The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-03-08

due season. The Senator will permit me
TO say that the Electoral Commission, of
which he was an honored member, did
decide that the Louisiana Returning
Board was constitutionally and legally
competent to make the count which de-
termined the electoral vote of that State.
Mr. Thurman-A majority did.
Mr. Blaine-A majority constitutes the
board, Laughter. Then l understand
the Senator from Ohio to admit that the
Electoral Commission did decide that the
Louisiana Returning Board was legal
and constitutional body, competent to do
what 1t did do, and that they were una
bic to review or reverse it, and that the
same Board was competent to declare
who were Presidential electors of that
State, declared also who were the Legis-
lature of that State, and the Legislature
performing mere ministerial duty, de-
clared who was Governor of that State,
and | stand here, l stand alone to say.
that the honor and credit and faith of the
Republican party in so far as the election
of Hayes and Wheeler is concerned are
as indissolubly united in maintaining
that body as the ilustrious House Of
Hanover that sits on the throne of Eng
land to day. is in maintaining the right
funess Of the revolution of 1858. You
disCredit Packard and you discredit Mr..
Hayes. You hold thai Packard is not
the legal Governor of Louisiana, and
that President Hayes has no right to his
seat, and the honored Vice President
WHO presides over our deliberations has
no title TO his chair. / say, therefore,
that on the action of the Returning Board
which the Senator from Ohio admits, was
determined by the Electoral Commission
to be competent, legal and constitu-
tional body rests the authority of S. B.
Packard to exercise the Governorship of
that State, and on the authority of that
board rests the Legislature of that State,
and by the Legislature of that State
VIM. Pitt Kellogg was duly elected Sena-
tor Thus determined, he comes here
as Senator, bearing the
great seal of the State as l maintain, and
| do not, unless challenged upon that
point, desire to 60 into the details of the
Mr.. Thurman-Do I interrupt the SEN
ator2
Mr. Blaine-Not at all.
Mr.. Thurman-Does the Senator un-
derstand that that Returning Board
counts the votes for Governor, and de.
clares who is elected Governor?
Mr.. Blaine-The Legislature did that.
Mr. Thurman-Then the Senator is in
great error.
Mr.. Blaine-No; Tnever said any such
thing; but they were based on the same
returns precisely, and the same Return
ing Board counted the votes for MEM
bers of the Legislature, and also counted
and transmitted to the Legislature the
votes for Governor.
Mr. Thurman-Yes.
Mr.. Blaine-That is only one degree
of in hneal descent. 1t is difference
between a son and grandson.
Mr.. Thurman-I beg to say to the SEN
ator that the Electoral Commission nev-
er decided that the Returning Board was
a constitutional body for counting any,
thing but electoral votes for President
and Vice President.
Mr. Blaine-Do | understand that the
Senator from Ohio to maintain that the
Returning Board was good enough to
count in electors for President, but not |
good enough to determine who was Gov
ernor.
What the Returning Board Was Good For.
Mr.. Thurman-If the Senator asks my
opinion, | say it was not good enough for
anything except to be hung, (great laugh
ter.)
Mr.. Blaine-I believe the gentleman in
Louisiana, who the Senator from Oaio
represents in his opinions hold that the
Electoral Commission deserve about
,he same thing, or at least eight of them.
Mr.. Thurman-A majority, Qaughter.)
Mr.. Blaine-I want to hold the Senator
% the point that the Legislature, the |
Governor and the Presidential electors of
Louisiana all derive their legality and
heir right to act from the same source
md the same count; that if one is dis |
the other is discredited, and |
hat electors having been accredited by
he highest tribunal known to the Con-
titution and laws he Is precluded from |
aising doubt on that question, and it is
therefore, that maintain without elabo-
alton of argument that resting as Kellogg
loes, his claim to the Senatorship here |
lpon as broad a basis and upon precisely |
he same foundation that Presidential.
electors rest upon, he is entitled to be |
worn in, and | say to the Senator from
Delaware whom am always desirous of
reating with courtesy, that l believe the
light of Kellogg is just as absolute asthat
f Morgan, and therefore could not find
hat was under any obligation to yield
he one to the other.
Mr.. Bayard-I did not signify any OBJ.
igation. 1t was a mere matter of practi-
al convenience,
for Hayes to Recognize Nichols, AC.
COrding to Blaine.
Mr. Blaine-I knew that there has
cen great deal said here and in the
orridors Of the capital, around and about
4 by places and high places of late, that
ome arrangement had been made by
,hich Packard was not to be recognized
nd upheld that he was to be allowed to
ide by, and Nichols was to be accepted
8 Governor of Louisiana. l want to
now who had authority to make such
l wish to know if any
enator on this floor will state in his place
lat any person speaking for the admin,
tration that was coming in or the one
lat was going out had any right to make
ny such arrangement. l deny it. de-
Y it without being authorized to speak
r the administration that now exists,
Ut I deny it on the simple broad ground
lat it is an impossibility that the ad-
inistration Of President Hayes could do t
/ deny it on the broad ground that
resident Hayes possesses the character |
common sense, self respect, patriotism, 1
of which he has in high measure !
I'd in an eminent degree. i deny it on !
the grounds that can influence human t
tiop ON all the grounds on which men !
n be held to personal and political and i
licial responsibility. I deny it for him s
ID / shall find myself grievously disap- 9
,inted and wounded and humiliated if y
y denial is not vindicated in the policy :