The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-31
THE SOUTH C4RoLIN4 ELECTION
CASE.
ACTION OF THE COMMITTEE ok+rrDlY.
Nothing More to be Done at Presen

In the United States House of Representa-
tives, on Friday, upon the request Of Mr..
Paine, the following report from the Commit
tee of E. cctlons was read:
The Committee of Elections TO whom was
referred tho case of a. S. Wallace ys. w. D..
Simpson, from the Fourth Congressional Dis
trct of South Carolina, by virtue OF the follow
ng resolution of the House OF Representatives,
to wit:
Resolve7, That the claims Of 4. s. Wallace
and William ID. Simpson to seat in this Con-
gress be again referred to the Committee OF
Elections. to be examined and reported on
upon the merits OF the case as presented,
Report that they have considered said case,
and rcailirm their report made on the lst day
of April, 1860, (Rcport No. S, first session For
ty-iirst Congress- saying that the said Slmp-
son Is unable to take the oath Of office pre-
scrbrd by the act of July 2. 1862, and ask to
be discharged from the further consideration
of the claim Of said Simpson, except SO fur as
his allegations and proof may negative the
claims OF said Wallace to seat in this House.
Mr.. Paine then moved that the recommen-
dalion of the report be conturred In by the
House.
In reply to Mr.. Farnsworth, Mr.. Payne said
that. under the resolution of the House adopted
last session, tho committee cnnld not consider
the claims of person unable to Take the oath
of July 2. 1852, but that there was q sub-com-
mittec on Reconstruction, whose duty 1t is to
examine and report upon all cases OF the ap-
plications of persons for relieffrom political dis
abilities. The Committee Of Elections, how
ever, were, by the resolutions above men,
toned, prevented from reporting bill
for the relief of disabilities. did not mean,
said Mr.. Paine, to ask that the Committee of
Elections should be entirely relieved from the
consideration of this case. meant to ask
that they should be discharged from the con-
sidcration of the claim of Mr.. Simpson, except
so far as his allegations and proofs may affect
the claim of his opponent. The debate ended
as follows:
Mr.. Randall. If the Committee on Recon-
struction should at some future time report q
bill. which should be passed by Congress, re-
moving the disabilities Of Mr.. Simpson and Mr..
Reid, what would then be their status In this
Honse or before the Committee OF Elections
Mr.. Paine. They would then, of course, be
relieved from all disabilities, and If they should
bc found TO have majority OF the legal votcs
would be entitled to seats in this House. And
resolution to instruct us at any time TO inquire
into the merits of the claims OF these gentle
men: and would also be competent for the
House at any time to relax the provision ol
that resolution in favor Of these or any other
claimants.
Mr.. Kerr assume that this resolution Is
not intended to suspend the examination oi
this case upon its merits as to Mr. Wallace.
Am right in that?
Mr.. Paine. The gentleman is right.
Mr. Kerr. Then desire to ask whether the
Committee OF Elections hold that under the
resolution of March %. 1869, Mr.. Simpson,
whom they have decided to be ineligible, has
no right to come before them in any capacity
whatever to question or deny the right OF MIR.
Wallace?
Mr.. Paine. Mr.. Speaker, the committee take
no such position. Neither by this report nor
by the resolution adopted by the House are Mr..
Simpsons rights before the committee impair
cd, except that lie Is not entitled TO stand there
as a claimant for this seat, and will not be en-,
titled as such to pay or mileage. But he VIII
have the same right that he had before to
make proof against his opponent.
The motion OF Mr.. Paine was agreed TO.
Mr.. Paine moved to reconsider tile vote b3
which the motion was agreed to-; and also
moved that the motion to reconsider be laid Oh
| the table.
The latter motion was agreed 10.