The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-08-01

onthe anxiety Of this committee TO make out case iol
the contestant The contestant when he states his own
says that he received lone Illegal vote and that ha
sitting member received illegal vote" That is the can
did statement which he made when he presented his case
10 the House but the committee jump clear beyond
that and state that the contestant was wrong, and
that no illegal vote cast for him but on the con-
trary for his opponent This anxiety OF the
committee make out for the contestant which in
duces them go beyond him. and beyond the testimony in
stating the case, would excite asonshmeni had we not
already become familiar with such acts They In their
zeal TO make strong case really contradict the contest
ant himself
There is one point which must be borne in mind it
has direct reference to this recount One OF the judges was
present look the recount but came in after the
recount had and as they closing up the affair
lie came in to pass upon the two ballots upon which the
question raised after they had been handled by every
bysander around the board lie passed upon them as they
were presented to him. and not as they originally were.
Then in fact the baola passed upon only by two OF
taoe judges and Of them still declares that in biz
opinion the original count right and the subsequent
wrong. The first counting was unanimously agreed
upon the time right; and yet when you have out
two judges one for and one against you are ASKED 70 e
aside the first count and receive these ballots injustice
and wrong could not go further
Now, sr,I do not intend to go into an examination Oh
the technical points presented in the case They are i'm
bodied in the statement of the sitting member and they
have been presented in his argument II this House now
prepared to disregard the law of the country for the ac
compshment OF purpose they are prepared 70 say
mature consideration proper mode Of guarding the
for members of this House. and protecting
well the rght5 members ol
shall be set aside by party majority and for party pur
IL will be the longest stride on the road TO rum yet
taken fyou tamper with ballotboxes after election
made il you allow TO handle ballots and
even the power to change muate them after the
election is closed and upon the divided statement OF an
irresponsible body Of change the return you open
wide the doors fraud and crimerime not only against
the rights OF your district but against the institutions or
the country.
There is not man in the land venture to assert, who
would not say that when the judges passed upon the
ballots the time of the election when they had all the
means of determining the matter candidly, unlnnuencea
by any statement uninfnenced by the fact af close
VOTE unnhuenced by the fact that two votes would deter
mine the result of the election you should take hs ae
csion and abide by it, If you to sanction the doc
rne that this House can after return OF that sort set
the whole of it aside and thereby create state OF things
where the vote Of sovereign State may under GER
tain circumstances and upon the greatest question Of
election that before the country, be reversedf
the House prepared and by party vote TO sanction an
of that kind then sir this is but the beginning OF series
of contests for upon this floor which Will disclose
degree of depraviy which will all regret to see and
the consequences of which cannot but ieariuy apprs
bend.
beg therefore that every member before he votes upon
this case will look carefully to the consequences OF his
vote If gentlemen think that it is case upon which
doubts rest U think there is none think that the sit
pQ member is clearly entitled to seat there is one way
to sett5 the Iesonsend them both back to their con-
and Let them settle it. The election Is close at
hand and the people settle in accordance win her
sense OF duty TO themselves and to the country.
For myself from the evidenca-and know nothing OF
the from that am as certain tnat the si'R
member Is as much entitled TO his seat as any one IN the
House. and so shall vote. This is all have to say