Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1838-03-24
UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
FDUsE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Jan. IL, 1888.
THE MISSISSIPPI ELECTION.

THE MISSISSIPPI ELECTION,
H. BUCHANAN, from the Comp,.iseteo o Oh
Elections, to which the subler p n"o U0o"
referred, made the follov"s NhfoAt'
cuu,;o.. IF E,Jo .oaS, to which cas
referred the corr WORD. claiming seats
IlSs ., ana .; 1se from the State Of Mississip
M pi, re
lat, by the order Of the House, they
1elcve special duty merely was impo-
led on them, to wit, to report the facts Of
HE case; and therefore submit the follow
ihg statement, without comment or infer
ence:
At the opening of the first session of the
Y 25th Congress, on the 4lh day of Septem-
Der, 1887, Messrs. Claiborne and Gholson
appeared, were sworn, and took their seats
III the House as members from the State
Of Mississippi. Before they were sworn,
however, and before the House proceeded
10 election Of Speaker and Clerk, Mr.. Mer-
Ger offered the following resolutions, viz.
hReSozred, That sufficient evidence has
not been afforded to this house that John
n. H. Claiborne and Samuel J. Gholson are
lawfully entitled to seats therein; which
Resolution, after some debate thereon, was
4 hid upon the table, on motion Of Mr.. By
mum.
n On the 18th of September it was voted
by the House that the action of the seve-
raj standing committees, on all matters
now embraced in the Message Of the Presl-
Al 10 fha fWn
SEES of Congress, communicated on the Sc
cond day Of that session be suspended UNI
hill the commencement of the annual session
in December.
WI On the 18th of September, on motion OF
Mr.. Gholson, the foregoing order was sus,
pended, so far as it relates to the action OF
the Committee of Elections.
M On the 18th September, in the House,
on motion of Mr.. Gholson, it was "ReSoL-
yed, That the Committee of Elections be
Instructed to report upon the certificate
a of election Of Messrs. Claiborne and Ghol-
son, the members elect from Mississippi,
whether they are members of the goth
n Congress or not; and that said committee
take into their consideration the procama-
ton ofhis excellency Charles Lynch, Gov
ernor of said State, and the writ OF cleo
ton issued in accordance with said procla'
nation, on the 18th day Of June, 1887
and also the act of the Legislature OF MS
sissippi, entitled 'AnE Fact to regulate cleo
TONS approved March Cd, 1888"
The only evidence or documents exhlo
tied to the committee under the above res
olution consisted of the law of the State o
Mississippi; the writ of election issued by
the Governor, requiring an election to b
held in July last, for members of Congress
for a limited term; GALL Of which are Sc
forth in the report of the committee OF las
session, being document No. OF that SEES
sion, to which the committee refer as par
of their report3 and certified statemen
ofthe votes given at that election, mark
ed A.
Upon this evidence Messrs. Claiborn
and Gholson, by written argument sui
mitted 10 the committee, and subsequent
furnished to the members of the House
claimed to hold their seats in this hous
during the 25th Congress; and malorlt
of the committee thereupon made repol
which concluded with the following resc
luton, viz. "ReSolued, That Samuel
Gholson and John F. H. Claiborne are d.
ly elected members of the 25th Congress
and, as such are entitled to their seats
which resolution, on the Sd day of Oct
Der, was adopted by the House.
The proclamation Of the Secretary
the State Of Mississippi, declaring the nun
Der of votes at the July election, and thu
Messrs. Claiborne and Gholson were ele
ted to "the called session Of Congress,
marked B; and the credentials as require
by the law of Mississippi, under the mar u
the Governor and the great seal OF u
State, declaring that Messrs. Clalborl
and Gholson were duly elected membe
of Congress until the regular ele sa,
should be had under the law OF the o.a'
in November next thereafter, although
sued and in existence, were not present
to the committee at the last session, .
relied upon by Messrs. Claiborne ana yin