The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-03-01
MIR. COX,S SPEECH.


Mr.. Cox said-After many years active
service as member of this House, re-
calling all the vicissitudes of twenty
years, | cannot feel responsible to-day
that after the verdict of the American
people, it should prove fruitless verdict
In 1854, on May 10th, presented a reso-
luton to this House, which passed. 1t
related to the regularity and authentic.
ity Of the returns of electoral votes, and
to the passage of law to provide for the
jurisdiction as well as the course OF pro-
ceeding in case of a real controversy. The
Judiciary Committee took no action at
that time. Nor, sir, do | feel response
BILE for the steps which were-wisely,
perhaps, or unwisely, but certainly with
view to prudence-taken in framing
the Elective bill. That bill is the law
We know what it is, what its provisions
are; we know what my friend from Ken
tucky (Mr. Watterson) has said-that
there was some snare in it. Laughter
Laugh and exult as you will, | knew and
felt that some virtue had gone out of the
House when that bill passed, but did
not exactly see where the virtue had
alighted Laughter l knew that the
old privileges Of the commons had de-
parted, but in the interest of peace gave
a reluctant vote for the bill. But one
strange thing about the bill is this-that
we are permitted to vote in this House,
yet. after all, it is a sort of post mortem
vote. Laughter Although we are per-
mitted to argue, it is an argunleatum dd
post factltm. Although, sir, there is some
utility in the dissection of the dead, and
although there may be something gained
by the dissection Of the living-[ laugh
ter yet itseems to me TO be proper now
to look at one particular clause ofthe law
before give my reasons for protesting
against this measure. We are graciously
permitted under this bill to argue after
the matter is accomplished, and although
we vote, and although we carry our vote
in the House, we are gone. Laughter
We gain nothing. We are permitted to
take ten minutes after the counting and
the conclusion. 1t is the old Virgilian
line over again of "Rhadamanthus-
Judge of He'll II -CaStjgatque auditgue do
LO8," the old rule of hanging man and
trying him afterwards Laughter. +
This is our condition to-day; and what is
it we try2 Why, sir, everything as to
testimony and facts and forgery and per-
jury and force is aIi,rnde, outside, not to
be considered. Truth and justice and
morality and fair dealing are aIiunde.-
The House is aliunde. Laughter. Its
acts, and the acts of its committees, and
their reports, all the facts gathered in
these Southern States, are aIiunde.-
[Laughter.l Nothing is to be considered
but the bare naked fact of a certificate
based upon-what? On forgery and Chi
canery, on Returning Board which re-
turned the fact that l0,400 Democratic
votes were not counted. The business of
the Supervisors of Registration of Lou
isiana was to transmit the votes, but one
of them failed to transmit 1900 Demo-
cratic votes, and only four hours we're
left between the time of the organization
of the board and the decision. Where
and how could the State correct such re-
turns in that timer 1t is mockery. Why
Mr. Speaker, some member over there
said he was sick Of fraud. Earth is sick
and heaven is weary of the hollow words
which statesmen and judges use when
they talk of right and justice when such
things can be accomplished. tell you,
Mr.. Speaker, by human law there is no
statute of limitations to protect fraud. In
divine law it is written,-"There is no
rest for the wicked" Laughter.] Ev.
cry avenue Of society, every relation or
trust which fraud permeates shall at last
be investigated and made null. Crime
cannot breed crime forever. Strength
shall not always aid the strong. The
time will come, if not, now in the near
future, when the gentlemen on the other
side who now laugh andtaunt because of
this trap in which the Democrats are
caught, will repent of this great crime of
history of which they are pdrticepS Grim
inis. Ah! They called in the ermine to
help them. The ermine is little ami
NAL; it is an emblem of purity; it would
rather be caught than be dragged in the
mud, Hunters put mud around their
hands to catch them. But where is the
ermine2 Ahl The fox has become the
ermine. But no cunning, no craft, no
human laws, no divine law can ever
condone fraud. All codes and the histo-
ries of all nations cry out against it.
Crime cannot breed crime forever. Ask
the peoI lie of this country if fraud is not
to them an endless ofense. l was about
Mr.. Speaker, before the hammer fell, to
refer to the Holy WritGsothat the gem
tlemen on the other side may have time
for repentance. Laughter and applause
With the permission of the House / will
read Psalms 1920: ,4 oai l39F
"Shall the throne of iniquity have fell
Iowship with Thee2"
Mr.. Kelly, Pail object. laugh
tel
Mr.. Southard [0.]-I hope the gentle
men on that side will listen to those
words, that they may have time to re-
pent.
Mr.. Cox-The Bible is aliunde with
these gentlemen. Great applause /
MR.. WOODS SPEECH.