The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-09
TIE SOUTHERN QUESTION.
southern Members Of Congress I'm Confer
ence as to the Policy they shaI II Pursue.
lChicago Times

| WASHINGTON, Dec 5.-The Democrats held
a private conference last evening at Senator
| Bayard's residence. 1t was there agreed, as;
| II was in the Democratic senatorial caucus.
that the policy of the Democrats was in every
| way possible to avoid furnishing the actual
pretext for debate, but that il the gauntlet
| Is thrown down by the Republicans it will not
| be refused. There is a good deal said about
keeping cool and refusing to please the Repub-
| licaDs by being stirred up overmuch but there
is no use hoping that such men as Ben Hill
can be kept within bounds under the rakipg
lire that Blaine will open upon him Thur
man mas been III advance selected to repIy to
Blaine, but he (Blaine) will use all his arts to
draw out Ben Hill. It. is Blaine's opportu-
nifty, and 1t can be confidently expected that
he will do all he can to bring about one of
tnoee nervously sensational scenes where
his overpowerng personality and endless vo-
cabulary of sneer and invective will enable
him to charge rough-shod over his antagon-
lists.
conference of Southern men was held this
evening at Randall GibSon'S residence on
street. There were present Randall Gibson
f.. John Ellis of Louisiana Senator Gordon
Senator Lamar, Senator Morgan. Represen
tatives Elliott, Evans of South Carolina. and
Slemons Of Arkansas, and Senator M q Rnt
Ter. The object of the meeting was to sec
what steps should be taken to meet the
charges of Southern violations of law made
in the Presidents message
1t was said ut this meeting that all of the
elections were lies, and that they tthe Southern
menbersl should make it point to so prove
them to the country at large. II was also as
serted at this meeting that the tissue-p paper
tickets, which have been dwelt upon SO much
by the Republicans, were manufactured by
INSCRIPTIONS Republicans in the South, who
want to make out case Of fraud where none
exists
Gen. NJ. G. Butler said that In his own dis
trict, where there are two negro sI1peryisors
OF election, not a case of intimidation existed
anywhere, and that he was willing that these
two men should be examined, and he would
abide by their testimony entirely. The up-
shot OF the entire conferences was tn apree
upon resolution, which is to be presented bv
Randall Gibson at the earliest opportunity in
the House
The resolution has been SO skiIlfnlIv drawn
that there can be no possible Objection to If
upon the Republican side 1t recites as n
preamble that portion Of the Presidents g |
message relating to the South, and then |
saying that whereas grave charges have |
been made against the conduct of elections in |
south carolina and Louisiana, the President |
be respectfully called upon to furnish the
sources OF his information and its full extent |
upon which he has seen fit to base such grave
charges ln such an important place rs State
paper. Inc southern men at this conference
clikm that the President will not be able to |
substantiate his charges by any evidence that
they will not be able to readily impeach
They also go further in their combination
plan to upset the outrage literature Of the
past few days.
1t will be remembered that Judge Swails.
Of South Carolina, complains that he made
charges OF fraud and intimidation before
Judge Bond, and that no notice has been
taken Of his allegations The Southern Dem
lcrats will therefore move before the House
Judiciary Committee that Bond be impeached.
alleging SWails' charges as the sole reason.
. was further outlined in this evenings CON
erence that the Southern men intend to vote
or the Edmunds resolutions If they are con- 1
lned to asserting the validity of the consti-
,utional amendments. The resolution of
Randall Gibson will doubtless give the Re-
'ublcans the opportunity for which they are
1t present longing