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CONGRESS, UNITED STATES. 



abused ; therefore, that a particular power 

 might be abused was no argument against its 

 existence. This power is undoubtedly one of 

 the most delicate of those conferred upon this 

 Government, and its abuse would be attended 

 with wide-spread and disastrous results ; but 

 it was thought necessary to confer it in order 

 to prevent revolutions in the States, which 

 would be likely to result in monarchy. It was 

 said in the Federalist the existence of such a 

 power would in most cases render its exercise 

 unnecessary. And so it has proved. For 

 nearly a century no other case has arisen that 

 called for its exercise. But, now that the case 

 has arisen, to deny the existence of this power 

 would encourage the repetition of such wrongs 

 to an extent that cannot be foreseen. "We may 

 well wish the necessity for our decision had 

 not arisen ; but it has without our fault. If you 

 were crossing Long Bridge, prudence would 

 dictate that you should avoid running off on the 

 right-hand side ; but if to avoid this accident 

 you should drive so far from that side as to go 

 off on the other, your very prudence would 

 cause your calamity. So here it is as dangerous 

 not to act when the case calls for action as it 

 is to act when the case does not call for it. 

 And I cannot resist the unpleasant conclusion 

 that for Congress to refuse to act in a case like 

 this, and to deny its power to do so, would be 

 setting a precedent to be followed by fatal re- 

 sults." 



Mr. Sherman, of Ohio, said: "Every Sena- 

 tor in the whole body will admit that the Sen- 

 ator from Wisconsin has redeemed his pledge 

 faithfully, eloquently, and ably. No one will 

 gainsay that ; but I think it is equally clear, if 

 any one will read not only the newspapers but 

 the indications that we have from persons 

 from Louisiana and I have also been on the 

 ground in Louisiana and heard from both sides 

 that a large majority of the people of Louisi- 

 ana have acquiesced in the existing condition 

 of affairs. It is as plain, as palpable to me as 

 the light of day, that it is wise that they have 

 so acquiesced. They will have an opportunity 

 at the next election in November to redeem 

 then* State government, if it has fallen into the 

 hands of usurpers. The power will be again 

 restored to them, and I think it is the wisest 

 thing in the world to pass in silence all that 

 has occurred in Louisiana, with the certainty 

 that the people themselves will correct any 

 evils that have been done there. 



" I sympathize with my friend from Wis- 

 consin, but at the same time I do not believe 

 he is pursuing the course best for the people 

 of the United States or for the people of Lou- 

 isiana. I believe Congress had better attend 

 to their ordinary legitimate business, leaving 

 matters in Louisiana to right themselves, and 

 they are now being rapidly righted, and at the 

 next election we may probably have a Legisla- 

 ture elected .by the consent of the governed, 

 ready to pass laws to suit their wishes without 

 difficulty. The very election law now pend- 



ing has been passed, perhaps by the general 

 consent of all, and is declared to be a fair law. 

 There is no practical difficulty in the Louisi- 

 ana matter. If we let things alone in Louisi- 

 ana, the popular will as expressed in a legal 

 election will undoubtedly prevail. The only 

 result of this movement now to overthrow the 

 government of Louisiana will be to derange 

 and disorder the condition of affairs there, and 

 turn out of office two or three State officers 

 whose terms happen to extend beyond next 

 fall." 



Mr. Saulsbury, of Delaware, said : " Mr. 

 President, I do not know that I shall vote for 

 the bill of the Senator from Wisconsin when 

 it comes before the Senate ; but I think it is 

 right that he should have the privilege of 

 bringing that question before the Senate when- 

 ever he sees proper to do so. I concur with 

 him that no more important question can be 

 presented at the present session of Congress 

 than the question involved in the condition of 

 affairs in Louisiana. I am surprised at the 

 enunciations of Senators on this floor that 

 there has been a general acquiescence on the 

 part of the people of Louisiana in the present 

 condition of affairs in that State. Why, sir, 

 it is known to every Senator on this floor that 

 if the Federal power was withdrawn, if the 

 troops of the United States were removed from 

 Louisiana and a proclamation made that the 

 people of Louisiana should settle this matter 

 for themselves, the Kellogg government would 

 vanish out of existence in less than one month. 

 The people of Louisiana have protested against 

 such proceedings in every way that it was 

 possible for them to resort to. They have 

 been before the Committee on Privileges and 

 Elections at the present session protesting ; 

 they have appealed to the President of the 

 United States, but have been turned away; 

 and now are they to be turned away from 

 this Hall of Congress ? Are we to spurn their 

 appeals for relief simply on the ground that 

 because they do not resist the Federal author- 

 ity they are supposed to acquiesce in the pres- 

 ent condition of affairs ? " 



Mr. West, of Louisiana, said : " I will say 

 one word to those gentlemen who are crying 

 about the people of Louisiana, who are here 

 beseeching Congress to come to their relief. 

 Who are they ? The disappointed office-hold- 

 ers, the disappointed expectants of office ; and 

 the men who have countenanced assassination 

 and murder in my State. Sir, the opportunity 

 will come to reply to these men. I do not 

 shirk it. I shall not move to lay the Louisi- 

 ana bill on the table, but I shall stand here 

 and I shall show to this Senate, if I have the 

 power, that the rightful government of the 

 State is now exercised there. 



" Sir, it is a fallacy to suppose that Mr. Kel- 

 logg cannot maintain himself. Where are the 

 United States troops in Louisiana to-day, and 

 how many have you got ? Less than five hun- 

 dred men there, and less than you have had 



