New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-13
CONGRESS, OR THE PENITENTL4RYf

CONGRENS, Oh me ILNIIIIN ii-ihi
A man is presently to offer himself at the
bar of the House for readmission, concerning
whom this same House recently adopted this
resolution:
Resored, That B. F. whittemore late member from the
LIST District Of South Carolina did make appointments to
the Military Academy at West Point and the Naval Acad-
envy at Annapolis in violation Of law and that such ap
pOintments Influenced by pecunary considerations
and that his conduct in the premises has been such as to
show him unworthy Of seat in the House of Represen-
tatives and is ther, Ore condemned as conduct UNI
worthy of the Representative of the people.
Is this corrupt man, who was unworthy of
seat three months ago, to be readmitted as
worthy now? We hear that he has been tel
egraphing to his friend and counsel, Gen. But
Ter, the news of his triumphant reelection;
that he confidently expects to be admitted with
out dispute; that reputable members are de-
ploring it in a helpless sort of way, and going
about dolefully asking each other, 81 How cap
eve prevent tW
Really we do not know. The House is
made the sole judge as to the qualifications OF
its members. Once it seems to have had pref
ty decided notions concerning the qualiica-
tons of Mr.. b. F. WhittemOre. 1t grew less de-
cded in some similar cases; finally it disgraced
itself by permitting Mr. Butler of Tennessee
to remain, albeit as guilty as Whittemore him
SELF now, perhaps, it may think MIR. White
more possessed of all the qualifications required
for its present standard. 1t is the sole judge.
But we can assure members that the time is
at hand when a larger body of voters will be
called to sit in Judgment. Thus far the Demo-
Gratis have promptly spurned and cast out
every member of their party found guilty of
4 IL. No rtu
at the outset then we furnished able counsel for
the Congressional cadet merchants; next we
excused one because he had been an unusually
active Republican, and after that the whole
| business broke down. We tell gentlemen that
we have had fully as much of this sort
| of thing as we can stand. We utterly and
vehemently protest against assuming any more
party responsibilities in behalf of the carpet
bag Congressman. Here is a man VIGOROUSLY
guilty of shameful and criminal acts. If the
United States, authorities had not already
neglected their duty in the case, he
would have been admitted to the penitentiary
of South Carolina, just about the time he is
approaching the bar of the House to take
afresh upon his perjured lips the oath of
office. The law of Congress explicitly provides
that if any member of Congress shall, directly
or indirectly receive any pecuniary or other
valuable consideration for procuring any office
or place under the Government, he shall be
liable to indictment for misdemeanor in
United States Court, and upon conviction shall
pay fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars,
and be imprisoned in the Penitentiary for
term not exceeding two years, and be there
after disqualified from holding any office of
honor, profit or trust, under the Government
of the United States. The House has resolved
that he has done these things; it has
itself prescribed this penalty for the doing of
these things it now asks whether, ignoring
the guilt, and defying its own law, it shall re-
admit Mr. WhittemOre-perhaps that he may
vote for the repeal of the odious law
We have consistently urged Universal Suf-
frage and Universal Amnesty as the true
solution for the problem presented at the close
of the war by the conquered South.
We have never held that Negro Suf-
frage, coupled with Disfranchisement of
Whites, afforded such a solution. We point
now to its disgraceful workings in the case of
this man Whittemore, and ask Honorable
Observation-Disclosures himself is soon to show
an admiring world what this high title,
Honorable" means-to consider the result
and draw their own conclusions.