The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-12-17
Forty Fourth Congress-First Session
SENATE.

InlS committee was NOT one Dy WHICH ne was
elected to the Senate, he had not appeared be-
fore it to answer the charges. He denied the
charges of fraud and corruption, and said that
the legislature which appointed this committee
was elected by fraud. the same as the one re-
Gently elected in Mississippi. The Alabama
election by which this legislature was put iB,
like that in Mississippi, was part of a conspira-
~ to overthrow the lawful government in the
south He recognized the Senate of the United
States as the only body having authority to 10
qire into his election, and his right to seat in
tbs chamber. He therefore offered a resolu-
tiol, instructing the committee on elections to
inqire whether George E. Spencer, Senator
in Congress fran Alabama, did use, or cause to
be ued, corrupt practices to secure his election
to eat in the Senate, and authorizing said
committee to send for persons and papers and
sit dung the holiday recess.
Mr. savis of West Virginia, suggested that
the resolution lie on the table and be printed.
Mr. Onkling said that the Senator from Al
ALBANIA I'D been assaed, and asked for an in
vestigatin by the Senate committee: He
hoped that the Senator from West Virginia
would notask postpoHement.
Mr.. Thrmani said he knew nothing of the
case, but iseemed that the resolution as drawn
SIMPLY direted an inquiry as to whether he him
self had use corrupt practices. Tbs broader
question as whether the election was secured
by fraud, wanot covered.
MI: Spence said he would modify it to meet
modified to red as follows:
Resolued, Thathe committee on privileges and
elections are herey instructed to investigate INTO,
and inquire wheser in the election of George E.
81 as 81 Sen ns from there were used
and corrupt practice to his election, and that
the committee be uncovered to, administer oaths, to
send for persons ane papers, to take testimony, to
employ stenographe and such clerical assistance as
they may deem necessary, and to sit during the re-
cess ct Congress II Considered advisable. and to re-
fha nxyacf oOfs
cable. Toe resolutions modified was agreed to.
Several bills ots., we're introduced and re-
ferred.
Mr.. Morton called up tie resolution submit
ted by him yesterday, of special committee of
nve 70 autSorlze tne appointment of commit
ces attending the recent elect.n in Mississippi.
He spoke in favor of the resolution and referr-
ed to various statements of perSns residing in
Mississippi to show that Republican voters
were intimidated, and ballot boxea stuffed in
that state.
He called the attention of the Seminars tn
the total vote in that state in 1869, 70 and '73
In 1869 at the election on the adoption VI the
Constitution the total vote was 114,283 In
1872 at the Presidential election, it was 12S..
463. In 1873, the last Congressional electiea
it was LII, 948, and at the present election ii
was 1853, 565-an increase of more than 81, 900 on
che highest vote ever given before. The Re
publican majority in the state in 1869 was 81,
089; 1872, 22,976; and at the recent election the
Democratic majority was 3O,147. The total
288; 1873, A, 2S6; 1875, 1896. 1t had been al.
legged by those who made the statements to
him that large part of the vote at the last
election was spurious and fraudulent, as the Re
publican vote, though it fell off somewhat, did
not fall off in corresponding ratio. He read
there was intimidation in many counties
and said that at least one Democratic news
paper there bad called upon its friends after
election to be true to their party and not recog-
nize those who had voted the Republican
ticket. At Columbus there wore armed men
and where there had been Republican ma
jority in previous years there were but II Re.
publican votes. The ballot boxes were taken
possession of by the Democrats in Republican
codnties and stuffed by them. In Yazoo the
Republican vote in 1872 was 2,437, and the
Democratic vote Ali. At the last election there
were but seven Republican votes cast there,
while there we 4,044 Democratic ones, and it
was said these seven Republican votes were
put in under compulsion in order that it might
be shown that the Republicans could vote
there.
Mr.. Bayard referred to the late message of
the President, and said that there was not one
word about Southern affairs. The Department
of Justice had its agents down there gathering
information for the guidance of that depart.
ment, yet from that department there was not
wrongs If these things existed there it was
remarkable that the President of the United
States maintained dead silence on the SUBJ
ject. All this ma tier Came from the Senator
from Indiana, who always seemed to have In
his possession statements hostile towards the
lutionary proposition. 1t was but another step
in the march towards the consolidation of a
power which the people of this country must
see: This was the first time the Senate of the
United states sought to take testimony con-
corning the election of members in a House Of
Congress. At the time these Southern people
were found helpless and bleeding at the feet of
the Senator from Indiana and his party, the
Senators of his (Bayard's) side, asked when the
time was to come that the Southern states
diana (Morton) was asked then what warrant
he found in the Constitution for this action,
but he could give no answer. When asked why
he would interfere with Louisiana or Mississip-
pi any more than he would with New Jersey or
New York, he answered, "We claim the right
to deal with the Southern States" In this
Senator'S own state OF Indiana there had been
great change i'll the popular vote recently.
Morton said yes and these might be a change
in the popular vote in the Senator's state
(Delaware.)
Bayard-Yess, sir. if my people express their
sentiment against me at the ballot box will
not come here to ask the Senate to revolution
ize my country. Applause in the galleries)
The Vice President announced that if it should
be repeated he would direct the sergeant-at-
arms to clear the galleries.
MIR. Bayard, resuming, said the Senate by
giving its assent to the proposition of the Sena-
tor from Indiana, would declare that elections
in the states were to be judged by the Senate
OF the United States
Mr.. Thurman of Ohio, said the resolution of
the Senator from Indiana, had not been re-
ferred to any committee It was brought in bv
farca nd
BILE wherein it is alleged that these disorders
existed. He (Thurman) asked by whom it was
alleged, not by the President of the United
States or any department of the government,
or by any paper before the Senate. 1t was a.
legged by papers the address on which was in
the private pocket of the Senator from Indiana.
Did that Senator want 20 forestall the Judgment
OF the Senate by going into an inquiry which
should not come to the Senate before 1877,
when it came to decide upon the credentials of
person who might come here claiming
seat from the state of Mississippi? Other SEN
ators would be in the chamber then to decide
that question, and this senate has no right to
forestall their Judgment. He referred at some
length to the Louisiana case, and argued it
was no precedent for the action now proposed
In the louisiana case the investigation was not
ordered till after the credentials of persons
claiming seats from that state were presented.
1t would not be proper for him (Thurman) to
say this was an attempt on the part of the SEN
ator from Indiana to get up an electioneerng
document at the public expense, but when the
senator (Morton) asked himself what right the
senate had to pass such resolution, he wou Id
lind it impossible to give himself satisfactor
answer.
After further debate the matter was laid
over.
MIR. Mitchell of Oregon, submitted the fol.
lowing:
Resolved, That the President be requested to fur
nlsh the Senate if not incompatible with the public
service. with statement of the number of military
arrests made in the territory of Alaska during the
past three years. together with the date of and each
charge on which the arrest in each case was made
the names OF persons arrested and the period of i'm
prisonment OF each in that territory before trial or
before surrender to civil authorities for trial.
Agreed to.
Mr.. Spencer Of Alabama, moved that when
senate adjourned to-day it be to meet Monday
next. Rejected.
The senate at 2 Is went into executive ses-
sion, and at 4 80 o'clock the doors were re-
opened, and the senate adjourned until to-
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.