The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-15

argued tnat Tue question OF uLlluB VI
cancy was one Of propriety, but sue
vacancy did not affect tie legal status {
the Board. He would not say whethe
the vacancy should have been filed 0
not. Had he been member Of the RI
turning Board, he would have beeni
favor Of appointing any Democrat VIII
could be found willing 10 serve on th
Board. The Democratic committee ais
found fault beause the whole clerica
force OF the Returning Board were Re
publicans. He knew Of no law requirin
the Board to employ Democratic clerk
The House Of Representatives ha
turned out every clerk iand employ
Of his (sherman's) political faith
but the Republicans did not com
plain. Mr.. Sherman then referred to III
charge that the atiidavits OF the Super
visors OF Election in Louisiana Us To- In
timidation were not made within twenty
four hours after the election "a the law
OF the State require. He quoted q
length from the report made by the Re
publican Committee, OF which he was
member, and claimed that the afidavitI
were properly made by the Supervisors
He argued that the Democratic Commit
tee did not impeach the fairness OF the
mode OF conducting the count by the Re
turning Board. In II parishes there wa
intimidation. As TO The extent Of i
these gentlemen Of the Democratic Com
mittee dared not commit Themselves. He
(Sherman) was willing to stand not only
before the Senate, but before the people
OF the United States and maintain
that there was intimidation in
Louisiana TO an nextent which changed the
resnlt OF the whole election. There Vas
murder, riot, whipping and violence by
the organized rifle clubs Of the Demo-
cratic party. The, members Of the Sen.
ate as Senator's and men, ought 10 keep
their minds cool and deliberate 10 decide
the questions now pending the electoral
vote OF the three or four States In dis.
pute. As to South Carolina, he believed
that it was conceded by all that the elec.
torAI vote was for;Hayes and Wheeler.
Mr.. Randolph, Of Ind, said that With.
ers denied that there was any such con-
cession. -.'.''
Mr.. Sherman rGsuming said, the, vote
Of Floridaand Louisiana, was in dispute.
As to Oregon, be did not think the case
would rise to the dignity Of dispute.
He believed the Democratic candidate
himself would soorn to hold the Office Of
the President in pursuance Of such q
fraud.
Mr.. Thurman argued that the doou-
ment which 1t was proposed 10 print
presented but one side Of the case. when
II both sides should be before the Senate
another picture would be presented. He
was surprised at the remarks OF his col.
league (Shcrman). and he was disposed
to answer some Of them now, but the
matter would be before the Senate again,
and the people Of the country would see
that there was another word ending In
''ionn besides intimidation. There was
such word as exaggeration. He argued
that there should be time 10 examine
both sides OF this matter. He moved that
further consideration Of the subject be
postponed till tomorrow.
After some further discussion Thur.
man, resuming his remarks, said, the
President in sending the committee to
had acted outside Of bis official
duty, and the committee sent by him
had no official authority. In sending
his Committee to New Orleans. The
President selected Senator from Ohio,
aud three gentlemen who are'members Of
The House OF Representatives, therefore
here was a champion in the Senate to
present the Presidents side OF the case,
md he supposed there was three champ
ons in the House. Of tho Senators
IN the Democratic side Of the chamber,
who went to New Orleans, not one Of
hem attended the session Of the Return.
ng Board. 4-ef ~
Mr.. Sherman said there were Senators
md Representatives in New Orleans, be.
onging to both parties. w..
Mr.. Thurman said there was no ques-
ion but there were Democrats in Louis
ana, and there had been more Democrats
han Republicans in that State for some
sears past. He argued that ii was the
iuty OF the Returning Board, 10 ill the
Vacancy existing on that Board,
out II was not filled because the
Board intended that no Democratic
,ye should see or Democratic ear hear It's
proceedings when it came to final is:
Iuc. The action OF the Returning Board
10 intensely partisan and unfair must
lOw be boIstered up by his colleague.
The American people would not take the
assertion Of any man, no matter how high
10 might be, that this thing was fair.
they would demand all the facts. He
iext referred to the atlldaylts Of the su,
Of election as to intimidation,
ind he argued that they were not made
within the time prescribed by law, but
we're made after the election, in New Or.
cans, to count out Tilden and count id
Hayes, and to count out Nicholas and
count in Packard. arq
Mr.. West said that, in the election OF
1872, when the whole machinery Of the
Election was in the hands Of Democrats,
Ind the Returning Board was composed
II Democrats, parish after. parish was
brown out without even an affidavit or
protest from Supervisor. They were
brown out'upon atiidayits made in the
.ity Of New Orleans ten days after the
election. No matter; what the Returning
Board OF to-day did, It had abundant pre-.
.edent in acts OF lis Democratic prede. |
,essors. He denied that the act Of the
Louisiana Legislature OF 1872 was tol
provide for the purity Of elections, and II
would have been an absurdity to pass a
aw to preserve the purity Of elections
ind at the same time repeal all election
aws and say that there should be no
elections. .-h..t, ..,u.5
Mr. Morton said tho great question
,aiore the Iouiaiana Returning Board
vas that et intimidation, murder and vi
,lence. The country wanted TO hear
lbout these crimes; II wanted 10 hear
rom the Democratic committee which |
Visited New Orleans In regard to this In.
The report Of that commit.
ZEE touched this great question Of intimi.
lation with q single paragraph not as
ong as histinger. Mr.. Morton then read
rom the report Of the Democratic com.
nittee, and said it admitted that violence
existed In Louisiana, butsAid because the
OF the State was govern
nent OF usurpers. a'-
Mr.. Thurman withdrew his motion 10
postpone the further considration Of the
,,hianl rnttl tomnrHaw4 t.. .f4H 7 Il