The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-06-01
Senator Morton on the Situation.
KELIoGe's RIGHT TO a SEAT IN THE SENATE
NOT NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
FOR HAYES.

tO-Oay, puhisnes long lettef, OF Wnlch the
most salient features are given in the follow
ing summary:
" At the meeting of the Senate on the 9th
of March last, William Pitt Kellogg of
Louisiana presented himself for membership
upon credentials that some weeks before had
been read before the Senate and laid upon
the table.
I'm argument, it was shown by the jour.
nails of the Legislature that each House of
the Legislature which elected Kellogg had a
quorum of members certified as such by the
Returning Board A quorum of persons in
each House thus certified as elected met on
the day fixed by law and organized each
House of the Legislature. Aiterward, on
the day fixed by act of Congress for the cleo
ton of a United States Senator, majority
Of the whole number of members returned
elected met in joint convention and elected
William Pitt Kellogg to the Senate for the
term Of six years, beginning on the 4th of
March, 1877.
The Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tions met, and the Republican members
united in a report that prima facie S. B.
Packard was the lawful Governor of Louisi-
ana, the Legislature was the lawful Legisa-
ture, and that William p. Kellogg had been
elected in conformity to the act of Congress,
and was entitled to be sworn in and take his
seat. No subsequent breaking up of that
Legislature, combination or arrangeme ent
can affect his title or destroy the legality of
what took place at that time. Though the
very members who proclaimed the election
of Packard and made that of Kellogg should
subsequently declare that of Nichols, and
take part in the election of Spoford, it is too
clear for argument they could not take away
the rights which had vested, or make that
unlawful which had been before lawful
Unless Kellogg voluntarily withdraws, the
Senate will have to decide the question OF
his election as it stood at the time of ad.
journment.
"The Republican Governments of Louisi-
ana and South Carolina have yielded to
force. They have gone down before an
armed minority, whose threats of future vio-
lence were guaranteed by long train OF
bloody deeds in the past. regret that the
real character of the transaction should be
| obscured in tho least by pretended investiga.
tions or negotiations. Stripped of all dis
guises and pretences. the simple fact is that
Packard and Chamberlain were not able to
maintain themselves in authority, and the
Government of the United States, in the ex-
ercise of its discretion, refused them its sup
port. Assurances were given that the rights
of all classes should be protected and the
Government administered for equal benefit
to all. General promises of this kind amount
to little.
president Hayes was urged to give up
Louisiana and South Carolina at once, and
was told that it was only question of time
that at the next election they would go as
Mississippi, Alabama, and other States had
and it would be better to give them up al
once. However repulsive this argument, il
was unfortunately too true. The same
crimes and violence which had wrenched
Mississippi and Alabama from the Republi
can party, and had so nearly captured Lou
isiana and South Carolina, would certainly
succeed next time. President Hayes bu
accepted the situation as it was bequeatheC
him on the 4th of March.
"a Democratic House of Representative
recently withheld appropriations for the sup
port of the army on condition that it should
not be used in the Southern States. 1t wa,
| clearly unconstitutional to put such condi
| tion to the BILL but it did so, and was likely
to do it again at the extra session thus mad
| necessary.
"There are and have been for years many
| Republicans in the North who have depre
Gated the use of the army to support Repub
lican State Governments in the South. Th
Republican majority in the Senate upon tn
Southern question is but nominal, if it exist
ed at all. Five Republican Senators vote,
at the late executive session against seatin
Kellogg, and to refer his credentials to
committee thus refusing to recognize tn
| Packard Government; and u number G
Republican Senators, sufficient when adde
to the Democratic members to constitute
majority, have steadily refused to recogniz
the Republican State Government in Louis
lana since 1873 by voting against seating
Senator chosen by it. The Democrat
House has power to destroy the army entire
ly, and from my knowledge of the Senate
am sure the Republican majority of tha
body could hardly be relied on to suppol
him in such a course.
| 81 do not believe that President Hayes in
tends to destroy the Republican party am
attempt the erection of a new one upon il
ruins. / believe in his patriotism and higl
integrity, in his undivided purpose to max
| the administration a benefcence to th
country. The language Of his inaugura
was strong and beautiful, and the declara
tion of his devotion to the great doctrines c
! human rights which constitute the founda
ton of the Republican party left nothing
be added or desired Mr.. Hayes was electe
as Republican, and believe he will be
Republican President, not in mere part
san way, but in the sense of devotion to Re
publican principles and the maintenance G
the Republican organization by placing tn
political power in the hands of worthy an
qualified Republicans.
"As the Democracy have acquired soli
South by force, the Republicans should ac
quire a solid North by their vigilance an
the eternal justice of their cause.
| o. p. MORTON"
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