The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-01-10
Forts Fourth Congressional Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Jan 3.
Senate by unanimous consent and without
debate passed the House bill to abolish the
Board of Commissioners of metropolitan police
of the District of Columbia and to transfer its
duties to the Commissioners of the District of
Columbia.
MI Dawes presented petition numerously
signed by citizens of Massachusetts, complain
ing of the rate of interest "a per cent? allowed
un Ter the Geneva award, and asking that =
per cent additional be paid to them. Refer
red 10 the Judiciary Com mittee.
Mr.. Dawes expressed the hope that the Ju-
dietary Committee would give the SUBJECT early
attention.
Mr.. Wright said the committee were making
all the progress IL could in regard to this mat
ter and discussed it at every meeting.
On mo ion of Mr.. Jones of Florida the Sec
rotary of the Interior was asked for informa-
ton AS to the nature and character of a water
line across FLORIDA from st. Mary's river
through OkefnOkee swamp 10 the Gulf of
Mexico and the probable cost of he survey.
Senate passed without division the resolution
for the arrest OF Enos RuDyon for contumacy.
Senate resumed consideration of the resou-
ton submitted by Mr.. Wallace yesterday in
regard to the count of the electoral votes and
Mr.. Sherman of OHIO spoke at length in rs-
gard to Louisiana, justifylng the action Of the
returning board.
Mr.. Sherman said if Gov. Hayes had been
returned as elected wrobgfully he could gain
no honor from such a high Office as that of
President. 1t was known that Gov. Hayes
had not struggled for the Office, neither had he
purchased it; yet it had been conferred upon
him in pursuance of the constitution and he
would exercise his power. He was not to be
tricsed out of the office He (Sherman) would
acc. pit any plan for fair and honest count of
the vote and felt sure Gov. Hayes rghtfully Sc
cured the vote of the state He regarded the
Inauguration of Tilden the greatest misfortune
which could befall the country. He did not
fear Tiden or his four years of power, but he
did fear such means of electing him. The on
ly safety of this government was in fair cleo.
tion and an honest acquiescence in the result.
If Tilden should be declared elected by The
by the vote of Louisiana, his term of office
would be dishonored from the beginning. He
would have the blood of hundreds of men on
his garments, because the instruments of his
election were rifle clubs and violence. Had the
election throughout Louisiana been fair Gov.
Hayes would have had majority of 10000.
ln Mississippi. Alabama and Georgia, also,
influences have been exerted to prevent Repub-
lican votes being cast. He argued that Con-
gress could not deprive the Republican candi-
dates of the vote Of Louisiana without defeat
ing the will Of the people of that state.
In conclusion, Mr.. Sherman denied that the
expense of the Republican committee which
visited New Orleans was paid by the govern.
the President. Gov. Hayes did not know he
was going until he was on his way. He did
not utter a word or suggest any idea to aid the
returning board in reaching a conclusion. The
people of Louisiana had his sympathies, and
from all he heard, there was yearning among
the poor blacks for order and protection. He
was proud to recognize the general forbearsnce
OF the people of this country and their willing
ness to acquiesce in the result.
Mr. Bogy in reply said that if it was true
that the Democratic party elected Tilden by
the means detailed BY the Senator from Ohio
nj ha ShOul1 n ha cd hSfb
was fairly and honestly elected. The effort
made in Louisiana. the effort made here, was
to wrench from the people of Louisiana the
free vote which they gave for Tilden.
In reference to remark by Mr.. Bogy, Mr..
Boutwell, inquired whether the Senator from
Missouri denied the fact that crime existed as
had been set forth by the Senator from Ohio
or whether he admitted the fact and claimed
that the crimes were committed for other than
political reasons.
Mr.. Bogy replied he would be able to give a
more intelligent answer after he examined all
the testimony. The crimes in many cases
were committed by colOred men themselves.
Mr. Boutwell, said IL was some relief to think
that these crimes proceeded from political
causes, because he should dislike to believe
they existed as the normal condition of society.
