The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-03-08

people Of Louisiana, constant leferenc
is made to the Introduction Of the army
as if that was crime, while no refer
ence is made to the causes which brough
the army into Louisiana. No reference /
made to the crime, to the threats, TO tn,
danger and peril that caused that army
TO be sent there; sent there for tn
highest and holiest purpose, the protec
tion of life, liberty and human rights
The sending OF the army for these pur
poses is treated As crime, while th'
great crimes that took the army ther'
are ignored as If they had never existed
The Returning Board of Louisiana ha'
been The subject of constant denuncia
tion. Even the very existence of the
board is treated as crime Mr.. Presi.
dent, there is Returning Board in every
state in the Union OF some kind. Every
state desi Snates some officer or officers
who are deputed by the law to count the
votes, In my State there are several OF
them, all State officers. In other States
q single officer, in others two officers, and
in some, like Nebraska, the Legislature
counts the vote, but there must be some
body-some tribunal or authority--in
every State to count the votes. In most
of the States these Returning Boards
have only ministerial powers. They
have no discretionary or judiciary powers,
They have no power 10 take evidence
or TO throw out votes on account
Of fraud or violence. In other
States they have some judicial
powers, and these powers are greater or
less IN the different States, according TO
the condition and demands OF the State.
In State like Louisiana there is no
protection for the people, but in the tri
bunsl that is clothed with the power 10
take testimony, and to throw out fraudu.
lent returns, or retnrns obtained by
murder and crime, where the white
lawyers take possession of the parish, all
polling places have their own officers
They make all returns lawful on their
face. The papers are unobjectionsble
and the crime will succeed aud the
authors of 1t will enjoy the fruits of the
crime, unless there be some tribunal
where there can be evidence taken and
the crime proved, and if established, the
fruit Of the crime rejected and destroyed.
1t was this necessity that called into OK.
isLence the Returning Board OF the State
ot Louisiana. No, sir; the Board is not
the crime, but the condition of the State
and the the politic,l necessities of the
State are the crimes which called
that Board into existence. l am
not here to-day TO discuss the
past records and declarations Of
Senators and others. l merel; oc-
cupy the time of the Senate briefly in
calling attention TO the law, but if the
discussion continues | shall ask the IN
diligence Of the Senate TO go over the
record OF the last campaign in Louisiana
TO show were the fraud rests, where it
begun and what 1t accomplished, and l
shall undertake 10 show that the cam
paign OF 1876 was simply n repetition
of the terrible crimes of 1866, 1868, 1873
and 1876. Enough, Mr.. President, for
the present.
Mr.. Mitchell said he understood that
before he came into the Sem
ate this morning. the SEN
stor from Maine Hamlin objected
to the swearing in OF Grover, Senator
elect from Oregon. lie MITCHELL had
several petitions from the citizens OF
Oregon, objectlng TO the seating OF
Grover and he therefore presented them
to the Senate. 1t was a duty not sought
by him and was one OF the most un.
pleasant of his life, but II had been I'm.
posed upon him by his constituents and
be could not shrink from il.
The petition against the seating OF
Grover was then read.
1t charges that he procured his election
by the corrupt use Of money,
that he unlswfully and corruptly
issued certificate OF election 10 Cronin
and falsely testified before the Senate
Committee on Privileges and Elections
10 sustain his act.
Mr.. Wallace submitted resolution
that the credentials of l.. +. Grover be
taken from the table and that he be
sworn.
The Vice President-T That can only be
by unanimous consent.
Mr.. MortOn-There is another matter
pending
The Vice. President t-And oil equal
privilege.
Mr.. Sargent moved that the petition be
printed, but Mr.. Davis objected.
The question being on the substitute Of
Mr.. Bsyard for the original resolution OF
Mr.. Blaine in the case of Kellogg it was
then agreed to. Yeas, S5; nays, 70.
katt knNa IA Fnl
case OF VIM. p. Kellogg claiming to be
the Senator from the State of Louisiana
do now lie upon the table until the sp.
pointmeLt OF the Committee on PrIvi-
liges and Elections, 10 whom they can
be referred.
Mr.. Morrill,, Of Vermont, sald he voted
for the substitute, though he believed
Kellogg was fairly entitled 70 his seat.
The louisiana committee had not yet
reported 10 the Senate, and the matter
was Of sufficient importance 10 be inves-
,igsted by committee. He also thought
the Oregon case was worthy OF investi-
cation, and would vote 70 refer that case
70 y committee.
The question being on the original
resolution of Mr.. Blame as amended By
the substitute of Mr.. Baysrd 1t Wa
agreed to- yeas As, nsyes q.
At 2:20 q message was received from
the President Of the United States b.
Mr.. Rogers, his Secretary.
Mr.. Patterson submitted resolution
ths. the credentials Of David L. Corbin
and N. G. Butler, each claiming the seat
a. Senator from South Carolina, he upon
the table until the committees are sp
pointed, and their credentials shall then
be referred 70 the Committee on Priyi.
leges and Elections. Agreed 70.
Mr.. Morton moved 70 90 into eIecu.
tive session.
Mr.. Bsys'd requested the Senator 70
withdraw the motion that be might oder
a resolution 70 have General John T..
Morgan Senator elect from Alabama
sworn in.
Mr.. Morton declined 70 d. 90. The
motion for an executive tessiJn VS.. re
jec,ed, yea, 30; nays, 81.
Mr.. Bsyard ihen submitted resolo-
ton that the credentials OF John L.
Morgan, Senator elect from Alabsinn, be
Aa. h..