The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1870-05-28

election was, in general and IN Just
sense, legal, orderly and peaceabie; mat
the returns we're legally and fairly
made; that they show the precise re-
suit OF the count of the votes that were
cast, and that Mr.. McCranie, although
he was in the common parlance OF tue
dav a rebel, was only a.rebel so 1ar as
to have taken his stand and fortune
with his misguided and unfortunate
people.
And here let me say, in behalf of Mr..
Nc Cranie, that at the time this war
came on he was but young man, just
entering upon life, just marking out
h;s fntnre course. 1t is conceded, and
T trust it will not be denied by any
one. that at the inception of our late
civil war he was an outspoken' mae,
pendent, courageous Union man, and
that he stoutly and bravely resisted
secession to the last hour, until actual
and general war was fragrant, and that
to this moment he has constantly and
faithfully denied the right of secession.
and only succumbed and yelled to the
all pervading and all -engulfng power
of actual subsisting war, and then took
his sword in hand and determined to
share the common fate of his people,
of his neigh6ors, and friends. After
he had done sill he conld do, had ex-
ercised all the. influence he could exer~
else 10 keep off this calamity, to pre-
vent secession and war, then, as last
resort and as duty that he owed to
his .neighbors and friends, he deter
mined that he would follow their for
tunes. This may have been wrong
and criminal: but if SO, still it illustrat-
ed a manly and generous fidelity to the
nearer relations of life. Since the
restoration Of peace no man can truth
fully say that Mr.. McCranie has not
desired and in good faith cndeavorcd
to maintain actual peace. He even
became a candidate for the seat now
in question against his<own judgment
and in Difference to the wishes OF his
people.
Now ask the House to remember
that in this particular Mr.. McCranie
sustains the same relations to the
| House, to that district, and to the
Constitution and laws Of the country
that several. gentlemen have sustained
who have been admitted to seats 10
Congress, and one Of whom was ad-
mitted but few days since upon the
Recommendation of the Committee of
Elections. l refer to, the gentleman
from South Carolina (Mr. Shober,)
whose relations to the country, to the
war, and to the fourteenth amendment,
I believe are precisely the same in le-
gal effect as those now sustained by
Mr.. McCranie. In many other cases
where gentlemen have beer elected
who were di.quali fed from holding
seat by reason of this kind of incligi-
bility, their disabilities have been re-
moved Such was done in behalf Of
General p. NJ. B. Young, of Georgia,
who was himself major general in the
confederate army, and who was also
graduate at West Point. The same
thing was done in favor of Colonel
Cliff, of Georgia, who had been col
onel in the confederate service. The
same thing was done. believe, for one
of the gentleman who are now in this
House from the State of Mississippi on
the Republican side. Other members
of this House have been relieved in like
manner in Difference to the wishes Of
their constituents and in aid Of the sa-
cred right of representation. No case
OF clearer merit was ever presented to
Congress than this one; and why not
! be just toward Mr.. McCranie?
In view Of all these facts and cir
cumstances I beg the House to remem'
Der that it ought not to act upon par
tisan prcjndices, purposes. or feelings.
or yield co the temptation to exercise
the irresistible power Of the majority
to reject a Democrat who has been
fairly elected. The majority here ought
to remember that
To have giant, strength; but it is t. rannous
To use it like giant"
The fifteenth amendment does not
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