The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-03-02
SPICY CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE.


the electoral tribunal. 1t was constituted
by the votes of the very gentlemen who
now objected to its finding. The Senator:
objecting knew when they voted for the
bill organizing the commission that these
very questions of taking evidence were to
be submitted to it, and they were in honor
bound by its decisions. These objections
now from the other side of the chamber
were insulting to the tribunal and insulting
to those who sustained its decision. He
further declared that the decision of the
tribunal was right. A good deal had been
said about fraud, fraud, fraud and perjury,
$>and Republicans were looked upon and
pointed at as uphoders of fraud. Suppose
Congress could 60 behind these returns, it
would fud fraud, murder and violence on
the part Of the Democrats. The Louisiana
returning board might be imprisoned; tho
members might be arrested; they might be
driven to their graves, but they had simply
obeyed the laws, and Congress had no pow
er, thank God, to reverse the decision of
the commission, and he asked if these pure
throughout the land by libelers and assas-
sins?
Mr.. Wallace said: The Senator from
Ohio (Mr. Sherman) says no lawyer assert
ed the right to go behind the returns, but
the record shows that he himself said that
this bilr gave that right when he resisted
its passage, and two of the commission
Messrs. Morton and Garfeld-in the de-
bate opposed the bill because it gave that
right. This is sound law, and the Repub-
lican party cannot now say the facts are not
as We state them. Gross and palpable frauds
on the people of Louisiana, and through
them on the American people, have been
given voice and power to proclaim lie, to
nullify truth, and to reverse the will of
majority of that people. The broad offer
to prove falseheod aud forgery in the de-
struction of 10000 lawful votes was rcjec-
ted, and being rejected, the truth Of The
facts alleged cannot be denied and this
brings us to face the astounding legal de-
claration that the equities which ought to
accompany the power of the -ipiority of
the whole people, the vitality whiess syery
government possesses for is own preserva.
tionsagainst force and fraud, and the moral
ity which pertains to every Just system of
laws, are utterly wanting in ours. The
people will not respect decision that re-
fuses to hear the truth that endorses false
hood, sustains forgery and places the Fcde-
raj government at the mercy of the base
They will and they should agitate for its
reversal
The result before us is fitly reached. 1t
is the decree of party, urung by party fealty
from judicial tribunal upsn purely legal
question. May we never look upon its like
again. If the returns certified by an exc
cutive whose only title to his place is the
Federal bayonet are to be the conclusive
proof of the title to the Presidency, then
government of law is supplanted by one of
force and fraud.
Mr.. Sargent California; said frauds had
been committed in Louisiana by the Demo-
Gratis, and it was by such means that they
expected to seize the Presidency. 1t was
by such means that few days ago an as
sassin attempted in the State House of
Louisiana to take the life of the man whom
more than one-half of the people of the
State had elected Governor. Laughter on
the Democratic side.
Mr.. SARGENT looking towards Mr.. Withers,
of Virginia. said the Senator might laugh
at that fact. Did the Senator laugh at the
fact that one Of his party papers in this city
yesterday counseled the assassination of
Gov. Hayes?
Mr. Withers-No; do not laugh at
that.
Mr.. Sargent-Does the Senator laugh at
the fact that his party is responsible for the
assassination of President Lincoln? Does
the Senator deny that?
DIR. Withers-Ycs, sir I deny it fairly
and squarely.
Mr. Sargent, resuming, said the Demo-
cratic party was stained all over with the
crime Of assassination. 1t had assassina-
ted from the best man God had ever created,
Abraham Lincoln, down to the poorest me-
gro in Mississippi.
Mr.. Withers (Va.) said before replying
to the TRADE of the Senator from California
he desired to state that he supported the