Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-02-24
XXXTXth Congress
HOUSE.

WASHINGTON, February 2S.-Mr. WARD,
of New York, presented joint resolution
of the Legislature of the State of New York
recommending Congress to make grant Of
| public lands to aid the construction of the
Portage Lake and Lake Superior Ship
Canal. Referred to the Committee on Com
merce.
Mr.. COBB, of Wisconsin, on leave, intro
duced Joint resolution from the Legisla-
ture of Wisconsin, relating TO the improve
ment of the navigation Of the rapids Of the
Mississippi. Referred to the same COM
mittee.
The contested election case, Washburne
VS.. Voorhees,, of the 7th Indiana district,
was taken up.
Mr.. MARSHAL, of Ill, sustained the
minority report at length.
Mr. WASHBURNE was then allowed to
I.address the House in favor of his claims to
a seat During his remarks he sent to the
desk newspaper from which the Clerk
read letters signed J. W. Wall, addressed to
Dan. W. Voorhees,, relating to the sale Of
| firearms in 1868. -
Mr.. VOORHEES,, inrterupting the con
testant, said that whoever stated that he
was engaged in purchasing firearms, either
for loyal or disloyal purposes, or that he be-
lenged TO any secret political organization,
stated what he knew to be false, and what
the gentleman who made the charge knew
to be untrue. He Lad answered that
ealumny to the people Of Indiana.
Mr. DAVIS rose to point of order, which
the Speaker sustained, that neither the con-
testant nor the sitting member were speak
ing on the merits of the case.
Mr.. VOORHEES, then addressed the
House for an hour in support Of his claims.
Mr. VOORHEES, sent to the Clerks desk
n /.
dence of the Cincinnati Commercial, pur-
porting TO give the action of the Committee
on Elections, which says that the Commit
tee decided with but one dissenting voice
that Mr.. Voorhees, was entitled to his seat.
Mr.. INGERS0LL, Of Illinois, moved TO
suspend the rules SO far as to allow the
Committee to produce their record. If this
Committee has reversed their decision on
the case. without having heard the addi
tional arguments Of the sitting member
charged, he should like to know it.
The Speaker said that it required a unan-
imous consent TO suspend the rules
Mr.. BANKS, of Mass, objected, he said,
on parliamentary grounds and not on the
merits of the question. No member could
get up here and say what transpired in the
Committee on a decision not reported by it,
and not before the House.
Mr.. VOORHEES,, then proceeded with
his argument and contended that fraud had
been proved in the vote given him, and that
the vote given him and the testimony taken
by the contestant had been sworn to before
a person incompetent TO administer oaths
| outside of the city of Terre Haute, Ind. In
! conclusion he said he was to be deprived of
| the seat Because majority had the power
| TO do it. The Committee should avow their
| first action giving him his seat or give the
/ ~; saooud aation in danriVino O.
him of it.
Mr.. DAWES then closed the debate on
behalf of the majority report During his
| speech the House suspended the rules and
sent for the records Of the Committee in
the case. He said the committee did moth
| ing in the case different from what they had
| done in many other cases before them. The
record was here produced from which it ap-
pears that there is no record Of vote in
| favor of the sitting members Oh February
lst, when such vote is stated to have been
| taken.
Mr.. sHELLABARGER a member of the
committee said vote was taken, which de-
elared that the sitting member Mr.. Voor-
hees, was entitled to his seat, but it was un-
derstood that it was aot to be final vote.
Mr.. VOORHEES, said the clerk TO the
committee neglected to record that action
of committee.
Mr.. DAVIS resumed his argument
l and contended that fraudulent votes in Mr.
Voorhees, behalf were clearly proven, and
that derived him of the legal msjority.
The House then voted by 2s yeas against
96 nays, that Mr.. Voorhees, was not entitled
TO his seat: by 81 yeas against S6 nays thai
Mr.. Washburne was entitled to it. Several
! members voted that neither was entitled
to it.
Mr.. STEVENS introduced bill to secure
the speedy construction of the Northern
branch Of the Pacific Railroad and tele'
graph. Il was referred TO the Select Com
mittee on that subject
Mr., STEVENS also introduced bill t,
define more particularly the tenure of ciVi
officers. Referred to the Judiciary Com
mittee.
House adjourned till to morrow.