Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-03-08
FORTf-FIFTH CONGRESS-.
Extra Session.
WASHINGTON, March 7.

WASHINGTON, March Z.
After the reading of the journal, l.. F. Grover,
senstor from Oregon, was about to be sworn in,
when llamlin of Maine objected, and the oath was
not administered.
The senate then resumed the consideration of
unfinished business, being a resolution Of Blaine,
submitted yesterday, - swear in William Pitt
Kellogg at United States Senator from Louisiana
and the substitute submitted by Bsyard to refer
his credentials to the committee on elections.
Mr. Morton said that he supposed the question
before the Senate was question of law but the
law was about the only thing which he had heard
discussed. The Senator from Delaware (Bay-
ard made some reference to it, but in what he
said he was mistaken.
Mr. Morton then quoted from the record in the
case of Kellogg, and read from the constitution of
Louisiana to show that it was the duty of the
legislature to canvass the votes Tor Governor and
1t Governor. lie then read from the law pro-
scribing the duties of the returning board, and
gued that there was quorum of the legislature
present when the votes for Governor and 1t. Gov
ernor were canvassed. 1t was declared by the
legislature that Packard received "A 624 votes and
Nichols Il POS. lie then referred TO the action
of the legislature ia elecing Kellogg, and said he
received a majority of all the votes. He submit
ted that the record as presented made the chain
of title good, viz
First, That Gov. Packard was declared duly
elected by the proper authority in Louisiana.
Again That William Pitt Kellogg had been du-
ly elected Senator from That State, IN accordance
with the act Of Congress.
He was not disposed, therefore, to push the ar
gument on this subject any further, deemiug it
unnecessary. l want to say q word, and | shs Ii
keep the senate but few minutes, in regard to
the general character of the remarks submitted
by the senator from Delaware. There is constant
~ talk of frauds, il is charged that the people of
Louisiana had by large majority voted for
Nichols and for Tilden, but that they were de-
frauded of their votes, and these charges are con-
stanty made here and elsewhere. The time has
come to meet that charge. We intend to roll il
back in the teeth of the men who made it,.
The facts are upon the record and indsputable,
that the so.callcd majority for Tilden and for
Nichols in the state Of Louisiana, was false and
fraudulent, and that it was obtained by murder and
every specie of violence and intimidation. In
some parishes, .where there were hundreds and
thousands of republican voters, they were deter
red from voting almost wholly in others one-halt
driven from the polls, and thus state that is
certainly republican by a large majority, was
brought upon the face Of the returns to cast vote
in favor Of Tilden and of Nichols.
In talking about fraud these great crimes are
constantly ignored. Of the hundreds and thous-
ands of men who have been slain in Louisiana for
political purposes in the last few years, no men
| ton is made-of the murders, the whippings, the
tortures, and the inhuman treatment that large
ly prevailed during the late canvass no mention is
made, that is ignored and that the fruits of these
crimes are treated as real honest property, which
they have right to protect and enjoy.
What was done down there as we claim, and as
| the evidence shows abundantly, is simply under
the laws of Louisiana to deprive them of the fruits
| of murder and crime, TO give expression to the
honest vote and to the honest majority of the peo-
pie OF Louisiana. Constant reference is made to