Year: 1872

xEOpUbeU o0u6J0 ALt6T8uOu Oh the


Internal Revenue Bill


WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 1872
Tho investigation into the Credit Mo-
bilicr Scandal


will show that some Congressman accepted for 4
time the enormous dividends OF that concern,
which they devoted to political and charitable pur-
poses. But they will attempt to show thet they
were not identified with the management Of the
amir or with the legislation which made 1t SO
profitable. The inquiry hero now Ii what Con-
gressmen. were permitted to take the different
kinds OF Pacific Railroad stock rs well as that OF
the Credit Mobilier, at the original par value. At
tempts:are being made to hush these Investigations,
but 1t is rumored that startling developments are
to be made from an unexpected quarter.


The Alabama Muddlc-Intcrvicw with


Senator Hamilton.


The dual delegation OF the dual Legislature OF
Alabama, which lately arrived in this city,
striving, with all their main and might, to defeat
another, each being anxious to obtain the sup
port Of the government. Your correspondent gave
yesterday the result OF his conversation with the
republican delegates. For the sake OF fair play he
called this evening on Senator Hamilton, one OF
the three democratic delegates who represent the
Capitol faction Of the Legislature. Mr.. Hamilton
was elected from Mobile to the present State
Senate OF Alabama. He Is gentlem somewhat
past the middle age. His countenance and bearing
impress one quite favorably, having all the ap-
pearance OF honesty and frankness. Senator Hamil-
ton at first did not wish to discuss the difficulty,
but being assured Of the mpartialty OF the
HERALD-he entered into the following conversation
with your correspondent, who began


"Well, Senator have had the radical version OF
this muddle; now please give me yours"


Senator HAMILTON-The whole contest is simply
this The General Assembly at the Capitol is CON-
posed OF q majority In each house OF members
holding certificates Of election prescribed by law.
In the Court House Assembly they have less than
o majority in each house OF members holding such
certificates. The only evidence that the law pre-
scribes to entitle man to a seat in the General
Assembly s this certificate furnished by the Secre-
tary Of State on the returns made to him upon the
several members. If any Assembly is organized
without these certificates 1t is organized outside
OF and In defiance Of the law, and the simple Qes-
tion s whether the aw&ul certificates shall pe te-
ceived as evidence till set aside by the tribunal
appointed for that purpose, or whether parcel 0f
men may get together without the evidence OF
right required by law and declare themselves the
Legislature, and unseat members who have the
evidence which the law directs. Sesere Is the
whole controversy.


CORREsP0NDENT-What do you think about tho
action Of Governor Lewis in this matters


Senator HAMILToN-Governor Lewis undertakes
himself to judge OF the rights OF members to sit In
tho Legislature, when the constitution atsact1
that each house shall be the judge OF the rights OF
its members, and the Governor Is expressly forbid
den to exercise any power con0ded to any other
branch Of the government. II the right asserted
by those men and attempted to he exercised by
Governor Lewis be sustained, precisely the
same principle and with precisely the same right
the President Of the United States could unseat
many members OF Congress as he pleased to OBJ
tain q majority for himself. The Assembly at the
Capitol stand upon the elementary principle of
good order; the others stand upon the revolution
airy principle OF organizing In defiance Of law.
On the part OF the Assembly at the Capitol it is
simply question OF principle. For the sake OF
harmony they have been willing to yield in things
where 1t was possible for them to yield consist
emily with selfrespect and the principle on which
they have been organized.


CoRREsPONDENT-Ex-Gov Governor Smith, or the re-
publican delegation, says that you have offered to
make o compromise on condition that you retain a
majority of one in each branch Of the Legislature


Senator HAMILTON-We have made no such com.
promise at all. No other compromise has been
agreed TO and no other proposed. Owing to the
double returns in the Secretary Of States office as
to the Barbour county seats the democrats have
been willing that the republican members Of that
county should take their seats in place OF the demo-
cratic members. That would give the democrats
majority of one In the House and three In the Sem
ate, but they have offered no compromise upon any
condition OF their retaining a majority In
either House. Their proposal to effect q
settlement was based upon the assertion Of the
principle while they were willing to yield in
matters OF courtesy and when there could be any
wel-founded doubt as to the rights OF their men,
bers The gentlemen from Barbour county OF the
democratic party have never demanded anything
but that the law in their should be applied to
them. But the Capitol Legislature will not c0ncede
any OF the contested seats for Marengo county to
the republicans unless 1t be by decision OF the tri
bunal appointed for that purpose.


CORRESPONDENTS there any truth In the report
circulated by the republican delegation that
democratic member had declared the Capitol Legis-
lature was backed by 1000 ex-Confedcrate troops
in case OF any confiictY


Senator HAMILroN-In all our proceedings we
have governed ourselves strictly by the law,
and all reports OF our resorting to violence or
seeking the aid OF ex-COn federates or Ku Kluxes
is the merest fancy OF excited politicians. do
not know that there have been at any time 500 Ku
Kiuxes In all the State.


CORREsPONDENT-Ex-G Governor Smith says that
democrats want to secure q majority In the Legis-
lature In order to be able to disfranchise the ne
groes and the poor whites ?


SENATOR HAMIIToN-Oh, this is the merest non-
sense. 1t is not worth while to answer such an
absurd assertion.


CoRREsPoNDENr-'The republican delegates say
that the Capitol Legislature Is already giving way,
that the House has no quorum, and some OF the
democratic members had already gone over to the
republican side. They expect that the whole Capi-
tol Legislature will melt away, as 1t were, and give
up the fight.


Senator HAMILroN-It Is false. The Capitol Legis-
lature In not giving way nor melting away. They
will remain firm to the end. There has bcena
quorum all along, except one day, when one OF the
members was suddenly taken sick.


In conclusion, Mr.. Hamilton said that his inter.
view with Attorney General Williams was quite
toSoc to i'm Init hp nnt