying the message, though
he had no objection to printing the message
and the communication of the committee.
Senator Sherman explained that the COM
munication was prepared in response to the
request of the President that certain gentle
men proceed to Louisiana to witness the can
vass of votes before the returning board. The
gentlemen did meet in New Orleans, and
this was their report to the President.
Senator Eaton inquired if the communica-
ton contained the report and testimony Of
both the Democratic and Republican COM
mittees.
Senator Sherman IN reply explained the
meeting and action of the two cOmmitte IS be-
fore the returning board, and said he could
say, in advance of any debate on the Louisi-
ana case, that every act done and word said
by the returning officers was in their presence
and in the presence Of a committee Of gen
tlemen selected by the National Democratic
committee, and when the contests were up
they were carried on in the presence of the
candidates and their attorneys. All the pro-
ceedings were reported for publication and
published in New Orleans. and are now com
nunicated to the President and to congress,
and with the sanction of the senate would be
communicated to the whole people of the
United States. The testimony, oral and
written, in his opinion, established not only
the fairness of the canvass and it's strict con-
forniity to the letter and spirit of the law Of
Louisiana, but also its Justice. Proof
of intimidation, terrorism. burning, whipping
and murder committed IN pursuance of an
organized plan 10 prevent the election of Re-
publican electors, and the return of Demo
cratic electors was so full and complete that
the public mind would believe that any other
finding of the board weuld have been a re-
proach to our civilization, and an utter over
throw In Louisiana Of the freedom Of elec-
tons. upon which the preservation Of oU
republican institutions rest. He did not
know the result Of the canvass, except as be
saw it In this morning 5 papers, nor could he
say whether the board acted right as to the
specific polling places until he could compare
their action with the facts proven, but he did
say that upon the testimony taken by that
board, its finding Ws justified by the law Of
Louisiana, and by the highest principles o
Justice and honor.
In reply 10 Senator Eaton, Senator Sher,
man said that all the published testimOn!
taken by the Democratic committee accom-
panied toe communication to the President
but there were some depositions of wmct
they could not obtain copies in time. H,
argued that it was the express duty Of tn,
President 10 submit this information 10 con.
gress, rs there was no matter OF more i'm
tla,, tho rtuAstfOuc connected NM y