The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-12-17

Mr.. Morton called up the resolution
submitted by him yesterday, providing
for the appointment Of special commit
tee Of five Senator's to inquire into the
circumstances attending the recent cleo
tion In Mississippi. lie said he had In
his possession large number Of docu-
lnents written by persons In Mississippi
detailing the circumstances which at.
tended the recent election there. The
statement which he proposed to lay be.
fore the Senate was not Of his knowledge,
but had been derived from other hands.
First, he desired to call attention to the
total vote in that State in 1860, 1872 and
1873. In 1869, at the election on the
adoption Of The Constitution, the total
vote was 1l42S3; in 1872, al the Presi.
Dental election, 129, ,463; In 1873, the last
Congressional election, 1898, and at
the recent election 163, 1906, an increase OF
more than $4,000 over the highest vote
ever given before. The Republican ma.
iority In the State in 1869 was 3S0S9, in
1872 Il was 34,sS7, in 1874 II was 22,976,
and at the recent election the Democratic
majority was 30,l47. The total Demo.
cratic vote in 1869 was 3S,O07; In 1872 IL
was 47,2SS; in 1873 II was "A, ,2S8; In 1876
II was 10000. had been allowed by
those who made the statements to him
that large part Of the vote at the last
election was spurious and fraudulent, "a
tho Republican vote, though II fell of
some, did not fall of in q correspond.
Ing ratio. lie read from papers
in his possession 10 show that
there was intimidation in many
cases, and said that at least one Demo.
cratic newspaper there had called on its
friends after the election to be true
10 their party and not recognize those who
had voted the Republican ticket. Al Co.
lumbus there were armed men, and where
there had been a Republican majority In
previous years, there were but seventeen
Republican votes. The ballot.boxes were
taken possession Of by the Democrats In
Republican counties and stuffed by them.
In YaIoo the Republican vote In 1879
was q ,437 and the Democratic vote was
Ali; at the last election there were but
seven Republican votes cast there, while
there were 4,044 Democratic ones, and II
was said that those seven Republican
votes we're put in under compIlsion in
order that Il might be shown that the
Republicans could vote there.
Mr.. Bayard, OF Delaware, said that this
resolution, so far "a he knew was with.
out precedent In the Senate, and he
would like to inquire Of The Senator from
Indiana (Mofton) under what clause ot
the Constitution Of the United States he
found the authority TO make inquiry In
a case Of this kind.
Mt. Morton said that he did not pro.
pose To 20 iAlo a constitutional argument
on this question, he had only TO say IL
had been decided heretofore as in the
Louisiana case. Besides the enforcement
act had been violated In Mississippi, and
the blow had fallen upon the Colofed
people, as II was intended too.
Mr.. Bayard denied that the Louisiana
case was similar to this. That invesliga.
tion was undera clause Of the Constitu.
tion which made the Senate the sole Judge
Of claims for seats in that body. II the
law had been violated In Mississippi, the
courts were open, and this was govern.
ment law. These courts we're open for
Indictment Of offenders, and for damages
against those who wtonged others. In
t6ese courts a remedy was 10 be found,
| Il could not be said that political or par.
" friends Of The Senator from Indiana, in
Mississippi had not q full and equal
chance before the law, in either the
United States or the State Courts. The
officers all over the State, from the
Governor down 10 the Constable we're Of
the Senators party, and II they could not
punish violatots Of the law II