The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1877-03-03

ing boards wore unknown, when mill. !,
tary dcspOtisms had not suspended ls.I
ultimate State authority, and pOlitiUal
passions had not 'soiled tho pure sr-
mine ii cur Judges. The law now ID
the same that be pronounced II to be.
Title acquired to sny kind Of property
by fraud, whether to lands or tcne.
menss. goods or chattels. Or tito ac-
'quirsd BY fraud to the Office ofiustiec
or Judge, constable or governor, are
simply void, and hone d them could
's,ald for moment 10 court Of JUS
tice; bat title acquired. says this coui.
mission, to The Office Of President Of the
United States by fraud, no matter how
plainly that froud may be proved, no
matter how Infamous may be the char
acter Of tho men by whom i. is perpc-
trated, and no matter how enormous
that fraud may be. IL perfectly valid
title to DO observed and respected BY all
men. and tho fraud 10 to be sanctised
and embalmed 10 the political history
Of the country
Sir. Is an American citizen T. spuru
such o doctrine aud trampls this base
aud infamous decision under my feet,
voted against giving il the approval
OF this House, for II ! voted otherwise
could not lock my honest cops.itu.
sncy 10 the face.
Had this commission heard the facts,
as they were ordered to do. according
to my understanding Of tho bill under
which they were organized, hdd they
taken the evidence offered to them aud
then decided upon that evidence,
should have felt constrained to give my
acauiescence 10 whatever conclusion
they might have reached but tho facI
that they have refused to hear any ev'
Iidsnce whatever, together with their
systematic partisan votts upon every
proposition, has satisfied me that shcir
conclusions had been reached before
they were qualified rs members Of ths
commission
The leaders OF the Radical party
may. through such means, enjoy q tenn
porary triumph. They will probably
inaugurate their candidate, but his seal
will no. DO IN easy one, for the re-
ceiver Of stolen goods is rs bad as the
thief. and al honest people will visit
the men who have thus outraged law.
right, justice and honor, by such meas.
ure ofretributive justice as was never
20. experienced BY any political party
on the face Of the earth.
The Supreme Court Of the United
States has ever been regarded in this
country and Europe as q cOnsplcuously
wise. digni6ed and impartial tribunal.
1t has been looked up to rs almost ga
cred. When the country learned that
the electoral commission was to be in
par. composed Of judges taken from
tha. court. joy and satisfaction filled the
hearts Of tho people and the cOn,pirs-
tors shrank with fear, believing that
jus.ioe and right we're about to triumph.
The belief was universal tina. those
judges would give the great question s
to DO submitted to them as members Of
the commission an elevated, conscien.
tious consideration ; that il fraud e1is.
ted il would be exposed and condemned;
that q conclusion would DO reached
which every man would be- compelled
10 acknowledge honest and equitable.
But to the surprise and disgrace Of the
country tina. belief, that ssnguine e<-
pectation has proved q delusiou, and
the fact is apparent that the decisions
of ths commission have been partisan
and mereenary.
In speaking Of the vote Of Louisiana
Mr.. Wilson said:
1t is the meres! mockery to assert
that the electoral vote Of Louisiana was
righ.fully cast for Hayes and Wheeler.
Every Intelligent man who is at all
conversant with the history Of the late
election in that State Knows full we'll
tbs. their claim to that vote is unfoun.
ded and fraudulent. = 4 y
It does NOT lie 10 The mouth Of the
Republican party TO charge that mur-
der, riot and intimidation prevented q
free and fair election. That party bad
full control Of tho State. An extreme
Radical governor was at the head Of
Affairs. . tool in tho hands OF vicious
advisers. aud was ever ready 10 do
their bidding aud carry out their nefar.
ious sch INES He was aided and sus.
tained by the State ooustnbulary, and
these werc backed up BY United States
soldiers. In addition to this force
United States deputy marshals were
scattered all over the State, eight hun
drsd or more being on duty in New
Orleans alone. But this il not all.
The courts Of the State and their Off
GERS we're in thu hands Of tho Republic
eans, They bad full power and au.
thority to make arrests, institute pros
eoatiOns, aud seeurs the conviction Of
guilty parties. 1.-THE various oHeuses
Of which gentlemen talk so eloqucutly
on this floor have been committed, |
demand to know why tho offenders
have not been arrested -; I demand to
know why the records fail TO show that
prosecutions have been put on foot for
their punishment. The imputation
that Democrats have by intimidation,
riot and murder prevented 4 peaceful