National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-01-17

Of that day investigated the subject and un-
earthed the fraud. and, although the fraud was
undoubted no one claimed the right Of Congress
to go behind the electoral vote as cast. There
was no power to question the vote them and there
10 no rower TO question 1t now.
There was no provision in the Constitution or
in the laws that contemplated contest for the
once Of President or Vice President OF the
could b. Ike
the election of any other ofcer. The fathers in
| tended that the election should be summary
| the debates and the record. You could not find
on the records that statesman OF that day
cisimed that Congress had the right 70 20 into
Louisisna they can go behind the vote Of any
box they can examine any baiiot-box in he land.
And yet 1t was seriously proposed to DRAG otcers
! OF state to the bar OF the House. not by drec-
House but by sSs direction Of parsan
q e tbs
MI. DAVIS, Of N. G., said that the gentleman
denied he right of Congress to examine Into the
electoral vote of Louisiana, And yet he was one
| request Of the President to see about this vote.
| By what authority did the gentleman go thereG
and BY what authority DID the President invite
MT. GkRFiERIfp 's said h he -" would answer the
question If the rabble in the galleries would stop
their noise long enough: He and other gentle
| men went to Louisiana to witness q count Of the
VOTE and they were met by a committee of DEM
ocrsts, who asked the Republican committee to
help make fair return and report. The Repub-
ucan committee replied that they were there to
count nothing, but only to witness the count.
MT. HOAR, of Mass, called attention to the
fact that the applause in the galleries was be-
coming, entirely too frequent, and 1t should be
stopped at once. He also hoped that members
on the floor would refrain from applause. He
disapproved Of it, no matter from winch side 1t
came.
The SPEAKER said that every presiding off,
Ger had this difficulty to contend with. He hoped
members on the floor would refrain from ap-
plagse and If the galleries persisted In 1t they
MI MILLS, of Texas, said that in the Forty
bssH WAS Tbs
gentlemen on the other side was that the opinions
Of people in the galleries had changed
piause D and hoped such i unseemiy exhibitions
Mr.. LAMAR, of Miss, deprecated the ap-
such a thing as going too far, for he believed
members had . right to express their approval
The House then resumed consideration of the
Judiciary Committees report.
Mr.. WOOD, Of N. Y, argued that Congress
leagues to answer He called attention to the
fact that the Senate had summoned and exam
ined the Governor or Oregon with regard to the
election in that State, and no objection was made
MI. LAWRENCE, of Ohio, said that as
member OF the judiciary COMMITTEE ne dissented
from the report. There were two main questions
involved in the matter One was whether the
House had the power to enforce the resolution,
and the other was the expedency of exercising
that power. He, for one, doubted the power, for
If the House can bring these State papers to
Washington 1t can order them taken to Alaska.
The House, he argued. could not go behind the
records of the vote of the State. 1t could not go
behind the record under any circumstances.
When Mr.LAwRKNOE closed, the previous ques-
tion was seconded, and the resolutions will come
up again to morrow as unfinished business.
The SPEAKER appointed Mr.. WAIT, Of Conn,
. member Of the Committee on Public Lands to
fill vacancy.
The SPEAKER laid before the Honse letter
from E W. Barnes, the contumacious witness,
who states that in his answer to the House the
other day he intended to be understood as saying
that he would produce the kilograms If he could
do 50. He was willing to produce all the messages
to the utmost extent In his power and If at liberty
he would do all in his power to again get pos
session of the messages and give them to the COM
mtttee and If he should fail to got them he would
still be amenable to the House. But he could not
do SO while he remained in custody. The letter
was referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Mr.. HUNTON, of Va, offered q resolution,
which was agreed to, authorizing the Sergeant
alarms to permit VIM. Ortcn to 60 to New York
to consult his physician and to return on Friday
next
The House then. at Sis p. m, adjourned.