New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-06-18

make him take MS stht' A""" So
man and s. s. Cox were the leaders OF tne
egbt against the bill. The. House defeated
,be BROOKLYN Market bill, and passed the IN
terpal Revenue bin amended IN a surprising
manner. which is explained below. The Senate
was occupied principally during the day aud
evening with the Sundry Civil bill. Demo-
cratic caucus was held during the day.
AN EPISODE IN THE SENATE.
ruK sorrHYRx roL1cY ATTACKED. AND AN IrEN
10 Pay raE EXPENSES OF THE LOUISIANA COM
MISSION DEFEATED.
Inr TKIReakPH TO THE rRIBuNEl
WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE dull monotony on
the proceedings In fhe Senate upon the Sundry civil
Appropriation Bill was broken into this afternoon
by half-hour's debate on the question OF paying
the expenses OF the Commission sent by Preslaent
HAYES TO Louisiana last year for the purpose OF ad-
jnst;ng the political controversy there. The Com
inittee on Appropriations had reported an amend
ment making an appropriation for this purpose.
MFR. spencer expressed surprise that such an
amendment could be inserted IN the bill. he said
that the appointment OF this Commission ana It's
work were wholly Illegal II was sent TO New-Or-
leans 20 turn out the legal OF Packard Government
aud TO set up the Nichols Government He thoughr
that It's members ought to be csnsured rather than
paid.
Soma Senator at this point sent to the Clerks
desk a newspaper clipping containing what pur-
ported to be the items of expenditure by the Com
mission, and they were read.
Mr.. Window. chairman Of the committee, said ne
had never heard Of these items before, and knew
nothing about them the committee had accepted
the estimates made by the Secretary OF the Treas
ury.
Mr.. ConklinR asked Senator Window II he knew
Of any law for the appointment of the Commission.
Senator Window replied that there might be no
law for it. but there was Law for nine-tenths OF
the objects for which appropriations were made IN
the blu under consideration.
Senator Conkline thought that Mr.. Window must
he mistaken and said that on further consideration
the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations
would certainly correct his assertion that Congress
was called upon to appropriate money for things
done without authority Of law. Mr.. COnkling then
,alled for the yeas and nays, and in fve-minute
speech opposed the amendment He said that
certain condition of STAIRS existed in Louisiana
which called the President 70 his feet to decide
which was the legal government to sustain. de
would not say that tho President had no right to
make an inquiry to ascertain which was the legal
government. but that Was not what the Commission
had done. Its members had gone there instructed
as the letter given them by Secretary Evarts
showed TODD something else, which was not author
ized either by the Constitution or the laws. He |
did not believe it wise for Congress 70 set its stamp
Of approval upon these proceedings, it would do
by appropriRting money 80 pay the expenses OF the
Commission.
BIr. Thurman followed, drifting almost imme-
diately into q discussion Of the Louisiana ques-
tion in ali its length and breath he assumed that
MIR Conkhna had expressed certain opinions
which the latter wholly repudiated, and was pro
ceeding. as the Senator from New-York said to
knock down the man CT straw he had set up when
he was reminded that he had already occupied more
than the Eve minutes allotted by the rules
Of the Senate, under which the discussion was
going on. .,
Mr.. Mcmillan replied to Senator Thurman, de
claring that the Packard Government was pre-
vented from exercising it's rghtful functions by an
armed mob, and that the only part the United
States troops took in the matter was to preserve
order
Mr.. Eustis denied that any mob menaced Gov
ernor Packard and bis Legislature, and said that |
Governor Nichols refraiDed from interfering with
Mr. Packards occupancy Of the State House. The |
latter remained there 100 DAYS undisturbed, and |
might have remained there to this day.
senator kellogg defended the legality of the |
Packard Legislature and showed that it had been |
recognized By the lawful Government Of the State
and that II possessed quorum in both Houses
The most striking speech Of the debate was made
by Senator blatno.t ne bi0o INC Ohiy quOSiNvh PiV
sented to the Senate was whether Congress should |
approve the acts of the President and of the Com
mission by apprOpriating money 70 pay its expenses
lie did not desire 70 to attack ANYBODY after |
the fact but he was net in favor Of approving this
expenditure and thus giving sanction to what had
been done Referring to his speech delivered Ia the
Senate on the Sth OF March, 1877 In which he said
that no man on earth had It IN his power 20 throw
eIoud over the title Of President Hayes except the
Preeldeut hmseh aud that Governor Packard was |
elected by the lame votes which placed President
HAYES IN Office and had the right 20 his ONCE
which the latter had, Mr.. Blaine went on to say I
that the illegal proceedings Of this Commission, /
which went to Louisiana 70 toll on enough mem. 4
hers from the Packard Legislature into that OF
Nicholla Ia order that Nichols might be recog- /
uzed a. Governor were the source OF the c0mpllca-
irons and troubles that have followed since, NO |
body ever heard Of any attempt BY the Commission
10 establish q Legislature that should recognize /
Governor Packard. Mr.. Blaine spoke With all his |
usual force and fire. aud aroused the entlre Senate
Immediately after bis speech motion to lay the |
amendment on the table was carried by vote OF |
30 I'M the Affirmative 70 % in the negative. Several
Senators declared that they voted IN the affirmative
not because they doubted the wisdom Of making |
this appropriation but because Of this late day ~
the session the SundTy Civil Appropriation Bill /
would certainly fail II the Senate was allowed to
drift into q debate on the Louisiana question.