The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-14
Washington.
THE FLORIDA CUES

THE FLORIDA QUESTION: LARGE CROWD At
THE CApIToL-ISTEREsTIEG DEBATE-How
THE MATTER STOOD AT MIDNIGHT-THE DEM
ocRATs TO HOLD A CAUCUS-SEvENTY-TIv
THOUSAND TROOPS TO FIGHT THE INDIANS
oBITUARY-THE LIQUoR-TAx--F e AND
THREE-CENT PIECES-BRIEF ITEMS. ~'~
from Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, May 13.-The general be-
lief that the Florida question would come
up in the House to- day drew large crowd
to the Capitol, and by - O'Clock the gall
leries Of the House were packed with an
eager throng OF spectators. AS soon as the
morning hour expired Mr.. Potter, Of New
York, was recognized by the Speaker, and
a question Of high privilege, and proposed
to offer n resolution looking to an investiga-
ton Of the frauds perpetrated in Louisiana
and Florida in connection with the last
presidential election. Mr.. Conger at once
gave notice that he would raise the point
OF order as to whether the resolution
was question OF privilege. The reso-
luton was then read, and it recited
the facts connected with the Maryland reso-
lutions and the confessions OF McLin, known
| to the public, and provided for the appoint
ment of select committee OF eleven to sit
during the recess, with powers to send for
persons and papers. 1t also provided for
the division OF the commntee into sub.com-
mittees, giving the charmen Of the. sub
committees the powe to swear witnesses.
When that part Of Mr.. Potter's paper was
read which recited the fact that it is alleged
that Mr.. Sherman, Secretary OF the Trea-
sury, and Mr. Moves, United States Minister
10 France, were connected with these frauds,
t caused Il sensation in the galleries, and
cast momentary seriousness even over the
Republican side Of the House.
THE REPUBLICANS MAKE FIGHT.
There was 4 solemn earneStness about
| these charges as read by the clerk; in fact,
which seemed to say this is not mere politi-
cal baeatelle. Mr. Hale contended that the
resolution was not IL question OF privilege,
because it was not enumerated among the
questions OF privilege given in the rules OF
the House, all of which looked to action. Ii
this resolution looked to definite action ii
would be question of privilege. he said
he would await the ruling Of the Speaker
on this point with solicitudc.
Mr.. Garfield said that the fact that Mary
| land had sent its resolutions to Congress In
/ regard to Florida and Louisiana did not
make this question OF privilege, because
for the first eighty years OF the republic a
State could only be heard in Congress
through its representatives. In 1867 the
privileges of States were enlarged, SO
as to allow the petitions and joint re-
4 solutions Of States to be introduced for
| printing or reference only. The Speaker
here asked him il he denied The right OF pc
tition as guaranteed by the Constitution,
when Mr.. Garfield fell back on Mr.. Hale's
idea that there could be no question OF
| privilege where no action was intended. Ii
Mr.. Potter would say that his resolution
looked to the impeachment OF Mr.. Hayes,
then it would be a question of privilege. II
it looked to trial Of his title to the presi-
dencv it would not be, because that has
been settled by Joint vote OF the two
houses. Ii it is intended only for campaign
nurposes, he would say that the eXiSencles
OF party have never yet risen in the history
Of Congress to the dignity OF a question OF
privilege.
cox GOES FOR GARFIELD.
Mr.. Cox, OF New York, read from the
journal OF the Electoral Commission with
telling effect to show what convenient
conscience Mr.. Garfield mas, and how he
can accommodate his opinions to srit every
variety of emergencies. Mr. Cox provoked
no reply, when he turned to Messrs. Gar
field and Hale and told them it may lead to
impeachment because the character and
honesty of a Secretary OF the Treasury are
involved in the issue.
| Mr.. Conger here came into the debate
and said with much weakness that the me-
mortal of Maryland had nothing to do with
the question, because it had been referred
70 n committee of which Mr.. Potter was not
| q member.
All this time Senator Jim Blaine was seat
ed near Messrs. Hale and Garfield, looking
into the Book OF Rules and giving them
the benefit of his wiry advice and expo
rience.
TEXAS HELPS THE RADICALS.
Mr.. Mills Democrat), OF Texas, took the
position that it was not a question of privl-
lege. and proposed to explain the.ditfcrence
between the right OF petition and the right
to demand present consideration. alludlng
:. 4ho ,,ohofo uvon the lannon's diSuniOu ne
tition introduced by John Quincy Adams.
The Forty-iourth Congress had settled the
question OF Mr.. Hayes's title to the presl-
dency, he said, and the Torty-hith Con-
gress had nothing to do with it. He took
his seat amid round after round Of applause
on the Republican side of The House,
Mi. Potter, in reply, remarked that the
speakers on the Republican side were quick
to say that IL he would state that the resolu-
ton looked to impeachment they would
agree that it was one Of privilege, but be
had no idea Of doing any such thing. The
MARYLAND resolutions declare that full effect
was not given to the presidential election OF
1876 because OF the frauds in Louisiana and
Florida, and his resolution proposed an in
yestigation OF these frauds.
THE HOUSE sUsTAISs TIE SPEAKER.
Mr.. Reagan wanted to explain his posi-
ton, and Mr.. Conger and the Republican
side were anxious he should do so, but the
Speaker would not permit him to speak
then, but agreed.that he might do so at an
~ ~ A.