Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-02-14
FORTT-EIFTR CONGRESS.
THURSDAY, February IA.

communication from the Secretary ef the
Navy transmitting report of the court of
inquiry on the Huron disaster
MI Nithers presented memorial from the
farmers OF Louisa county, Va asking a re-
duction of the tax on tobacco. and took occa-
sion tO urge speedy action on The question. as
delays ana uncertainties had the effect to
parailZe trade, by causing purchasers to await
hnal action by Congress
MI. Conkllng presented twenty four peti-
tIohs from different parts of New York ash ing
| the reconciliation Of silver and The rppaaI Of
the resumption act.
Mr.. Wallace introduced bill in relation to
the Japanese indemnity fund.
Mr.. ,lOhnSon-A bill in relation 10 the pay-
| ment of the final fee in patent eases
Mr.. SaunderS-A bill To provide temporary
soxernment ,,, for the territory of Lincoln.
ME- GroVer-A bill for the survey of the
upper Missouri and other rivers with a view
to the construction OF a canal.
!. MI. NoorheeS offered resolution directing
the committee on the judiciary 10 inquire
whether the bonds issued by certain rail
roads in Kansas and Missouri authorized by
me ;Ihlrty,ninth Congress, have been based on
| are, &c;, and that the committee have power
S. 10 Sena a. ior persons and papers. Laid over
On motion of MI Morrill, the Senate re
sumtd the consideration ot the House resou-
llon declaring II lneKpedient to reduce the tax
| on distilled spirits.
Mr.. McCreery said he had asked the bill
! might go over from yesterday; said he had
done SO intending in good faith to make a
Spttfu DHt some OF his friends who believed
me tax should be reduced had said they were
| AFRAID II he spoke somebody would be hurt
ne did not think himself like to hurt any one
| but at their suggestion that it was for the in
| tereSt of the manufacturers he would forepo
his remarks, although he could never see how
| IL was lneXpedient to do right. The resolution
| was passed-yeaS, 40, nays 9.
| Mr. Ferry called up and the Senate cOnsid-
| cred the bill regulating compensation of post
masters but pending its consideration the
| morning hour expired, and the bill went over.
| A1f. Jones. pf Nevada. then addressed h,l
Senate i'll support OF the silver bill.
! OUSE.-Mr. Freeman offered a resolution
| which was referred. directing the committee
Oh naval affairs to inquire into the expediency
| of erecting dry dock at Leage Island. Phila-
| dephia.
| LOUISIANA MEMBER EXPLAINS.
| MI Gibson rose TO a personal explanation,
| and said he was absent during the discussion
| yesterday when certain reference was made
TO Louisiana affairs. His colleague (Ir. Ellis)
mad IN plain terms repudiated the charge or
| allegation that any agent or representative of
| louisiana had acted i'll way to wrongly affect
! the honor OF the state. He (Mr. GibSOn) de-
sired to say now that he had differed from his
! colleagues and from many of his political as
! SociateS on this floor with regard to the e!ec-
! toral commission He had confidence in the
men who composed that commission. and he
! thought the revenue bill great measure in
! the interest Of the peace and the honor of the
! country. Representing. as he did, a people
| who were laW-abidng, he gave the electoral
! the proceedings of the count he was grdtiiied
| to see that the course of southern members
by the northern people. He felt that the eec-
tOral bill was in the interest of the welfare of
| the whole country. He felt today that the
| course OF the men from the south who adhered
| to the electoral cOnnt was justified by the
| events hat followed. He felt that the great
| heart of the northern people was waning to-
! war ward the people of the south: Besides, he said,
| that the President of the United States at that
| time had made up his mind that the states
! were no longer to be controlled by the bayOnet.
He felt assured that no bargain or arrange
| meHt was necessary to secure the people OF the
south in their rights. He had been satisfied
with Hayes letter, and his subsequent acts JUS
tlled that satisfaction His inaugural and the
composition of his Cabinet gave guarantee
| OF good government in the south
Mr.; Gibson then referred to the commission
aa. That had been 9 sent to New Orleans by Presi
made such presentation of facts that they
recommended the withdrawal of troops. After
that the legislature of the state adopted reso-
lutlons IN IN, the interest of CANCELLATION and
| peace These resolutions, adopted by the
| legislature, We're the only agreements he
kleW OF; 1hey spoke for themselves. and
! show pledge of a rigid enforcement of the
| laws. The prosecutions now going on in New
orleans were in accordance with the enforce
! ment OF the laws. They were being prosecuted
! for violation of the laws of Louisiana, and
in conformity with the criminal laws of the
! state.
| Mr. Hale inquired whether the gentleman
| indOrsed the prosecutions that have been and
| now are in progress in New Orleans?
| Mr.. Gibson replied that if these men were
guilty of violation of law the DroSprutinns were
! proper
MIR. Hale said as he understood it then the
! gentleman did not discourage these nroSeru-
| tiOnS
Mr. Gibson would inquire in turn whether
the gentleman thought they were wrong?
| Mr Hale rcplied if the gentleman Wanted
| his views he would saw that he regarded the
| prosecutions as the Greatest outrage i'm our
| political history ~
! Mr.. Gibson said that Mr.. Hale had alwayS
| denounced the people of louisiana. and he
treated the gentleman's remarks with con
! tempt The trials referred to were c0nductea
! under the laws of the state, and he wanted to
| know bV what right the HomSe conId he maie
! He asserted that the whole effort of Governor
| Nichols was to restore law and order The
personal liberty of the citizen was as secure i'm
the state of Louisiana as in Maine. If any
wrong was done to the persons under trial.