If that was the case there was little to be
hoped. Instead of being alarmed at the state
ment by the Senator from Ohio as to the crimes
committed in Louisiana, he felt to some extent
relieved, because four years ago there was a
more alarming condition of affairs 10 Msss
sippi, aud the fact that it was not so bad in
louisiana showed that there mi sht be some
improvement.
Mr.. Bogy said he believed the testimony
taken L Mississippi year ago like that just
taken in Louisiana exaggerated. The worst
men were brought forward as witnesses. All
these stories we're founded on falsehood
Mr. Boutwell, said if the Senator had read the
testimony of Capt VIM. A. Montgomery taken
by the committee in Mississippi he would have
seen that he was mistaken entirely as to the
character of the witnesses. If the Indians on the
wes ern frootier bad perpetrated such crimes
blacks and Republicans of Mississippi the
whole country would have rallied to their re-
lief 1t would be one of the msrvels of history
that the people of the North who had sacrific-
ed hundreds OF thousands of lives and expepd-
ed millions of treasure for perpetulty of the
Union and the freedom of the slaves, to quietly
look on in the nineteenth century while all these
acts of violence were being perpetrated in the
South.
Mr.. Bogy said it would be one of the marvels
of history that in a free country an effort was
made by party and for party purposes to black
country. The Democrats in Mississippi and
elsewhere were the peers of the Senator from
Massachusetts. The people of the South had
been compelled to take the law in their own
hands to relieve themselves from the miserable
governments sent there by the Senator from
Massachusetts and his friends The admins
tration of Governor Ames in Mississippi was a
disgrace to the country. In Mississippi now
there was peace and prosperity, and the black
men, many OF whom were worthy of respect,
were treated with much more respect than the
black men were in Massachusetts. Applause
in the galleries, but promptly checked by the
presiding Officer.)
Mr.. Bogy continued, saying that a resort to
violence was forced upon tie South as it had
been upon the people of San Francisco some
years ago.
Mr.. Boutwell, said the Senator admitted there
was violence in the South.
Mr.. Sherman contrasted the forbearance of
the people of New York when they were being
robbed by the Tweed gang, with the conduct Of
the South.
Mr.. Bogy said the cases we're not parallel.
Tweed was not supported by the United States
government
Senate discussed the resolutions of Mr.. Wal.
lace in regard to a count of the electoral vote
during the whole afternoon, when they were
laid aside and the bill to perfect the revision
up so as to come up as unfinished business to-
morrow. Adjourned.
HOUSE.
The Speaker laid before the House a commu-
nication from VIM. r. Morrison, chairman of
the committee on Louisiana affairs, relative to
the refusal of VIM. Orion to appear before the
said committee
House passed resolution directing the ar
rest of VIM. Orion, President of the Western
Union Telegraph Company to answer for con-
tempt
Mr. White of Kentucky asked leave to offer
a resolution recting that fears are entertained
lest there would not be peaceful settlement
OF the Presidential question and declaring that
any attempt to prejudice and excite the public
mind in advance of the decision by the author
lty provided by the Constitution, is unwsse,
unpatriotic and full of danger, and that it is
the duty of all good citizens to peacefully and
faithfully abide by the results reached In &C.
cordance with the Constitution.
Mr.. OBrien of Maryland objected
Mr.. Miller of New York offered a resolution
instruct'ng the Comnittee of Ways and Means
to inquire into the expediency of abolishipg
the two cent stamps on checks and drafts Re-
ferred.
Mir. Schleicher of Texas offered resolution
calling on the President for copies of papers in
the possession OF the State and War Depart
ments relative to the Imprisonment of John j.
Smith, an American citizen, by Mexicans, and
also to the wounding and robbng by Mexican
soldiers of Samuel Higgins. Adopted.
Mr.. Rusk of Wisconsin, from the committee
on invalid pensions. reported bill determin-
ing the amount of pensions to be paid to SOL
diers or sailors who have lost both an arm and
leg Passed
Mr.. Durham of Kentucky, from the commit
tee on revision of the laws, reported back the
Senate bill to correct the statute to punish
cou nterfeiting so as to require the intent to be