The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-09-24
LOuRANAAND CONGRESS-.

The validity of the Louisiana election
of 1872 was first tested in Congress at the
counting OF the electoral vote for Presi-
dent in February, 1873, when, there be-
ing two returns, the vote of the State was
thrown out. In the House dec. IL, 1927
Mr.. Cox moved a resolution calling upon
the President to state why he had inter
fered in the affairs of Louisiana, but his
motion was Eegatived by 80 against 63
votes. In the Senate (Jan. Z, 1871 on
motion of Senator Morton, the Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections was di-
rected to report on the validity of the
"recent "election for electors" and was
invested with full powers to make ample
inquiry About the same time, after
long debate, the House appointed anoth-
er Committee to inquire into the election
"for State officers and members of the
Legislature" While these Committees
were, in session a message was sent to
Congress by President Grant, in which
he stated that he had used the powers
granted him by the Enforcement act in
sustaining the Kellogg government, but
at the same time he observed that IRE
cent investigation into said election had
developed so many frauds and forger-
"ies as to make it doubtful what candi-
"dates received majority of the votes
actually castF The President then urg-
ed Congress to deal with the matter as
well as it could. The majority of the
Senate Committee made (Feb 20) an
elaborate report, understood to have been
written by Senator Carpenter, in which
the whole subject was discussed, and
several hundred pages of evidence were
frauds on both sides, and that new cleo
ton ought to be held. Tine report con-
tained this important admission:
Your Committee are, therefore, led to
the conclusion that, if the election held
in November, 1872, be not absolutely void
for frauds committed therein, McEnery
and his associates in State offices, and the
persons certified as members of the Leg
islature by the De Feriet Board ought to
be recognized as the legal government
of the State. Considering all the facts
established before your Committee, there
seems no escape from the alternative
that the McEnery Government must be
recognized by Congress or Congress must
provide for a reelection.
The bill for carrying out the new cleo
ton recommended by the Committee
was discussed FEB. 27) and rejected by
a vote of 20 against Is, Senators Conkling
and Clayton voting with the majority. A
motion was made March ~ to reconsid-
er this vote, but it was negatived by 30
against 2S votes. This practically ended
the Louisiana case in Congress. The
Democrats opposed the new election,
both for the reason that it would be an
unlawful interference with the rights of
a sovereign State, and because the Nc
Emery Government had been fairly elect
ed. The Republican Senators were salts
fed with kellogg in power, basking in
the favor of the Administration. five
are to be sure that we are right before
going ahead, perhaps those who clamor
for force will exphinwhy the President
expressed doubts in his message Of the
election which has been Kellogg's only
excuse for remaining in power, and why
a Senate Committee and is Senators, all
but one Republican, favored new cleo
tion.-N. Y. Tribune