New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-03

parently looking on with some tlmidity, was MT.
De La Matyr, the GreeDbacker, who will represent
the indianapolis district in the next Congress In
dress and appearance he reminded those who saw
him for the first time of a Western or Southern
Methodist circuit rider.
The calling of the roll disclosed the presence OF
900 members (more than quorum). and the House
proceeded at once to the business of the day. Two
new members Mr.. Bailey of Albany and the new
Representative from Nebraska-were sworn in
Fernando Wood then offered the customary resou-
ton informing the Senate of the organization Of
the House. Mr.. Atkins offered the one providing for
a committee to wait upon the President. Then
recess of an hour was taken; and the crowd that
was flowing back and forth through the Hobbies
poured in at the DOORS aud the greetings and hand
shakings were resumed.
FERNANDO wOoD's BLUNDER.
The first few paragraphs of the Presidents mes
sage which was presented to the House Immediately
after the recess were listened to with marked at
tention but after the clerk had completed those
portions relating to the Southern question, Repre-
sentatives very generally engaged in conversation
or gave their attention to their private correspond
eDce. The dull. unintelligible roar that came up
from the House made it almost impossible for those
in the galleries hear the remainder OF the docu-
ment.
The only striking incident of the day was Fer
nando Woods criticism on the President for refer
ring to the late elections in South Carolina and
Louisiana. In moving the reference of the message
to the Committee of the Whole House, Mr.. Wood
expressed regret that the President should have
deemed it necessary to treat of these subjects In
formal State document For one. he had failed to
see any indication IN the South anywhere,
or at any time within q series of years,
that the right of suffrage had been abridged.
These portions of the message indicated clearly that
the Radical wing Of the Republican party was get
ting control of the President and he was panied to
sec these indications OF his vacllatlon. There was
no foundation in his opinion for the allegations OF
fraud. The Presidents eyes, while open to alleged
occurrences i'll South Carolina and Louisiana. were
closed to the fact that 1000 men i'll Ncw-York
State had been dragged from the polls and shut up
in lOaths0me dungeons by the Chief Supervisor OF
Elections, and 10000 more had been frightened
away from the polls.
These statements were received with derisive
laughter on the Republican side.
Mr.. Wood closed by saying that the stories in re-
gard to the South were Misrepresentation, orig
naly coined by the Republican press of the North.
General Garfield spoke about five minutes inrepy.
lie said that if recognition of the right of State
to attend to its local affairs is inconsistent
with the attention of the National Govern
ment to events occurring at a National
election he hoped that there would be
much more of this Inconsistency. The gentleman
from New-YoIk was unable to SEQ vaclllatons
in his own city and State; but General Garfield said
he hoped that IN a Congress so notable as this for
investigating all charges of every kind. Mr. Wood
would not do anything to stifle the investigation
which the President proposed.
When Mr.. Hale arose to say few words there
were cries of dissent from the Democratic side.
general disposition manifested among the
Southern men not to hear him. MIR. Hale said that
this question of the equal rights of all citizens will
not and shall not be allowed to be put down. Re
ferring to the Presidents policy. and the fact that
no soldier stopped at any voting precinct IN
the South during the last election, he added that
he would tell the gentleman from New-York
that upon this question of the protection
of the citizen In his rights there Is no
Radical wing Of the Republican party but that
there is one party in this country that is united to
man on that subject
Mr. S. s. Cox tined to say some funny things and
TO turn the drift of the debate favor of the Demo
Gratis who had thus far got the worst OF ii, but he
utterly failed. "
Mr. Woods resolution was agreed to- but the gen.
eral feeling among the Democrats well as the Re-
publcans was that his reference 10 the subject was
an unfortunate one and that IL would have been
better to have allowed the message to go to the
Committee of the Whole without comment.