The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1877-01-02

The conservative citizens of Chicago.
irrespective.of party, filed Farwell hall to
repletion on Saturday evening. The out
pouring, in spite of the fact that most in-
adequate notice of the proposed meeting
had been given. demonstrates most con-
clusively that the people of Chicago are
wide awake to the peril that is now
generally felt to be impending, and that
they are determined that their rights
under the constitution shall not be shame
lessly stolen from them without protest
that shall not be misunderstood ror iaykk Of
purpose and plain language. The Times
says: THE meeting was largely COM
posed Of the thinking portion of the com
munity, This was noticeable by the |
manner in which the people entered the
hall They came in with grave faces, with
quiet and determined mien, and with
that order that always betokens the solid
citizen. Although the majority present
were probably Democratic in politics, Re-
publicans were present in large force, and
entered into the spirit of the meeting with
an order and zeal that augurs i'll for
Zach Chamberlain when the questions that
are uow being so ruthlessly decided shall
come up for a rehearing at the bar of the
people"
Gen. Stiles called the meeting to order
and Judge Otis presided-both Of whom
made pertinent addresses. Suitable res
outions were adopted. But the feature
of the evening was the speeches of Judge
Trumbull, and Leonard Swett-the latter
Republican and formerly law-partner
of Abraham Lincoln.
JUDGE TRUNBULL's SPEECH.
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND FELLOW CITIZENS:
In the course Of life, now we'll passed
the meridian. many years of which have
been devoted to the public service, have
never addressed an audience, whether a
popular assembly or in the senate cham
Der, in the most trying times of our
country's history, under feeling Oflgreat.
err responsibility than Expresses me to-
night, when, as a private citizen, holding
no Office and desiring none, l rise to al
dress you on the momentous questions
which now threaten the existence of pop
ular government. 1t is comparatively of
little consequence whether Tilden 81
Hayes be made president, if con-
stitutionally elected; but it is of vital Jun
portaDce to free institutions, and tC
liberty itself, that neither should be made
president by force or fraud. As is prob
ably known to most of you, |, with severa
others. went TO Louisiana to witness the
proceedings of the returning board il
making the canvass OF the electoral vote il
that state, and as upon its result may
depend the presidency for the next fou
years. it is doubtless expected that l will
tonight
GIVE SOME ACCOUNT OF WHAT LEARNED
and saw.
To proper understanding of the recen
election in Louisiana, brief history o
previous elections and the condition O
that state is necessary. Warmoth ha
been elected governor in 1868 for th
period of four years. In 1872 a genera
election was held for state officers an
members Cfthe legislature. McEnery an
Kellogg were the opposing candidates TO
governor. The returns Of election tneI
a returning board, which by law was t
consist of FIVE members Gov. Warmot
aud a man by the name of Lynch wer
confessedly two of the members of this re
turning board, ,but there was a dispute a
to who were the other three members
The result was Warmoth and Lyme
separated, and each organized a returnin
board of his own, known as the Warmot
aud Lynch boards. A CONTROVERSY wa
Immediately started in the courts as t
which of these boards was the legal one
While it was pending, Gov. Warmotb, q
he had right to do under the Louisiau
constitution, approved bill passed ut tn
last session of the legislature, which ii
then he had in his possession unapproveC
abolishiDg the then existing board an
providing for the appointment of a ne
one, which was known as the De FeriC
returning board. The Warmoth boar
ceased to claim an existence immediatel
the governor approved the bill and the .
Ferret board was appointed, an
turned over to it the returns
the election from the differer
parishes, which till then had been in Go
Warmoth's possession Not so the Lyme
board. 1t still claimed to be the propt
board of the state, although it had no r
turns before it. The De Ferret board ca
vassed the returns from the warrior
parishes and proclaimed the result, shoy
ing an average majority for the liberal r
publican, or fusion ticket, headed by M
Emery for governor. of 10000 votes, al
that large majority of the persons elect,
TO the legislature were of the same part
The Lynch board, which had no retur
before it, proclaimed Kellogg elect,
governor by over $4,000 majority, al
gave certificates Of election as members
the legislature to a sufficient number
Republicans to constitute majority. II
committee on privileges and elections
the United States senate was directed
investigate these proceedings. 1t co
sisted OF Oliver 2. Morton, Matt
Carpenter; John A. Logan. j. G. Alcor
II. b. Anthony. Joshua Hill, and Lynn
Trumbull The report of the commit
was made by Carpenter, Logan, Alcor
and Anthony, all Republicans, and / pl
pose to
LET THEM SPEAK
of the proceedings of this Lynch retul
ing board. They say:
There ID nothing in the comedy.of blunders 9