Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-12-29
THE FORTY-FOURTH CONGREss.-
SECOND SESSION.
HOUSE.

HOUSE.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 27.-The Speaker laid
before the House = petition from certain
citizens of Cincinnati in regard to counting
the electoral vote. A discussion arose as u
whetber the petition should be printed, Mr.
Garfield holding that the printing Of Pc
tition was out of order, even though pre-
sented by the Speaker.
MIR. Banning called Garfeld's attention
to the apparent inconsistency Of his objec-
ton with his record on the proposition to
print the report of the volunteer investiga-
ton Of the Louisiana election. He said the
other side Of the House had also objected to
the appointments Of committees to investI-
gate frauds in the Southern states. and
with three exceptions voted against 1t.
They had also voted against the resolu-
ton calling for information in regard
to the election OF Gov. Wells IRON the
goyernorship Of Louisiana. The republican
party was attempting to defeat the will of
The peope by fraud, but If there was ons
thing the people loved more than another
more than Iiie-it was the liberty that was
youchsafed TO them in an honest ballot box.
He wished to tell the gentleman from
Ohio that the people would have an honest
ballot box, though the army might come
with 80 rounds OF ammunition, though the
navy might be called upon, though $4,000
Office holders might be called to the rescue,
an honest people would put these all down.
He hoped, however. that the members on
the other side of the House would throw
aside their partisanshlp and stand oy the
right.
Mr. Garfield said he was glad at last
gentleman had been found VINO could speak
for the American people, who could tell ex
actly what the people were going TO do
lie sincerely regretted that his colleague
(Banning) should speak in time OF real
danger like the present,-when the country
needed all its wisdom and ali its fairness
and ell II. calmness, that he should have
found it necessary at such time to hin;
al what the people would do,-that they
would defy the authority OF the United
States, that the army might come, that the
navy might come. that the trappIngs oil war
might rattle. bus that the people would
come down and override anything. 1t was
the very essence Of violence for the gentle
man to appeal to the people to resist the
plain powers of war; and Ia an hour like this
the men who attempted to shake brand OF
fire over the country were the men who
ought to be the most severely Judged by
the people.
Mr. Banning said that he also thought
that the condition of the country was dan
gerous and the House ought 10 proceed
with cautiousness, and certainly that side
of the House was doing -, and 1t would
continue to do 81 but 1t would not be DE-
TERED from Its duty by anything or any
body Referring to the high terms in
which the republicans spoke IN their report
to the President OF Gov. Wells, he sent
up and had read a: the clerks desk the cor
respondence which led to his election from
the govcrnorship OF Louisiana, in which
Cen Sheridan referred to him a. political
trickster and dishonest man. Was II this
man whom his colleague GARFIELD would
have run his dishonest hands into an honest
ballot box and purge 1t OF fraud which 1t
contained this man who was denounced
by Sheridan a. dishonest mani
Mr.. Frye, of Maine, said that the TACT
that many men were talking about war
and yet geld stood at 1913 and not at $50
showed clearly that the people did not
take any stock in the democratic cry OF
war. They did not believe there was TO be-
war. They were not easily frightened By
gentlemen who talked about the people
coming and stripping men Of power. lie
(FGye) dad not take much stock IN the
new-tound admiration OF the gentleman
some time ago Sheridan sent despatch
from Louisiana indicating that IN his
judgement a large proportion of the people
of that state were bandittl, and the gentle
man from OHIO and his friends went crazy
ever the testimony of Gen. Sheridan, and
held public meetings deuouncing him for
sending such a despatch. But now the
gentleman SAID the people condemn Cover
nor Wells because 6en. Sheridan IN the
heat and excitement declared that W ellis
was a scOundrel. And why had he 50 de-
clared? Because Wells was d cOnserva-
tive or democratic governor, and was ad-
minstering position TO the advantage OF
those who had been in rebellion, and Sheri-
dan could see no good in a man who was
granting the favors of his office to men whO
but two years before had been IN arms
against the United States. That time was
now passed, and he Frye did not now say
that be could not seeiany good IN the man
who clothed with power the men who had
been in arms against their country; who
went into the perils of war for what they
honestly believed to be the right. But he
did not see good in the men who in the
north gave encouragement TO the south,
and then deserted il; who cried in mOckish
sympathy when it was defeated and who
rejolced whenever the union t0rces were
routed When Gen. Sheridan made the charg-
e. against Wells II was when the heat of bat
tie was scarcely over, and when the course
pursued By " els seemed 10 be dangerous
70 the county: but would the gentleman
from Ohio (Banningl believe Cen Sheridan
when be declared that after g thorough ex-
animation made for the purpose Of dIscOv-
ering how many political murders had
TAKEN place in Louisiana, he placed the
number at nearly 5000? In the 18Th cen
fury, in a state Of the American Union.
10 u time Of peace, nearly 5000 cOlored
men murdered because they we're repubil-
cans He gave a history Of the course pur-
sued by Wells from the breaking out of the
war, chaI acterizing him as an honest man.
a true man, man Of courage. a man who
loved his country, and one who would not
knowingly do dishonest or cOwardiy trick
for the benefit of his party.
Finally the petition was read and referred
TO the committee appointed TO examine
into the subject. 1t contains a resolution
declaring that the President Of the Senate
has not the power alone to count and de-
clare the result of the electoral vote.
The House then adjourned.