The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-06

Mr.. Wilhers submitted resolution re-
questing the President 10 inform the Sen
ate, II not incom patible with the public
interest, under what authority and toI
what purpose troops Of the United States
occupied The city Of Petersburg, Va, on
the 7th day Of November, 1875, the day
OF the election. Objection was made BY
Mr.. Edmunds and the resolution was laid
over. .
Mr.. Thurman suggested that the reSo'
luton Of the Senator from Vermont in
regard TO inquiry in various Southern
States be- laid over till tomorrow and be
printed with the charges made.
Mr.. Edmunds said he could not consen.
TO Il going over. He felt it his duty to
ask the Senate to act on it to-day.
Mr.. Thurman said the Senator from
Vermont had argued that tho adoption
OF his resolution would not commit the
Senate 10 any particular doctrines or
dogmas. BE Thurman denied this and
argued that it did commit the Senate,
He commended there had been no violation
Of the Constitution Of the United States
by any Of the States named in the resolu.
tion. Tho States gave suffrage TO every.
body and nothing in the Constitution Of
either OF them or Of their statutes
abridged suffrage. Under the recent
amendments to the Constitution those
States could have prescribed property
or educational qualification to exclude
colored men from the ballot.box, but
didn't do 80. It was said this inquiry
could be set on foot. II was entirely
outside OF the Constitution and was
based alone on newspaper articles.
Mr.. Edmunds said the laws and stat
utes OF several Of these States did operate
to deny suffrage.
Mr.. Thurman-Then the Senator Is the
most ignorant man who lives In New
England. (Laughter.l
Resuming his argument Mr.. Thurman
said the Committee on Privileges and
Elections was composed Of MAE members,
and it was impossible for that committee
sitting in Washington to make the inves.
tigation and report by February. The
committee could take depositions, but
who was to be served with notice to cross
examiner As to the last resolution, 10
regard to the eligibility Of electors, be
Thurman was not sure but that he
could support 1t, but he desired more time
10 study Il. II the Returning Boards In
the South had good cause TO throw out
votes and override the will Of the people
he wanted il shown, and II 1t could not be
shown he wanted their villiRny TO be ex.
posed. He wanted the facts TO be known.
Mr.. EdmundS, in reply to . question
OF Mr.. Thurman, said he would not 10.
form tho Senator from Ohio rs 10 which
States had abridged the right Of suffrage
by statute, inasmuch as he Edmunds)
had been ret down as the most ignorant
man In New England. II his friend
Thurman, the most learned man in Ohio,
would study the Constitution and laws
OF the United States he would 6nd out
something to his advantage, Mr.. Ed.
munds, further replying to Mr.. Thur.
man, argued that the artisans and opera.
lives OF New England are men Of iulelli.
genee, men Of education, Of property, OF
Independence and selt.respect, and It was
even more than very hardy man indeed
who ever ventured to suggest to his EN-.
ployes how they should exercise the
right Of suffrage. The artisans and op.
eratiyes Of New England were men who
build churches and school houses, and
sometimes carried their knowledge, en-.
ergy and industry To the Western eoun.
try-even to Ohio. [Laughtsr.l He
argued that the sole object Of thiS rGso.
lution was 10 eorrec. 40 evil and TO fx .
basil. Of representation In the next House