The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-02-12
Minority Report In the Louisiana
('nEp.

WASHINGTON, D. c., February TO-
Representatives Hurlbut, Townsend,
Daniord, Crapo and Joyce have made
their minority report in the LouiSiana
investigation, concluding as iollowa:
"For the first time in the history of
this country II has been attempted TO de.
stroy the lawful and formal expreyaion n
the State, in the election Of PreSidcnt, by
assuming the power in the House cf
Representatives to examine into any and
all polls, to purge the election, 10
make itself the Returning Board, and
determine by partisan vote what LOU
isianl ought to have done. We regard
II as the most fatal attack ever attempted
upon constitutional rights; as gross
usurpation OF power; as subjecting In its
natural development the entire question
Of the election Of President to the will or
decision Of the House Of Representatives.
What has been attempted by the Demo.
cratic House in Louisiana may be done
on the same principle by soaie other
dominant party in ANY other State whose
vote may be in the way Of their party
candidate. The cry Of iraud is quickly
raised and is readily repeated, and far
too easily believed. Evidence is always
ready to osupport that or any other charge,
itgreat political advantage is 10 be gained
The only way to preserve the Just bal
ances oil power is to stand by and support
the formal, deliberate and lawful deci.
sions Of the tribunal constituted for the
purpose, ordained under the Constitution
by the highest State authority, by laws
which have been expounded and sns-
tanned by the proper Supreme Courts.
Any other course is TO substitute guess
work for legitimate decision, the rule of
mobs for the orderly processes OF law,
the control by the House Of Representa-.
tives, whose days are numbered, for the
determination made by the people them
selves in due and regular form, chosen
by themselves. Passion and prejudice
will wear themselves out in time; wild
defamation OF Incorporate orators will
soon be forgotten; rash assertion OF party
presses will pass from mems minds, and
then this case Of Louisiana will, perhaps,
be fairly considered, and the verdict Of
thoughtful men will be that the Demo.
cratic party Of that unhappy State are
Justly to be held responsible for continu.
Gus and organized attempts to annul BY
force the clear will OF the majority.
The same calm Judgment will declare
that the laws OF 1870 and 1872 were
necessary safeguards against such organ.
lied illegal forces, and should be approv-
ed by all who believe in the supremacy OF
law; that this much.abused Returning
Board acted in the spirit OF the law Great.
ing them, and that their determination is
final in the matter. Holding these views,
the minority Of the committee submit
them, and do not propose to follow its de.
tails in an unauthorized dissection OF the
whole, made from partisan and biased in.
formation by the majority OF the COM
mittee, butto stand upon the established
law and the deliberate results OF the con.
stitutional action Of sworn officers Of the
State, solemnly done, performed and
promulgated with all the sanctions Of
law" .'t f
The minority report on the Louisiana
case closes as follows: "The undersigned
submit herewith reports Of the minority
members Of the subcommittee, and close
this report by offering the following res
olution -
"Resolrcd, That the election held for
Presidential Electors in Louisiana the
9Th Of November, 1876, was examined
into, determined. declared and promuI.
gated by the proper authorities Of said
State, under all forms Of law, and in con-
iormity with the Constitution Of the
United States" 4.,"I.I