Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1877-03-01
FORTY.FOURTH CONGRESS.
House Debate on the Question Of Sustaining
the Electoral Commissions Decision i'm
the louisiana Case.


House Debate ON the Question Of Sustaining
the Electoral Commissions Decision in
the Louisiana Case.
Mr.. Gibson offered an order that the Hayes
electoral votes for Louisiana be not counted
Mr.. Hurlbut moved to amend by striking out
the word ..notr
The discussion was opened by Mr.. New, who
said that be had voted for the Electoral Com
mission bill without hesitation or misgiving, and
he was not ashamed of the support which he
had given to that measure. He accepted, with
ont qualification his humble share of response
bility. He would vote to sustain the objections
to the decision of the commission. He was i'm
favor of proceeding without unnecessary delay
to the completion of the count.
Mr. Seelye said that in the case Of the Lo,iisi-
ana election, the corruption on one side seemed
as heinous as the cruelty on the othersidc was
horrible. He found it quite impossible to say
which Of the two sets of electors from Louisi-
ana voiced the true will of the people of that
State. 1t would have been hard to find wiser
and more candid men than those who had pro-
nounced the decision of the Electoral Commits
position. Congress could not be too jealous of
the constitutional right Of the State to choose
its electors.
Mr.. Joyce declared that the whole scheme OF
the election to the Presidency of the grand fraud
of Gramercy park had been a superb Demo-
cratic cheat from beginning to end.
Mr.. Rice protested against the wrong and vio-
lence embodied in the decision, and argued that
the whole subject should be referred back to
the commission.
Mr.. Watterson rose 10 speak, and Immediately
the floor and galleries were hushed into still
ness. He said if the acceptance of the inevita-
ble with resolution and dignity be the highest as
1t Is the rarest form Of courage known among
men, il is made harder in this present instance
by the consciousness Of double-dealing and
foul play. Two courses are open to the ma
jority on this fioor-on the one hand. passion
ate outcry, at once impotent and childish ON
the other hand, without Offering needless OBJ
earnest, manly. but temperate protest against
what we believe to be great and grievous
wrong. In my judgment the latter is our clear
and bounden duty. We owe il to the nccessi-
ties Of the case we owe il to the country we
owe it to ourselves. Because we were duped
by false pretenses into the snare furnished it
isnoreason why VIC should forget the obligations
that press upon honorable men. In the very act
of passing the Electoral Commission bill we
provided for the contingency that has come
upon us. voted for that measure in perfect
good faith. The result is against me, and, de-
testable as must think the means that brought
1t about, / accept il as finality. 1 shall go to
my constituents and shall tell them all, for, as
now advised, they know only part, and,
when they have taken time for rcfiec-
ton, they will, / am very sure, illus
trate the wisdom and grace Of moderation.
doing nothing that does not become good citi-
zens. Life will still go forward, in spite of all
this. There are many things to live for vet in
this rough world. and, AMONG the rest, that day
of reckoning -'.Dies ire dies Ma when the
dark shall be light, and the wrong be made
right
Mr.. Danford, of Ohio, defended the decision
as enc which, outside of party feeling, would
meet the approval Of the whole American peo-
pie. Although there had been investigating
committees into the elections in Florida, Lou
isiana and Oregon, which had found much
crookedness, yet in all words spoken, letters
written, kilograms sent, there had not been
traced to the President-elect, or to any member
of his household, one word that would bring
the blush OF shame to the American people.
tAppisuse.1
Mr.. Ellis, of Louisiana, said: Louisiana, by
the voice Of 10000 majority Of her people,
voted for Samuel J. Tilden for President, but I
find to-day by the voice of this commission her
electoral vote cast for one Hayes. In arriving
at that decision, In overthrowing the will Of the
people of Louisiana, that commission decided
IN the first place that they would not examine
into the unconstitutionality of the law creating
this Returning Board. In the second place, it
refused to go into the question of fraud. and in
the third place, having sworn to decide accord
ing to the constitution of the United States,
they, the chosen ministers and high priests Of
that constitution, sat and closed their ears
against the expressed voice and will of that
constitution, against any proof as to the inehgi-
bllity of two OF these electors, well known. un-
disputed and undoubted. The Returning
Board violated the Election law, and no
lawyer has ever doubted it. No lawyer
VIII ever dispute it. 1t is a principle Of law
sion that whatever is done In opposition to
the declared will OF the people through their
constitution is an absolute nullity. But again,
sir, they refused to hear any proof of fraud.
