Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-02-20
Democratic Caucus.


at the Congressional democratic caucus last
night at the Capitol, Representative Clymcr
presiding.
REPRESENTATIVE Vance, Of Ohio, offered res
oution similar to that of Representative Wall.
Jog at Saturday nights caucus, asserting that
the democrats should avail themselves CT all
legitimate means TO defeat the acts OF the Com
mission. This resolution caused much discus
sion, but was not voted CD.
Representative Mills, of Texas. offered res,
olution declaring that an eXigcncy contemplated
By the Constitution having arisen, neither can
didatc for the Presidency having mojorlIy Of
the Electoral vote, therefore
Resolrcd, That the House should st once
| proceed 10 vote for President.
Representative Springer offered a resolution
| recitiug that Hampton and Nichols are the
legally elected Governors Of South Carolina
| and Louisiana, respectively, aud that an
amendment be made to the Army Approplla-
ton bill combining the operations OF the troops
to the frontier.
Representatives Randall, of Pennsylvania;
Hoopcr Of Mississippi; Kpott Of Kentucky;
| Mcmahon, of Ohio; Ellis, of Louisiana; Jones,
| of Kentucky; Springer, Of llliuoisi Poppleton
and Walling, of Ohio, and Mills, Of Texas,
favored action on the pending resolutions, ana
Representatives Hunton aud Harris, OF VIZ
gina; Buckncr, of Missouri aud Durham, or
Kentucky, expressed themselves against all
! resolutions. q,
Representative Brown, Of Kentucky, offered
a resolution, the same 10 substance as tnal
adoptcd on Saturday night, declaring that the
Electoral count shall proceed without dllatory
opposition, hut strongly protesting against the
action of the majority Of the Commission who
signed the decisions 10 the Florida and l1ou!sl
ana cases.
Representative Brown said he had received
intimatious from numerous sources that re-
affirmation Of the caucus action 0l Saturday
was necessary. He did not, however, press
the resolution, but yielded to Representative
McMahon, who moved that the caucus take 4
; recess until after the count Of the Oregon vote
10 the Joint meeting of the two Houses. The
motion was carried.
Those Of the caucus who favored extreme
, measures did not owing to the large prepond,
GRANGE of the conservative clement, ask tor q
division on the questions presented, nor was a
vote taken on any one Of them except Tor the
recess. The caucus stands by their action o.
, Saturday night.
The Washington correspondent OF the Baitl
more Sun says:
Mr.. Springer, OF Illinois, offered resolution
that no appropriation be made Tor the army:
3 unless it was distinctly understood that lht
, army was not to be used to uphold IN any form
+ the Chamberlain government 10 South Carolina
or the Packard government in Louisiana.
Mr.. Ellis, OF Louisiana, supported the mo
ton in very earnest speech. lie SAID hl:
, people were determined not TO submit to al
, illegal goVernmep! any logger; that it vas Dow
literally question Of life or death with them
that they had a right to look to the democratic
, party in Congress to prevent the use OF th'
: army to maintain their oppresSors 10 power
, lie said "We ask OF you that no further sup
plies be voted TO the army unless it is to DC
) strictly confined to its Legitimate occupation.
r Cries camo from all parts Of the hal! Not
dollar" not dollar
Another resolution was offered requesting
the democratic members of the electoral com
mission to withdraw from their seats and re
fuse to act Logger with the commission; also a
resolution declaring it the duty OF the House
to prevent by all the means in its power the
CONF eton Of the electoral count, and the cou-
scauent declaration of Hayes election.
Speaker Randall took the floor and pro-
claimed that, 10 his opinion, it was the duty OF
the House to resort to dilatory tactics; that the
manner 10 which the commission had acted alb
solved them from all obligation TO respect its
decision. He said it was the undoubted right
Of the two houses Of Congress to 20 behind
the returns: that this power had been dclcgat'
ed to the commission, and there was no pos
sible excuse for its refusal to exercise 1t. The
people knew that Tildcu was elected, and they
looked to the House to preserve to them the
fruits Of their victory. lie thought it was due
TO themselves that they refuse to submit pas
sively to the treachery which had been prac'
ticcd.
Other members more particularly those from
the West, said they believed the people OF the
United States would sustain the House il ii de-
cIined to allow the cousum maton Of the con-
spiracy to put in Hayes. They said they lad
received kilograms 10 great numbers from their
constituents urging them to pursue this course.
Camcr sentiment ruled the large majority
Of those present, AID the "aubmissionists, as
they ere called, held that it was the part OF
wisdom to proceed with no more than the
necessary delay 10 the electoral count, and Jno.
Young Brown, Of Ky, offered resolution to
that effect.
1t was the general sentiment, however, that
no army appropriations should be made unless
with distinct proviso that no part Of the mil
itary shall be used as police Tor the protec.
ton Of the illegal carpet-bag governments II
the Senate will not agree to such clause the
members said they would make no further ap.
preparations than were absolutely necessary for
the safe keeping Of the Notifications and mill
tary stores.
Without action on any OF the resolutions that
we're offered motion Of Mr.. McNlahon to
adjourn until after the decision in the Oregon
case, was carried by large majority.
The members who arc in favor Of fllbuser
ing said, after the caucus was over, that they re-
cognizedthe fact that they were small minority,
but they did not intend to cease their efforts 10
prevent the declaration OF Hayes election. 1t
is said that measure will be introduced Into
the House providing that in case Of an lnterreg
nuG in the office of President the Secretary OF
State shall act as President until new election.
This is to obviate the failure in the present
statutes to provide for such 4 case as would
exist if no declaration of the result Of the last
presidential election were made.
| a committee has been Amounted 10 prepare