The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-29
Interesting Debate I'm the House Of Rep
rescntativcs.
rrRoM OUR own CORRESPONDENT

WASHINGTON, January 2S.
The House yesterday devoted its five h ours
session to the State of South Carolina, by con-
sidering the contested election case of Wallace
against Simpson, of the Fourth District. The
various reports in this case were made, as has
already been stated in The NEWS, on April 5,
1869, but were reviewed in yesterdays discus
sion.
The majority of the committee stated that by
the operation of House resolution adopted
March %, 1869, the committee are relieved
from any Affirmative consideration Of the
claims of Simpson, since it Is ascertained by
them that he is unable to take the iron-clad
oath, but whilst majority OF the committee
are of opinion that in such cases votes cast for
candidates so ineligible ought not to be count
ed or regarded as votes, and 'that sound
policy and especially the interests OF loyalty,
law and order would be subserved by adopting
rule that votes cast for an opposing candi-
date or candidates who were qualified in the
sense of eligibility, should be counted as the
only votes legally polled, yet understanding
that an opposite theory has been actually
adopted and acted upon by the House in cases
heretofore acted upon, involving this identical
question:" they felt bound TO consider the
question under that rule, and try the
claims of Mr.. Wallace in exactly the same
manner as though there stood in the place OF
William D. Simpson claimant of unquestlon-
ed eligibility. The majority report then goes
on to maintain that the general certificate
rcouircd bv section Al Of the South Carolina
Election act was never prepared nor forward
cd to the House OF Representatives.; but state
that s.a determination as to the result of the
election, and copy duly certified was
transmitted, not, however, to single
nerson but to both Mcssrs. Wal
lace and Simpson, each dated on the
same day December 2, 1sG9,) and signed
in due form by the board Of canvassers, and
conforming to the requirements of law. The
majority say that there is no pretence Of
rorocry nor mistake claimed but this I'M
usual state of facts is found in a state
mcnt of the board Of canvasscrs. This
..statement" is doubtless familiar to the peo-
nle of South Carolina and attempts to pre-
iudoc the whole question and assume functions
that only belong to the House of Representa-
tives of the United States, which, by the con-
stitution. is made the '.judgc of the returns
and qualifications of its own members In
word. the board of State canvassers say
that Simpson is disqualified by the Fourteenth
amendment. because in 1858, as q member Of
the South Carolina Legislature. he took an
oath to support the Constitution OF the United
States, and afterwards entered the. Confederate
States army. They then go Oh to say that il
simpson's election is Illegal and void, Wal
lace, who received the next highest num-
number of votes, is lawfully entitled to the
seat in the House; and they wind up with
protest at "lecling compelled to give certill-
cate of election to Simpson, and desire that
no unduc force shall be given to that certi-
ticatc., AS ..private citizens" they go out of
their wav to pronounce Simpsons election las
an outrage. ghostly triumph" &c. Ncaglc,
the Comptroller-Generalo of the State, attaches
a postscript to this, and says that he desires
said certificate to be considered as If his name
was not signed to it. This Is the substance OF
the views submitted by Mr.. Burdett, of Mis-
souri-as those of the majority of the House
Election Committeeman on it they declare
that wallace was priina Jtdcie entitled to the
scat
The minority of the committee, through Mr..
Burr, of Illinois, state that "thc eligibility of
Simpson was put in issue, and the committee
unanimously reported to the House that, by
the statements of the party himself and his en-
press admissions, he was, under the Sd section
of article IA, ineligible to the seat. That re-
port was accompanied by joint resolution,
sanctionedby majority of the committee, pro-
posing to remove the disabilities; and thus the
claim Of Simpson TO the seat would be. for the
time being suspended by direction OF the