The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-25

THE INVESTIGATION OF THE USE OF TROOPS
| AT ELECTIONS DEBATE ON THE SUBJECT
| IN THE HoUsE-THE MATTER REFERRED TO
| SELECT COMMITTEE WITH POWER TO SEND
FOR PERSONS AND PAPERS.
WASHINGTON. Jan. ~. 1877.
The House, nj twenty minutes pas: three r. H.. pro-
coded TO tho business the Speakers table, ana tho
Speaker again had before tho House tho from
the President regard tho of troops at the lao
election originally presented last Monday.
Mr.. wooD. (deni.) of N ", asked that the mes.
sage had been already read its second reading be
dispensed with.
Mr.. HuRLBur trep.) OF ILL., objected, aud required
only the message but the accompanying docu-
mcnts DO read.
Tho SPEAKER decided against the right to have tho
documents read. and was reminded BY Mr.. HoAR that
that ruling In tho very teeth OF made last
week.
The SPEAKER declared II as his judgment that tho
question as to the reading should be referred
House. lie put the question and decided the In
tho negative.
Mr.. WooD then offered hts resolution, that tho
message be referred TO select conm,ttoe Of eleven
inquire whether there had been exercise OF author
ty warranted by tho constitution and laws In tho
troops which the President justly respon-
s,hc, with power TO send tor persons and papers
Mr.. BANKS, rep of Mass. made the point OF order
that power to send Tor persons and papers Is not
thorizcd under tho rules and should only DO given
when committee reports II as necessary.
Mr.. WooD remarked that # anybody but the gentle
man from massachusetts, had made that point lie
would navc suspectsd that there was some motive TO
prevent investigation.
AIcssrs WILSON and KAssox Of Iowa. also maintained
tie OF thu point made by Mr. Banks and Mr. Will
son said thai he had raised he sa,nc tho other ay
merely Of regard Tor gentleman IRON New York
aud with desire To keep him straight IN the traces
REMARKS OF Mr.. nOAR.
= HnlR nj Mass had IN r
suggestion MS 10 motive IN preventing investigation
He SAID that on his part there was such motive IL
did 10 him 10 be u decent thng--in the
at,On between the different departments Of the gov
crnmcnt-o propose an inquiry into the action OF The
President or OF department Of tho govern
mcnt through tho mode of sending Tor
persons ana papers by committee OF the
House until the ordinary respectful and proper
mode OF asking for the Information had been tried and
exhausted lie did not deny that there might DO
cases. looking to m impeachment or look ng toa
prevention OF abuses IN the pubic SERVICE IN which
that OF approaching tho subject might bc proper
and courteous and the duty OF the House, but 'iid
to him that II was for the interest oi al parts Of
the that the courtcscs the ctquetes, tho
propriet,cs Official life should be preserved where
could without sacrificing the essentials OF duty
He did believe II wise TO introduce the elements
which created and excited antagOnisn. This
question OF what had been tho constitutional action
tho President IN what he (Air Hoar) conceded 10 be
very grave and important matter IL seemed To him
that fthere special desire 10 know specific
fact the proper. courteous regular, constitutional
method To ask tho President about II, and II the
President said that he could not give the Information
the House To consider whether that answer was salts
factory or not.
The SPEAKER ovcrrued the point OF order and quoted
the rules aud manual IN support OF his ruling.
BANKS
Mr. BANKS appealed from the decision OF the
Speaker, SAID that his only motive in raisDg the
point OF order that power TO send Tor persons and
papers ~ns an abuse OF power for which there had
been cause assigned Under that power the COM
miiee could all over the United states Tor troops
OF witnesses. who would monopolize the mo and al.
tention of House with questions of privilege and
ton bills and OF all the important matters
connected with tho Presidential question: II was on
the ground this abuse of power absolute
and unlimited for which there Was no cause assigned
from the decision of the CHAIR
Mr.. HALE. (rep) OF Me-, called Mr.. Woods atten-
ton the fact that the Presidents Message
compancd by n largo amount OF papers and docu-
mcns. and said that VI he iMr Wood should lind on
perusa OF those documents that all the information he
desired was not there II would be then tine to como
and ask Tor persons and papers.
DIGNITY THE PRESIDENT.
Mr.. WOOD replied that there in the resolution
nothing offensive to the dignity OF the President The
Executive had treated with the greatest respect.
The House had not exercised what In bis (Mr woods)
judgment It's just prerogative In calling the Exccu.
tive to account Tor his military interference IN the
Southern States lie did not intend any d'srcspect TO
the President, but he did want free and iu nvesti
CATION, that II II were true that there violation
0: the constitution III ordering troops to tho southern
might place the archives government its coudcm-
nation of those acts.
Mr. wAr1xRsoN, (dem) OF KY, Endorsed Mr. Woods
views, SAID that tho early part OF the session
the majority had declined to inquire whet her
II possible impcach the President II had done
SO at the Instance and request OF those who were
described as the Confederate element They had OBJ
jected to impeaching the President, not be-
they thought him not improbable,
but simply because they wanted to pay
him the debt which they referring what had
been called the Con fcderatc clcmcn owed him, and
exceedingly bad grace Tor the Presidents de-
tenders and apoogsts 10 oppose at this ato day of
the session SIMPLE modest and courteous method Of
conduc ding search Tor truth.
The SPEAKER recalled the House TO tho real question
before II, which was the question Of appeal, aud ho
again stated his ruling aud the reasons Tor 1t.
Mr.. Cox, (dcn,) OF ~ Y, replied to the suggestion Of
Mr.. Hoar 10 the ,naeccncy OF the proposed mode OF
procedure. and said that indecency would
when tho inquiry was answered He moved 10 lay the
appeal the table. Carried-Ycas 147. nays 70.
Tho resolution then adoptcd-Ycas 1874. nays rs.
III. IL H.. .otaIxa