Marshall County Republican., 1877-01-25
can National Committee from the department

clerks. '"i 'iAe III
Mr.: Cox, OF New York, said that he wouli
not follow the argument Of the gentlemar
Irom Maine, which had been sufficiently an
swered by the badinage OF the gantIsr,a,
from California and by the ironical cheers n
the galleries.. The point before the Eous,
was simply whether the authority of the Hons,
should be dlsregarded by the Returning Roar
of Louisiana D'Ai
Mr. hssson argued against the resolntior
because IL wou establish a precedent that ,
committee OF the House could summon tb,
Governor Of State to bring before II tho no
pers OF his Office and could brin,, that bigl
Official before the bar of the House. deprsdi9e
MIN by asking him to stand at the bar and am
swer Tor contempt
Mr. Hooker said that be would not follow
the example of the gentleman from Maine
I (Frye) in seeking to avoid an eyade the nIsi,
simple proposition submitted by the report q,
the Judiciary Committee by stating with tbs
emphasis which that gentleman did that he be-
ieyed that for series of years a great body
OF citizens of Louisiana had Determined ~
deny the right OF suffrage to a certain class
"plch was emitted to 1T. What was there that
surrounded the Returning Boa rd of Lcuisians
with a sanctity which prevented it from giving
to the committee Of the House information as
to whether there had been an honest vote In
that State? Should it be said that the Retnrn.
ing Bosri had power to cast out votes from
this or that parish and that there was no power
which could investigate whether it had legally
done 80?
Mr.. Garfield argued that the provisions Of
the constitution in regard to the Presidential
election were imperative. aud loft no time or
authority for contest. and he challenged the
naming OF any statesman who had ever claimed
that Congress had the power (within the five
limitations mentioned by him) to go inside OF
I 80. g.. 1<rl~ - l.
one State were examined. the votes of ALI
States might be, and thus an election OF Presi.
dent might be at any time rendered impossible.
He appealed to the Democratic side of the
House to pause before it committed this act of
assault and destruction on whatever there was
OF sovereignty In the thirty eight States of the
Union. ~
Mr.. Davis, OF North Carolina. asked Mr.
Garfield why il was that partisan committoes
had been sent TO three Southern States Inv
President Grant. y
MIR. Gsrfield-lf the galleries will stop their
chatter 1 will answer. The gentlemen yhe
went to Louisiana at the request OF the Presi-
oent went there only as invited witneeses and
on our arrival we were asked by Democratic
committee to join them in helping TO secure =
count OF all the votes actually cast We an
sweree that we were not there TO secure any,
thing, but least Of all were we there to direct
any body In Louisiana to violate the laws of
that state. That was their business. not ours.
MIR: Davis-By what authority did the Presi-
dent invite them there?
MIR. Garfeld-H the gentleman needs 10
know by what authority an American citizsn
travels anywhere in the United States. he will
learn the authority by which for one, went to
louisiana
Mr.. Davis-wby was it that four wears ago
your party threw out the electoral votes of sew.
eral States?
Mr.. Wood. OF New York regretted that the
gentleman from Ohio (Garfield) bad seen fit
to close an otherwise admirable argument by A
me- partisan allusion which was entirely un-
necessary to the discussion of the present mat
ter. He wanted no partisan influence or re-
nection to enter into the discussion; and
wanted the question determined on principles
higher than party principles. He held that
the States had not the sole power TO appoint
electors. They had power TO appoint tnem
under certain restrictions, and 1t necf ssarily
followed that il devolved on Congress to ascer-
tain whether that power had been executed in
accordance with law. The constitution placed
certain limits ON the States, not on Congress.
as the gentleman from Ohio (Garfield) main
tanned.
Mr.. Lawrence proceeded to argue sgainst
the reeolutioD, and in the course Of the dis
cussion he was met with suggestions about the
interfere ice with the State authorities in the
oregon case. In response TO these suggestions
MIR. Garfield expressed his hope that il there
was no right to inquire into that fraud without
violating the constitution OF Oregon, Mr. I'll
den would be counted in.
The previous question was then seconded
and the resolution went over.