Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-03
House of Reprcsentatircs.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-The galleries today
contained the customary crowd at the opening
of Congress. At noon Speaker Randall raped
the House to order, when the chaplain made a
prayer and the roll was called.
The roll call showed 229 members present.
Two new members. Bailey of New York and
Majors of Nevada, then took the iron clad oath
and Messrs. Atkins, Cox and Garfield were ap-
pointed to inform the President that Con-
gress was in session.
When the reading of the message was ended.
Mr. Wood, of New York, rose and moved that it
be referred to the committee of the whole of
the House and ordered printed, but first he
desired to make some comments ON it. Al
though whole the document was highly
satisfactory, yet there was some references in it
which should be met at the earliest practicable
moment. He referred to that part relating to
the Southern States. He, Wood, failed to see
where the President saw any disposition in the
South to avoid or annul in any degree the con-
stitutional amendments. He failed to see any
indication in the South at any election, at any
time under the circumstances for series Of
amity with the whole country in
regard to laws or to obey government. He re-
GREETED the President, who had commenced his
administration with such noble and patriotic
position as agai,:st the military despotism ex-
ercised by his predecessor, should now indicate
change of policy. He had watched with in
terest the course of the administration in order
from the manly and noble posi-
ton taken by him. He
knew that there was wing of the Republican
party dissatisfied with that position, and it had
been matter OF interest to the whole country
to know whether the President would continue
to maintain his attitude. While the President
expressed his views in very mild and very de-
corous language, yet he indicated quite clearly
that the condition of things in the South was
not satisfactory to him. The President had re-
ferred especially to the elections in South Carroll
ma and Louisiana. He had been able to single out
two States and only two isolated instances in
those States, that was an indication of vaclla-
ton the part Of the executive and it was
only because it was such an indication that he,
Wood, felt it his duty to declare that there was
no foundation for the allegation of wrong by
the South It was to be regretted that
while the Presidents eyes were open to
the Congressional elections in South Carolina
and Louisiana they were closed to what oc-
cured in the city of New York on the 9th of
November, where 1000 legal voters were drag
ged to prison by government officials, and hun
dred of them plunged into the yilest dens as
common prisoners, and where besides
these who had been arrested, 10000
ing difference of at least 1,500 votes in the
city of New York in the last election. The
President had not seen that. The Republican
press of New York had not told that to the
President but had pointed him to the South.
He (Wood) regretted that the President had
thought proper to lend his high
position to a reiteration of the misreprc.
sentation organized for him by the Republican
press. He had the highest regard for the
President, believing him to be an honest and
patriotic man. 1t was matter of profound
regret that the President should permit him.
self to be an instrument in the hands of an
ultra wing of the Republican party.
Garfield replied to Wood. He characterized
it as very unusual to interrupt the ordinary
form of proceedings, which was simply to re.
fer the Presidents message and order it's print.
ing, by debating any of it's suggestions, and be
thought the kind OF suggestions made by the
gentleman from New York as still more un.
usual. The exact language of that part of the
message with which the gentleman
found fault was not in his
(Gar6eld's) mind; but, gentlemen, language
was very plain. He Wood criticised certain
references in the Presidents message as te
some disturbances in the course of the fedora
election in several States, and contrasted thai
with what he chose to cali the noble beginning ..
the administration in favor of self government
and said that the President has shown yacilla
| ton, because he had seen fit to refer to di.
turbances in federal elections.
It the right Of State to attend to its owr
] local concerns undisturbed was in any way CON