The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-01-31
,sHIyGToN CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON, ]
Jan. l5, 1877. !

J.
as m investigating Congress, what
o,er other characteristics it may al
~ he distinguished for There have
baen many important and many I'M
;muortant Investigations in the two
.oars which will end next March,
That of Mr. Murtogh, President of
the police Board, though at first ap-
noaripg to be of local interest, shows
that Congressman and gentlemen
visiting the city, if their politics did
,ot unit the ideas of the administra-
ton, or any part of it, or any of its
hangers on, have been subjected, in
their daily life, to mean surveillance
BY disguised policemen and street
roughs. The committee carrying on
this investigation should publish the
results broadcast over the country so
that thoughtful men may realize to
what q condition the country has
been brought. 1t is useless to say
that Murtogh alone is responsible
for this degradation Of institutions,
for Murtegh is appointed to Office by
the President, and is kept in office af-
fer both Houses Of Congress have
unanimously voted to abolish the Of
fee to get rid of its Incumbent
President Grant pleaded his own linn
tied civil experience as an excuse for
errors in carrying on the Govern,
ment. His last year is worse than
his first and the people may well
thank God that he came to his first
ciyil office fresh from fields OF
slaughter rather than from political
employment.
The Senate Investigation into Ore,
eon affairs has not produced any
damaging result. The money sent to
Oregon from the funds of the Demo.
cratic committee was paid to Repub,
lican and Democratic lawyers for lie.
Ultimate legal services. The inyesti
CATION, however, brought out an
opinion that Governor Grover acted
in accordance with law in commits.
soni2g Cronin an elector from VIM.
Leach Lawrence, a lawyer respected
wherever the language is spoken.
The President has given a qualified
recognition to Packard claiming to
be Governor of Louisiana, but will
not use force to sustain him until the
Congressional Committee report
from that State. Packard is known
as man Of considerable ability and
dasA, and stands better with Grant
than Kellogg does. In Louisiana he
is officially called a shameless and
wicked imposter. The debate in the
House yesterday on the question OF
aTesting the members Of the Louisi
ana Returning Board for contempt in
refusing to produce before Commit,
tee ofthe House the official papers OF
the Board, was exciting and fmpor
tant. Messrs. Frye, Garfield and
Kasson spoke againt the right to ar.
rest, but none Of them with their &C,
customed force. The question went
over and will be decided to day.
The Senate Committee proposing
TO leave nine Congressman and four
Justices of the Supreme Court, the
decision Of all disputes as to count,
ing the Electoral vote does not meet
with support in the House. The
grounds of opposition are two fold
first, that the Constitution and laws
afford ample means of setting such
disputes; and second, that the pro
posed body of arbitrators is to be
chosen by lot. - ..
The House and Senate Committees
meet together to-day, and if they car
not agree upon a plan, will so re
port to their respective Houses. The
only case / now remember in which
the Government recognizes tie "tria
2 BY lot" is in that of General Officers
in the Army. If two are appointed
upon the same day, the two decide
by lot which shall be held to have
The older rank. In some Of th'
States, United States Senators hav'
received the "long" and "short' tern
IN the same way.
Yesterday a long memorial from
Chamberlain, claiming to Governo
OF South Carolina, was received il
the Senate, 1t gives his version o
affairs there.
Further inquiries into the Chand
Ter dispatches will be made to day
one trouble with Chandler was tina
he could not separate his duties a
Secretary of the Interior from hi
business as Chairman of the Repub
lean National Committee, nor coul,
thnnn ,uho ,onn;-zl L