The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-05

Government respecting the Mexican Republic Also.
10 inform the House whether he has pofered to e,he.
Of the conendng parties the mediation Of the United
States In the premises; and to communicate aoy eoues
pondence, the subjects aforesaid which NAV have
passed between the Government OF the United States
and that OF France.
Mr. KENNEDY submitted the following pream-
Bile and resouionsj which, under the rule, lie over
one day:
There having been wen founded complaints, from
divers quarters, Of manifold corrupt practices in tho
holding Of the late elections which corrupt practices
are said chiefly have consisted in attempts 10 brbe
some OF the voters IN said elections, by means both d.
rect and indirect in the open and active interference Of
the oihcers and agents OF the General Government IN
the conduct Of the said elections and in the employ
ment OF threats blows and riots designed prevent
the lawful exercise Of the privilege Of voting:
AND as the preservation Of the purity OF the elective
franchise 10 OF the deepest 10 the safety Of re-
publican Government and is the duty OF the Ma
onai and State Legislatures to guard the rights OF SUI
frsge against all improper influences; to preserve il
from oil official Interference from bribery, both open
and secret from all practices that have the effect 10
hinder prevent the free and fair expression Of the
popular will and as 1t is the especial duty Of Congress
to Look to the correction OF the abuses which have
the patronage of the Federal Government into conflict
with the freedom of elections :"
Therefore, resolsed, That q select committee, 10
slst Of = members, be appointed by the Chair; and
That shall be their duty inquire into the existence
have been pracsed in the exercise Of the elective fran
chise IN various quarters Of this Union and that for the
purpose OF this inquiry, said committee be authorized,
they should deem il necessary, to send for persons
and papers.
RESOLVED That said committee be instructed to in
quire into the expediency Of this House adopting
rule OF decision for settling the validity Of contested
elections some provision regulation which, with SUI
table limitations shall in effect determine that actual
bribery practised in election for seat in tbs House
hut Iar al Ia.
or supporters, the same being clearly proved to have
procured for such candidate certain number Of voes
shall yitate said election and be held as conclusive
ground for setting the same aside, and Tor referring
again TO the People that said committee be also IN
structed to inquire into the expedency oil this House
adopting as a rule OF decision in OF contested
elections provision regulation which, with sui
table limitations, shall in like manner determine any
election to be void and proper to be refored again to
the People, wherein il shall be made to appear by ample
proof that certain number Of voters friendly to the
successful candidate in such election shall have been
prevented by blows threats riots from casting their
votes in said election.
Rcsoued further, That said committee be instructed
to report bill to this House for the remedying OF all
such disorders the experience Of past years have
shown to bave disturbed effected the freedom and
fairness OF elections, the remedy whereof may be with
In the constitutional power Of Congress and that sad
committee be especially directed to incorporate into
said Dill suitable provisions clauses by which 1t may
be enacted that the salaries Of all officers Of the Cen
era Government, and all stipends commissions, wages
or emouments agreed to be paid by the Government to
any OF the public servants agents appointed by the
Executive, shall be subject to the conditions that the
said officers agents, servants shall abstain from
the exercise Of any kind Of interference with the cleo
tons either Of the Federal Government or State Go
vernmens further than the quiet and orderly casting OF
their respective individual votes under the penalty OF
foeltlng, for specified period one-half OF their sala
ries spends, commissions, other compensation as
aforesaid and that every officer agent or servant OF
the General Government appointed by the Executive
thereof shall be rendered subject to the said forfeiture
who shall be proved before competent judicial tn
bunal, and upon the verdict Of jury to have busted
himself in any whatever in the ordering, adj
justing, proceeding Of any public meeting held with
view the promoting of any political election, or TO
have attended such meeting knowing its character, or
TO have subscribed OF money for the deirayng
Of the expenses Of any such election, to have at
tended at any polls the day Of such election, and
there have employed himself in procuring their votes or
others TO VOTE to have joined in any PROFESSIONS,
meetings, or assembages got up for purposes connected
with any such election
Mr.. PRENTISS, of Miss offered the following
resolutions:
l. Resoiped That the power of designating the nme,
place. and manner of elections of Representatives is
expressly given by the Federal Constitution, to the
Legislatures OF the States respectively, subject to no
supervision control except by law Of Congress only
and that in the exercise Of that power the State Legs
atures may constitutionay fix the tme OF election sub
sequent to the expiration Of the Congress preceding
that for which such election is to be holden:
@ Resolped, That neither the Federal nor State
Executive can const;uonaly anticipate supersede, or
change the times of election as liked by the stare Le
gislatures.
g. Resolved That this House has not the Constitu-
onal power either legislative or judicial by It's own
action alone annul supersede, impede, the opera
ton Of an act Of State Legislature fixing the time,
place, and manner Of election for Representatives
A. Resolred, That resolution or action OF this
House deprive the people Of any State OF their con-
sutiona right Of electng Representatives to Congress
the time designated for that purpose by the Legisla
ture of such State that the claim Of such power, on
the part Of this House, would be dangerous encroach
ment upon the rights Of the States and its exercise
direct and papable violation Of the Constitution.
s. RESOLVED, That the constitutional Jurisdiction OF
this House the subject Of representation Is limited
one, embracing the questions OF election quahcaon'
and return only and that in Judging Of election, this
House is bound TO Judge in accordance with the act OF
the State Legislature regulating the time, place. and
manner thereof
6 Resolved That in accordance with constitutional
act of the Legislature Of the State of Mississippi,
nrescrbup the Time place. and manner Of election for
Representatives to Congress, and in compliance with
all the provisions of said act, election was holden
in November, 1887, for two Representatives from said
State to the 25th Congress, at which election D. D.
Prentiss and Thomas ]. Word duly elected, pos
sessed the constitutional qualifications, and duly
and legally returned.
7. Resolred That the resolution Of this House,
adopted on the 5h day Of February last, denying to
said Prentiss and Word seats in this House members
thereof a dangerous attack upon the elective fran
chise in derogaon Of the rights of the State of Mis-
sssippi in violation OF the Constitution Of the UNITED
States, and mschievous example to future time.
g. Resoped, therefore, That said resolution be, and
the same is hereby rescinded.
On motion OF Mr. CURTIS,
Resolved That the Secretary Of the Treasury be
requested to inform the House of Representatives q
the causes why it was not in the power oil the De.
cretary of the Treasury TO ascertain, py means Oh
the weekly and monthly returns, and other records
In his Office the defacation of the late Collector o.