, 1877-02-11
AfORRISON,S COMMITTEE,
yry-

WASHINGTON, D. G., Feb. 10.-Representa
tiyes Hurlburt, Townsend, Dauford, Grape, ant
! Joyce have made their minority report in the
Louisiana investigation, concluding as follows
For the first time in the history Of this country
| it has been attempted to destroy q lawful and
| formal expression Of State in the election of q
President by assuming power in the House
OF Representatives to examine into any
| and all polls, and to purge the election; to
make itself Returning Board, and determine
By partisan vote what Louisiana ought to haye
done. We regard it as the most fatal attack
ever attempted upon constitutional right, as
gross usurpation Of power, Us subjecting In
its natural development the entire question of
the election Of President to the will or decision
Of the House Of Representatives. Whit has
been attempted BY this Democratic House in
Louisiana may be done On the same principle
by some other dominant party in auy other
State whose rote may be in the way Of their
party candidate The cry OF fraud is quickly
raised. and is readily repeated, and far too
easily believed. Evidence is always ready to
support that or auy other charge if great po-
litical advantage is to be. gained. The only way
to preserve the just balance Of power is to
stand By aud support the formal, deliberate, and
lawful decisions Of the tribunal constituted
for the purpose, and ordained under the Constf-
tuition By the highest State authority; by laws
which have been expouuded and sustained by
proper Supreme Courts. Any other course il To
substitute guess-work for legitimate decision;
the rule Of mob for ordinary processes Of Law;
the control OF q House OF Representatives
whose days are numbered for the determination
made by the people thelnselvesin due and regu-
lar form, chosen by themselves. Passion and
prejudice will wear themselves out in time;
wild defamation OF Incorporate orators will
soon be forgotten; rash assertion Of party |
presses Will pass from mems minds, and then !
this case Of Louisiana will perhaps be fairly |
considered, and the verdict OF thoughtful men /
will be that the Democratic party OF that |
unhappy State arc justly to be held rcspon- |
stble for continuous and organized attempts |
BY force to annul tho clear will of the |
majority. The same calm Judgment Will de-.
clare that the laws OF $50 and 1879 were netes-
sary as safeguard against such organized ille-
gal forces, and should be approved by all who
believe in the supremacy Of law, The minority
of the Committee submit these views, and do
not propose to follow in detail the unauthorized
dissection OF the vote made from partisan and
nittee, but to stand upon established law and
he deliberate results OF the constitutional action
If sworn officers Of the State solemnly done. |
performed, and'pronu1gated with all sanctions
II law.
The undersigned submit herewith the report
# the minority members Of the Sub Committee.
md close this report BY Offering the following
esolution:
Resoir<d, That the election held for Prcsiden-
1al Electors In Louisiana on the 9TH day Of Noyen>-
,er, 1876, was examined into, determined de- |
Jared, and PROMULGATED by the proper authorities
tates.