Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-03-16

You had Of your men on that Commission
your choice so did we. The four Judge
were agreed upon by both parties withou
dissent, and the fifth Judge was chosen in tn
manner suggested by your own leaders. Yes
gentlemen, you have had all the prelimina
ries your own way and now that it seems tn
decision may be against you, you rebel
Gentlemen, this, in my judgement, does no
bee me you. Such conduct nerer become
an Intelligent, upright man. Ii only become
the political trickster, the ward politician
the man of no honor. | believe, Mr.. Speak
er, that the constituents of these gentlemen
would hold them in much higher esteem
should they accept the situation in words o.
sadness, and anger even if they will, thar
they will if they resist the decisions of thi.
great and honorable tribunal by dilatory
manGuvers and unjustiiable denunciation
To me, Mr.. Speaker, it was a sad spectacle
to witness the other day in this House Of the
American Congress the personal attack Of
the leader of the great Democratic party up
on an honorable member OF the Commission
and it was the more humilatiug sir, because
the grounds upon which the gentleman stood
or based his charge were so feeble and 50
poorly sustained. Sir, this was but another
base attempt to charge the cause of Demo-
cratic defeat to the corruption of the Rcpub-
lican party or to two or three of its honored
members
Now, sir, while such scenes as this are
debasing and lily become the dignity of this
body, there is another kind of debate re-
sorted to by gentlemen on the other side
that is truly mortifying to the American
citizen, and to my mind degrades the gen
tlemen who indulge in it. refer to the
unqualified. bitter and unjust denunciatons
made Of the Judges of our Supreme Court
| Will gentlemen please consider this for a
moment? These judges had no hand in the
creation of this law under which they are
compelled to act. They took no part in the
recent political struggle. They hold their
positions for life. and hence have no personal
interest at stake in the result. They act
not from any desire of their own, but really
against their wills. They selected wisely.
and because they were above reproach,
above suspicion, and because of their high
character and acknowledged ability.
You gentlemen on the other side made use
of this and much more of the same kind to
induce us to vote for the bill. Then you
argued we'll. Then you spoke in the high
est terms Of these men whom you now so
vilely traduce; and why, Because defeat
has dethroned reason and given place to
passion and indiscretion. But let me say to
these gentlemen that their harsh and wicked
words towards these men fall quite harmless
upon the people. who stand behind them,
and that when these words recoil it will be
upon you who utter them. and the men
whom you would destroy will be unharmed.
No, gentlemen when the storm shall
have passed and reason shall again have its
power with you, then will the blush of
shame be visible and you who have done
this great wrong, and you only, will be the
men who will feel most intensely the great
injury you have inflicted.
You cannot afford to even attempt to bring
reproach upon the members of our highest
court, for though it will fail to prejudice
the intelligent and true citizen its tendency
is to inspire the ignorant and discontented
man with spirit of distrust and want of
faith in the purity and perpetuity of our
institutions. When men whom we our
selves select sit in judgment, though they
err, they should be sustained unless it be
settled they have acted to secure selfish ends
or from other impure motives.
Yes, Mr.. Speaker, the remarks of some of
the gentlemen on the other side certainly
fall beneath any man of sober thought and
discretion, and especially are they unbecom-
ing member of this House; and tie only
excuse, if any is 10 be tolerated, that can be
made is that they have been made in heated
debate and at moment wien passion has
overcome sense.
Men are not to be censured for resentirg
in any fair and proper language what they be-
lieve to be wrong, but let it be done in re-
spectful and temperate words, such as be-
come the position Of the one who utters them
and the place where spoken
Though we may be trageal in thought
and feeling, let us be prudent in utterance
for upon our words spoken here may hang
the actions of designing and unscrupulous
men,
Mr.. Speaker, We have country To pro-
tect or to destroy, institutions to pcrp.tuatc
or to disgrace, and the duty of the nour is
ours. Every member upon tbs floor should
feel the responsibility, and determine, ir-
of party. that il any battle is to
be fought it shall be one for the safety and
protection of our noble country, the W cal of
her people. and the advancement of her ma
terial interests.
have said, MIR. Speaker, that believe
the commission has determined every issue
in accordance with the provisions of the
Constitution and law. We have maintained
always that Us Congress has no power to 90
back of the returns or certificates, that un-
der the electoral bill the commission has no
60 Ia, .~cs l.,
from the outset been taken by our counsel,
and has in the Florida, Louisiana, and
Oregon cases been sustained. To hold other
wise would simply be to say that Congress
has the power every presidential election to
oyeiturn or render invalid the will OF the
people, however certain or fairly that will
may have been expressed. 1t must be ad
mitted, sir, that ii you can 20 back and in
quire into the validity and regularity of the
preliminary proceedings of c'ery election
precinct, and even to the extent OF inquiring
into the right Of every citizen to vote.
No, MIR. Speaker, 1t is folly to claim that
the Constitution or laws Of the land give to
Congress any such unlimited power. That
power is delegated or rests in the States or
local authorities, and when thoy have de-
~ ns tho nrnner ev;dsncs in rsnu,a- % ''e f'rm NJ
NO Lon pr =, oons;Sar ond -; H.
.i, W. hv on; h", ~ o"i5ona. "''N '''''"'"0 '"'
@'.' pun 'N"' ''
An honorable Senator Mr. Blyard
months ago, and before this controversy
arose, and upon dellberati1n, sad IN the
Senate this
, Nowhere is the power given to either House of
Sr ~ ,a 70 pass tng @ 9snef s ,
resident and If Congress or either House shall as
ume under the .ase .. pLo.eat Of telling or count
! actors ,hen thew will have taken unon tbenD
'elves an authority for which for ono can dnd no
warrant IN 'he ehaf'ef Vi our N'et''es;
ms honorable senator ana abe lawyer
- member of the electoral commission, anu
believe no gentlemen can honestly doubt
The soundness oil the doctrine ne has SO PLAIN
y laia uowh. Now sir' hau 'he dispoSi-
hon could with more consistency attack
The motives and conduct OF TINS gentlemen
as one oil the high tribunal than can mem-
bers on the other side assail the motives and
conduct OF the MAJORITY oil the commission |