The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-04-02
CONGRESS-THE LATEST NEWS,

We make up our news column this
week principally from the specials
Of the New Orleans Picayu,ae, giving
as they do the most reliable political
points from Congress:
WASHINGTON, March 27.-The old
adage Of the devil rebuking sin was
signally illustrated in the Senate to-
day by the Republicans complaining
that important measures had been
initiated in caucus by tue Demo.
Gratis. The fact is that nearly every
political statute passed by the Re-
publicans since the war has been
originally agreed on in caucus. IL
the House the Democrats are pro.
ceeding with the army bill. Mr..
Sparks brought in the army bill OF
the last session, with an amendment
forbidding officers from bringing
troops to the polls, aud furnishing
them for SO doing by heavy fine and
imprisonment. The bill was care
fully passed and everything disposed
of except the political amendments,
which in all probability will be
adopted tomorrow, when the bill
goes to the Senate. These amend
ments will lead to a general debate.
The President will probably sign
this bill however he may be inclined
to deal with others.
WAsHIKeroN, March %. Issue
was fairly Joined to-day between the
two political parties on the question
of having the elections controlled by
Federal bayonets. The Republicans,
after many insincere professions on
this subject, have at last shown the
cloven foot, and now adhere firmly
to the policy and methods of the
Grant administration. When the
clause prohibiting any United States
officer from bringing to the polls
any troops or armed men was reach
ed. Mr.. Conger, of Michigan, at once
made the point of order upon it that
it was not germane to the bill, and
did not retrench expenditures. On
this question Of order a long debate
occurred, in which the merits of the
entire question were discussed
The whole Republican phalanx ar
rayed themselves in favor of retain.
ing the power to use troops at the
polls, and even suggested that the
power of the President in this re-
gard could not be taken away. MIR.
Frye and other Republicans spoke to
this effect. Mr.. Mclean, of Mary
land, made a successful speech on
the Democratic side. as did also
General Hooker, of Missouri, but the
most striking and unanswerable eff.
fort of all was made by Mr.. Carlisle,
of Kentucky, a gentleman, who is
justly regarded with pride by Ken.
tuckians. He secured the full at
tention of tie House. Messrs. Frye,
White and Robson all put questions
to him, but Mr.. Carlisle had master
ed his subject and was fully a mat, b
| for them all.
Mr.. Stephens is to speak to.mor
row on the question Of order.
Mr.. Springer, who is in the chair
says that single objection viii
stop this debate, md it will probabl,
he made to. morrow. The Chair i,
expected to rule that the amendmen
is in order. 1t is abundantly justi
fed by precedent. The next thinl
will be an appeal from the decision
of the chairman which will be sus
tanned, and then long debate on tn
merits of the proposition. The pol
Iicy of the Democratic leaders is t
allow the fullest discussion of til
subject. They say that if they can
not carry the country on this propo
sition they carry it on any othel
and they rejoice that their opponent
have placed themselves in positio
so odious and unpopular. Th
Democratic majority in the Houa
is very small. On this questio
they will have the votes of Messr,
Wright aud Ladd, and probably NJ
stevenson, Of the Greenbackers, an
will almost certainly be able to carr
this bill in the form reported. It
doubtful, from to.day's indication
whether the President will sign
Elk. Secretary Robson, Of Ne
, Jersey, came to the front to-day .
the representative Of Grantism an
! bayonet rule. The stalwart pressul
ion II.. q