The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-05-24
p TO THE VOTERS OF THE 4rH

W. CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
1t Is with much reluctance any further
lie statement in regard protest against validity
OF the late election for Congress in this District
am not willing however that nv silence should be
construed INTO an acquiescence in the correctness of the
cent determination of the House of Representatives to
discharge the Committee of Elections the further
consideration of my second memorial put in it was
an express accordance with the views of the majority
the committee indicated in their report against grant
ing the prayer of my first memorial.
brief statement will disclose whether the failure
investigate that election is justly chargeable to my
On the 10th of December 1857, addressed memorial
to the House of Representatives asking it investigate
the riShto the Hon. II. Winter Davis to in that
body There had been law passed in 1851, regulate
contests for seats in Congress- allowing contestant
take testimony for 60 days his notice given and an
answer received from the sitting member.
believing then, still do that could establish no
which charged had prevented any valid election what
ever and that the district in consequence repre-
sented at all prayed committee inquire into the
gality of the election pretended did then and do
not now regard myself contestant, or within the
meaning of the law. Ny object not to obtain
filed "0e''
Shortly before the time had elapsed in which testimony
could have been taken under the law the Committee of
iectons by vote of to A. reported against granting
the prayer OF my memorial That report which
sequently the 18th of February, 1885, adopted by
House contains this language Let the memoriast go
under the Act OF 1881 and let the time for taking the esti
m9ny be extended as long as may be necessary
believing the views of the minority of the House be
Ils IL was with extreme reluctance that put in
cond memorial in accordance with the views of the ma
lnlS memorial however, presented to the
Rouse on the md OF March, 1855 asking extension of
the time which is expressly provided for in the law
was III TACT suggested by the adoption of the Committee
report No action taken this memorial till the 10Th
OF May when the Committee by vote of to 4, asked
De discharged from the further consideration of the subject
no TACT or circumstance having occurred vary the
ion or merits of the case from the time when the identical
Committee thus asking to be discharged had recommended
to the House an extension of time to enable me to nro
case which they thought demanded investigation.
had written the week before to the Chairman of the
Committee, enforcing my application and had been in
formed by Mr. Whye but few days previously that he
understood the time would be granted On entering the
House on the 10Th of May heard for the first time of the
action OF the Committee and that their resolution had
been adopted by the House. The statement therefore
from Washington correspondent, that it with my
concurrence or assent is of course utterly without foda
ton. 49,. ~, .
shall waste words in comment on the facts have
set forth do not regret any sacrifice which have been
called on to make in the performance what conceived
to be duty, though disagreeabe That some other
might have succeeded where have failed is possible but
that any could earnestly have devoted his ener
ges and his to that end, feel called upon to
deny. .......
The people of this District have think Just cause to
complain that they have had but ukewarm against
active and determined opposition I'd
My connection with the matter has now ceased and
leave to the 5h Congress the task of providing in their
own way and at their good pleasure the peserva
ton of the purity Unpopular elections in the 4th Congress
sional District of Maryland TT.
Respectfully, 20
Your obt serv't,
1t HENRY p. BROOKS