The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-14
THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
VIEWS OF LEADING DEMOCRATS ON
THE TEST OATH AND FEDERAL
ELECTION Law.
Washington Post. February M

L"bnih2Jon Post, February n
tho on S q the most important Joint caucuses Of
niRhC at the House OF Representatives not
adJourning until after IL o'clock. Heretofore
Cne democrats in caucus have been COM
peled 20 adjourn from time to time without
DrahSaeting much business, owing to the
| small attendance OF the members. Rut last
night there was very full attendance of
senators and Representatives. The business
pelore the caucus coming from the meeting
lation to repeal the existing law reauirinp
grand and petit jurors to subscribe to an
| iron-clad oath, and providing for the an
pointsment q United States marshaIs and su-
Kentucky, occupied the chair, and Mr. Pat
terson, OF Colorado, acted as secretary. The
committee appointed at the previous caucus
70 prepare rules for the government OF the
Joans caucus o. lne Two houses, made report
Aiter the rules We're adopted the caucus i'm
medlately proceeded to consider the yexed
guestions, which were pending at the last
meeting, which was the subject of incor-
| poratlng In the appropriation bills n clause
repeating the test oaths to Jurors and the
election laws providing for Supervisors and
marshals OF elections, and the manner of
Craving Jurors In the United States courts
Several propositions were introduced on this
| subject, and provoked animated discussions
which were participated In by Senators Thur
man, Bayard, Herman, Gordon, Hill and Rep
resentatives Blackburn, who left the chair for
she purpose; Herbert: Of Alabama; Cox, of
OF Ohio; Reagan, of Texas, and others. The
first proposition adopted was that moved by
| Mr. Waddell, OF North Carolina. to the effect
that there DC added to he Legislative, extcu-
pending In the House. provision repeating
| sections $40 and S21 OF the Revised Statutass
This was carried unanimously.
Inc clause repeating these two sections will
/ hn MT nnh had 80 h. II.
bill, the principal passage of which will de-
pend upon the acceptance of the repeating OF
the section by the Republicans and Mr.
Hayes. 1t Is believed by the Democratic
members that the Republicans will concede
to the repeal Of these two obnoxious sections,
as they virtually exclude the intelligent por-
lions OF the Southern people from jury ser
vice. But the caucus did not stop here. Sem
ator thurman moved that the Democratic
members of the House on the Judiciary Com,
mittee be instructed to prepare provision
to 50 modify section 800 Of the Revised Stat
utes In relation to the choosing Of grand and
petit jurors In the United States courts as to
provide that the clerk Of the court should Sc
lect one-half OF the names to be put into a
| box, and that the other half should be select
ed by commissioner to be appointed by the
court and to belong to q different po-
| litical party from that to which the clerk
| belonged, the number of jurors to be selected
by two and to be not less than 800, to be placed
| In box, and from these are to be drawn by
law the names Of the grand and petit Jurors.
Ihls provision was opposed by Senator Hill
upon the ground that 1t would be unavailing,
as the court could appoint such Democrat
| as would cooperate with and be the tool OF
| the Republican officials of the court. Some
thing more direct and positive was required
II 1t was intended to remedy the evil now ex-
| listing In the South OF partisan jurors. This
called for very sharp and pointed speech by
Senator Thurman, In which he declared that
1t was the duty OF the representatives OF the
people to refuse to appropriate the peoples
secure equal rights to all the people before
the law. Senator Thurman was loudly ap-
plauded. Senator Bayard opposed legis-
lation on the subject, and referred to the
fact that the Republicans had enacted
these obnoxious measures by revolu-
tiOnary processes, and that the Democratic
party ought not to place itself In like atti-
tude before the country, even to get rid Of
them. This sentiment was received with less
favor than that pronounced by Senator Thur
man. whose provision was adopted by large
majority. ThereupOn, Mr.. Southland, of Ohio,
moved that there be added to the legislative
bill q provision repeating all the sections of
the Revised Statutes from sections 2011 to
2O3l, inclusive OF both, which are provisions
Of United States elect N laws, authorizing
the appointment OF sup rvisors and marshals
| OF elections, and defining their duties ana
powers. When this res Tuition was offered it
was getting quite late. Mr.. Southland sup
ported it in a five mini tes speech, arguing
the necessity of its adoption. The members
were growing impatien, and the question
was Immediately put AMI carried by large
majority, although thero were a number Of
members who voted no" While passing
out OF the hall there was general expression
among the members that the caucus had
done good nights work.