The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-03-23
been used for the purpose of carrying
Buchanan's Presidential election.

had participated in such frauds, and had
produced a political revolution which
had brought the Republican party into
power. Did the gentleman suspect that
a similarly well. founded supposition at
the present period would not produce 8
corresponding effect.
Amendments were suggested by
Messrs. Townsend of Pennsylvania,
Hoar and Reagan.
Mr.. Holman expressed the opinion
that both. parties of the House were
willing to participate in any measure
that would secure purity in the elections,
but the proposition of the gentleman
from Maine seemed to 60 far beyond the
scope OF the bill. He asked Mr.. Blaine
whether he was ready to go to the extent
ofiuterfering with the legislation of the
States as to the mode of managing cleo
tions.
Mr.. Blaine-I hold that the govern.
ment of the United States has perfect
right to prescribe the time, place and
manner of holding elections for represen-
tatives in Congress.
l' Mr.. Holman-Undoubtedly that is
right.
Mr.. Blaine-Is the gentleman in favor
of exercisingit?
Mr.. Holman-I am in favor Of eIer-
cising it with proper regard 10 the legls-
lation of States.
Mr.. Blaine-Is he in favor of eIercis-
ing it so that it will achieve its end.
Mr.. Holman-So far as its Legislation
applies to the members of Congress /
think it proper, but think that the gen.
tleman from Maine will hardly seek to
go so far as to attempt to cure the evils
of State legislation.
Mr.. Blaine expressed the belief that
the-colored voters in the South had not
a fair chance for voting. 1t was not
enough to destroy the bribery outside so
long as this spectre ghost OF rascslity
stood within. He moved the previous
question.
The House refused TO second the pre-
vious question. Ayes 7S; nays 81.
Goode SAID be sympsthizel with the
amendment offered by tho gentleman
from Maine, but he considered if opened
to constitutional objections, that 1t would
have the same effect rs an Impeachment
in 80 far as the penalty was the removal
from office.
Mr.. Blaine suggested that he would
modify his amendment.
Mr.. Goode remarked that no PROPOSE
ton to modify the amendment had been
made until after his criticism on it This
WAS al important bill intended to ap-
propriate the remedy to most fragrant
outrage and the gentleman from Maine
ought not TO be allowed to cucumber it
with
Grave Constitutional Difiiculffss.
As the gentleman from Maine lad
thought proper to go into his Goodies
district, he would tell him that at the
Norfolk Navy Yard no man could get
snv employment without u recommends
ton from the Republican Executive
Committee. As to his colleague, so called,
rStowelll that gentleman hailed from
what was called the "back district
oi Virginia. where there were
not enough white Republicans TO furnish
Judges who could read and write. The
election Judges had therefore been Demo
cratic, and he asked whether those Dem
ocratic Judges were not exceedingly fair
and honest in returning to Congress the
gentleman from Vermont-he begged
pardon-the gentleman from Virginia.
Laughter. There had not been single
Democratic delegate IN the Legislature
from the eleven counties in that district
until recently, when friend and psrti-
san of his colleagues, Mr.. Stowell an
American citizen OF African descent
named Ruffin, WAS expelled from the
House of Delegates for petty larceny
and an honest Democrat elected in his
stead.
Mr.. Hoar asked Mr. Goode under
whose training 1t was that the colored
people OF that District were unable TO
read or write?
Mr.. Goode replied that the gentleman
from Massachusetts was trying TO bring
up the ghost ofsaycry, but he did not in
tend TO discuss those issues with him.
They were dead. and they belonged 10
tho dead past In the words OF the prov
erb: Surely in vain the net is spread IN
sight Of any bird
Mr.. Harris, of Virginia, replied that
that seemed to be reflection on the leg
islation of Virginia, which provides for
disposing OF an excess OF ballots when
found IN the ballot box, and he went on
10 show that the Codo Of Virginia, in
which the legislation is found, was es-
tsblished by the Republicans at time
when the Democratic people of the State
were deprived of their political rights.
Mr. Cox Cwho had beeh occupying the
Speakers chair came down TO the floor
and rushed into the fray striking first at
Mr.. Blaine whom he accused Of shedding
crocodile lies over this subject and ther
aiming his shafts of ridicule atthe Cali
fornia member Payrel and exhibiting
what he called
1.-The Tape Worm
ballot. that was used by the employees
II the Mare Island navy yard TO compel
them to vote the Republican ticket
The debate was further continued by
Messrs. Luttrelle, Caulfeld and South.
ard. Finally the House proceeded to vote
on the bill and various amendments
The yde was first taken on Mr.. Town
sends amendment, providing that the eI-
penditures tor election purposes allowed
by law of any State should the vote be
coH,trued as affected by the act. Re
jected.
The next amendment in order wtE
Mr.. Blaine's amendment including SEN