The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1878-06-27

States Senate
THE committee offered ain amendment
appropriating $4,000 for expenses and
compensation Of the commission appoint
ed by the President to go to Louisiana,
or so much thereof as might be necessary.
Mr.. Spencer (Rep, AIa) said he was
astonished and surprised that the Com
mittee on Appropriations should recon-
mend an appropriation Of this sort. The
object Of this commission was to turn cut
the legal government OF Louisiana.
Mr.. Window (Reb., Minn) Chairman
ofthe Committee on Appropriations, said
the appropriation was recon mended by
the President of the United States and
also by the Secretary of the Treasury
| was also stated that there were prece
dents for such an appropriation. The
committee had, therefore, agreed to re-
port it to the Senate for such light as the
Senator from Alabama (Mr. Spencer) or
any other Senator could throw upon it.
Mr.. Spencer then sent to the Clerks
desk and had read published statement |
OF the expense Of the Louisiana Commits
sion.
Mr. Hereford (Dem., w. Va.) inquired
if the Senator (Mr Windom) was willing
to pay that amount for putting Packard
out and Nichols in.
Mr. Window replied that he would not
pay cent. 1t was a very worthless job.
Did not the Senator consider that the re-
suits accomplished were of some value to
the Democratic party?
Mr.. Hereford-Not in that way.
Mr. Conkling (Rep., N. " inquired if
the committee knew of any law under
which this so called commission went
out?
Mr. Window replied, there were good
many appropriations in this bill not eX-
pressly authorized by law.
Mr.. Conkling demanded the yeas and
nays on the amendment and said he
would vote mo" In Louisiana condi-
ton of things existed which, according to
the constitution and the statutes passed
in pursuance thereof, summoned the
President of the United States to answer
one question, and that was, whether
Packard was or was not the legal Cover
nor of that Commonwealth. Mr.. Conk-
ling would not stop now to argue whether
, the President could avail himself of tour
f lists or visitors to answer that question:
This commission sent to Louisiana was
| told to disregard the only question which
: was addressed to the President 1t was
) told to proceed upon other grounds and
t in other ways This so called committee
was without warrant of law, and it's do
: ings were in violation of law. If anybody
: borrowed from q national bank, or any
. other bank, money to embark in this en-
: terprise, 1t was not the business of the
Senate to insert provision in an appro-
priation bill to do that which would
G hereafter be claimed to legalize it. lie
e hoped the brevity with which he had
spoken would not lead any one to imply
that he questioned the undoubted right
of the President to decide whether troops
t should be employed in Louisiana or not
but he did say to the Senate that sending
e the five tourists or visitors to Louisiana
9 and allowing them to remain there tc
l. consummate that which they did, was IN
n his Judgment not only behind the law
but beside the law and in violation oil the
J. law.
e Mr.. Thurman, Dem, Ohio) referred te
L the condition of affairs in Louisiana ex
If isting in the Spring of 1877, and said il
:, was admitted on all sides that there wa!
7, not a quorum in the Packard Legislature
} In point of fact, there was but one Gov
:, ernor and one Legislature. Packard anc
!, his Legislature were protected by the
d bayonets of the Federal Army. lie de
IS MED that the President of the United
e States sat as court of last resort to de
q termne contested elections. He did no
e agree with this idea, that when the peo
s. pie of State elected a man Governor
l. the opposite party could take an appea
e9 to the President to overturn the rightfu
q government of q State. 1t was the dut.
of the President to find out what govern
u ment he was to recognize, it being in tn
y vacation of Congress.
< Mr. Conllling inquired if the Senate
was under the five-minute rule. Th
. Senator from Ohio was going on to dis
1t cuss this question, and if the -minut
as rule could be waived he was willing tha
= the Senator should proceed.
Mr.. Mcmillan (Rep., Minn.) argue
that the Federal troops took no part i
ID the Louisiana trouble. They only pre-
n served the peace. They abstained fror
taking sides with either of the claimant!
but kept the mob which threatened tn
N State House quiet.
IN Mr.. Eustis Dem, Lay denied tha
ID there was any mob in New Orleans
~ threaten Mr. Packard or his Legislature
- At no time was there any intention, o
n the part of Gov. Nichols, to drive ther
I'd out of the building which they occupied
as and they might have remained there III
til to-day
re Mr.. kellogg (Rep., La. said he did nc
os propose to mix in this discussion as
' whether there was mob or not. Their
ne was one point to which he desired to ca
Ie attention, and that was that the Packar
b Legislature was the legal Legislature
! the State 1t met as was constitutional
~ required Mr. Kellogg happened to
Governor at the time. There was a leg;
lis quorum in the Packard Legislature r
o. cognized by him. In the lower House
,b full quorum was admitted to have bee
- elected on the face of the returns |
II the Senate there was not a quorum e:
he cept by the certificates of the Returnin
i'd Board There was not an officer in tt
ha State who did not recognize him as Go
ernor, and the Legislature which he r
organized was the legal and constitution
al one.
an Mr.. Window (Rep. MINI. said as th
of debate was to extend through the afte
noon, he would withdraw the amen(
re- ment.
of Several Senators objected, and N
no Anthony, in the chair, ruled that til
amendment could not be withdrawn e.
tie cept by unanimous consent
zee Mr.. Blaine (Rep. Me.) said he did NJ
er think the President had any right
in, send five men to New Orleans to toll @
of enough men from the lawful Legislatul
be to recognize Nichols as Governor. NJ
or Blaine made use of a remark IN the Se
ut, ate, three days after Mr.. Hayes was ina
of gurated, which had become historical
ch the effect that, if the President was elec
les ed, Packard was elected, and there w
m no one to throw doubt on Governor Pac
ew ards title except Mr.. Hayes himself
err There was no effort at all made by tt
TIL commission to get Legislature to reco
iv- nize Packard. Now there was demar