The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1867-07-11

by an athdaylt proving the facts alleged
and asked that his papers be referred tc
the committee or elections.
Mr.. Logan offered the following as an
amendment:
Whereas, Thc*1nH, !. good reason to be.
lievc that the recently held in
the State of Kentucky foi members of the
Fortieth Congress, the legal and loyal vot-
ers in several districts Of said State had
been overawed and prevented from repre-
senting their will and choice at the polls
by those who have sympathised with or
actually participated in the late rebellion
and such elections were carried by votes of
such dlsloyal and returned rebels; and
Whereas, 1t is alleged that several Rep
resentatives from the State Of Kentucky
are disloyal, therefore
RcSolved That the credentials of all
members elected from the State of X en-
tucky shall be referred to the Committee
on Elections, to report az as early day as
practicable, and that pending the report of
said Committee, none of said members be
allowed to take the oath of allegiance and
admitted to seats in this House
Here a message was received from the
Senate announcing the appointment Of a
committee on the part Of that body to Join
with committee Of the House to wait on
the President.
On motion of Mr.. Farnsworth, such
committee was ordered On the part of the
House, and Messrs. Farnsworth, Spaulding
and Wood appointed.
The question Of Kentucky members was
taken up at Mr.. Brooks request
Mr.. Schenk stated that the affidavit was
er p0rte.
Mr.. Eldridge, rising to question of or
der, reminded the Speaker that when he
{ (Eldridge) made the same point against
Stokes at the close of the Thirty-ninth
Congress, the Speaker ruled that the pro-
ceedings could not BE- interrupted for any
such purpose. He insisted on the same
ruling now.
/ The Speaker corrected Mr.. Eldridge,
and said that on that occasion he had ruled
in accordance with the uniform usage, that
it was for the House to determine what ac-
ton should be taken when a member pre-
sented himself, and whei objections were
made to his taking the oath, the chair lad
never ruled differently. II the gentleman
from Wisconsin had Offered a resolution
that Mr.. Stokes should net be sworn in
he would certainly have been in order, and
it would have been fox the House to deter
mine the question.
Dir. Eldridge remarked that he had not
risen On that occasion to offer resolution
but to make the question OF order, and the
chair had ruled the proceedings could not
be interrupted
The Speaker said hc'h a distinct rec
objection that the ruling had always been
the same. If the House saw fit it could
refer the credentials of member to the
Committee on elections previous to or af-
ter lis being sworn in as a member.
The Speaker subsequently read extracts
from the Congressional Globe to show that
his ruling Oh the occasion was the same as
the present ruling.
Mr. Benjamin. save 10 the House some
statements in reference to the public char
acter OF Mr. knott, Of the third District
of Kentucky, and said that durin, .he
war, he had allied himself with those who
had been intense in their disloyalty to the
Government, voting. speaking and acting
IN support OF all the designs cf the rebels.
Mr.. Logan addressed the House in sup
port Of the amendment. He had an afiida-
vit, not for the purpose of striking at any
Kentucky member, but for the purpose of
establishing precedent in the House
He desired to preserve the House from
contamination by the disloyal portion of
the people of Kentucky. and they were
legion. They had Representatives in the
rebel Congress at Richmond, and after the
suppression Of the rebellion the Kentucky
rebels returned to that State, ana the law
which distranchised them was repealed ::
then they undertook to transfer their Rep.
resentatives frdm the halls in Richmond.
contaminated by treason, to to the halls of
this Congress, which ought to be sanctifed
by loyalty. 1t was historical fact that
at the late election in Kentucky, man
was elected Governor who had been trait
or and a rebel
n man near Mr.. Logan whispered cor.
rection.
Mr.. Logan corrected himself, and said
he was little too fast at all events those
members were elected on a ticket with a
man who was, in the eyes of the world. a
condemned traitor. Ii Kentucky could
send members under such circumstances
to the House, and it no member protested
against their being sworn in, why should
not South Carolina do The same thing un-
der the ruling and advice of the head off
the government, He was not willing to
sit here aud allow any man to take the oath
when he knew the members constituents
were dsloyal, and would send no other
kind of man to Congress if they could
avoid it, This was the theory OF getting
at the question. Kentucky had shown
herself disloyal during and since the rebel
lion: he therefore insisted that those men
sent here from Kentucky must go before
the Committee on Elections and let their
loyalty be tested, and if they were loyal
they would come out unscathcd and if they
were disloyal they had an immense amount
of impudcucc in presenting themselves
Whenever a delegation came from {: |
State whose loyalty was questionable, he |
was in favor of having the whole delega-
tion examined, admitting such as were 10y |
al and sending back such as were disloyal. |
After Mr.. Logan's remarks Mr. Bing
ham made point of order.
Mr.. Logan's amendment not being in or
der the speaker overruled the point.
Mr. Brooks opposed the resolution. and
said the gentleman from Illinois has pro-
claimed principles in violation of existing