Fraud-it obliterates, II yitiates everything. II
unclasps the clutches Of the most skillfully
drawn mortgage act around real estate. 1t
vitiatcs even the sanctity OF the marriage tie
and yet this great Government, which was able
TO summon 5000, 900 in its defense, which was
able TO shake the world by the earthquake Of
its agony and struggle for self-preseryation,
must fall hopelessly paralyzed before the fraud
conveyed TO II by four men whose acts are black
with crime, whose souls are scared with per-
jury-aye, blacker than Judas Iscariot, and
whom it were base fattery to call men. As to the
eligibility of these electors under the constitu-
ton, these Commissioners who had sworn To
decide according to the constitution, a. said
before, sat there these high priests. these chosen
ministers with the sword which is held
by this House and by the Senate placed in their
hands to guard the constitution, and to guard
this Government against the illegal vote of this
Electoral College, yet they sat there and refused
10 hear the most positive and convincing testi-
mony Of the ineligibility Of two Of these elect
ors. Sir, the deed Is done. The crime is ac-
complished. For four years from the 4th Of
March next the Republican party will hold the
shadow of executive power. / say the shadow,
because the substance Of usurped power is over
and can never be realized The immortal PEN
Gil Of Grstaye Dore has illustrated the legend
Of the wandering jew. You have all seen it.
In all that dreary march OF years he found no
rest. no resting place from his crime and its
memories. Whether amid the busy haunts of
men OF in the dim aisles Of the forest, wheth-
er upon the mountain top or amid the roar
and spray Of the ocean storm, there was ever
the memory of the crime Of the Jew, the pale,
suffering face of the Redeemer, and the accus-
ing voice forever i'm his car. So il must be with
the Republican party and the unjust judges OF
this commission. The spois of Office will not
compensate it. The splendors Of the Presiden-
tial receptions and levees cannot Danish its pres
ence The silence and gravity Of the Cabinet
meetings will not Danish or hush its accusing
voice, and in four years more this great Ameri-
can people, this wrOnged, outraged people, Will
rise in their majesty and will hurl these drunken
guests Of the feast fiym power everywhere, and
brand with the indelible brand of infamy these
men who have aided, countenanced, abetted, and
defended this monstrous crime.
Mr.. Foster, Of Ohio, who represents the dis
trict in which Gov. Hayes resides, spoke Of the
duty Of both parties to abide by the decision of
the Electoral Commission, and said this il not
a time for mere party exultation. The exulta-
ton Of the patriot over the nations escape
from the dangers that threatened its peace,
prosperity, and happiness is fitting and proper.
In the triumph Of peace over disorder and pos
sible civil war, both parties can unite in exulta
ton. While do not rejoice simply in party
sense, do rejoice that one OF the purest
and most patriotic of our fellow-citizens Is
10 guide the affairs of this Government
for The four years TO come. Representing AZ
do the district i'm which Gov. Hayes re-
sides, and being a lifelong acquaintance
Of his, but speak the opinion of all persons
who know him when say that his administra-
ton will be wise, patriotic and just, notwith-
standing whatever may be said to the contrary
here or elsewhere. The people Of the country
may confidently expect from him not onlya fair.
but generous, consideration. His letter Of ac-
ceptance Is the expression of a man Of the
broadcast and loftiest patriotism. i feel certain
that shall be sustained by his acts whan I say
that his highest ambition will be to administer
the Government so patriOtically and wisely