New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-21
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS.
HOUSE DEBATE ON LOUISIANA.

HOUSE DEBATE ON LOUISIANA.
BRIEF SPEECHES FAvORING AND OPPOSING THE DE
CIsIoN OF THE ELECTORAL CoMMIssIoN-rWo
MASSACHUSETTS REPUBLICANS IN THE OPPOSE
TION-rHE DECISION REJECTED BY YoIK OF
172 10 80.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2O-The House met at
10 O'Clock a. m. but half an hour was consumed in
calling the roll to ascertain whether there was quorum
present That fact having been ascerained the regular
business OF the day was introduced by Mr. Gibson Dem
La Offering order that the Hayes electoral vote Tor
the state OF Louisiana be not counted.
Mr. Hurbut (Rep., H. moved to amend By striking
out the wOrd " not"
The discussion was opened by Mr. New Dem, lndJ
who said that had voted for the Electoral Commission
bill without hesitation or misgivng He believed when
he voted for the bill that every issue made up in accord
ance with its spirit its letter and its purpose would ne
respectfully considered and fairly tried BE had had
enough simplicity and cred IT. to believe that com
mission so constituted would become mere counting
telers President OF the senate He would vote 10
sustain the objections decision OF the Commission
He was in favor OF proceeding without unnecessary delay
to completion Of the count and he declared u 10 DC LIS
best Judgment the Democrats OF the House, OF the
Senate Louisiana and of the Union should submit 10 the
insta OF minority President under the findings OF
the Commission. II they did so as sacrifice OF Their
dearest interest OF their convictions for the
peace Of the country the future would witness snch
condemnation and overthrow ia the incoming Repnbi-
can administration as had happened in no country whose
choice of a chief executive had been dlsresaraed and
treated with contempt by usurper whose Only title 20
office came through rotten returning board the most
Infamous the most desperate the most despscd body OF
men that had ever organized and charged with an
important political duty.
SPEECH OF PROF. sEELYE.
Mr.. seeye Rep Mass.l said
Mr. SPEAKER: 1t is perhaps generally true that in dis
cusons 80 earnest say excited, this, neither
marty may be altogether right altogether In
the btteres disputes each side may have somewhat to
Justify it, both sides, perhaps, being correct IN what
they affirm and only mistaken in what they deny.
suppose should never have any contention among
triehearted If each had clear understanding OF
the ground occupied 10y the other In TINS case OF le
Louisiana elections II 20 me qulte cieaI th t,
which each party brings against the other are III te
main true No facts were ever proved more cnared
siYely than the frauds ana corruption cIdi gu gu
upon the one party, ana lntlmiaau2n ana Ile
cruelty cnapseo and dV dd tbe worse in the wropgdoing
il would hard to The corruption on the one sue
seems as henous the cruelty the other side Is horn
bic and the extent Of either does not seem limited eX-
cent as necessities Of the case ola not permit or we
il therefore impossible TO determine which OF the two
sets of electors sending their certificates from Louisiana
voices the Will Of the people OF thaJ state III Tue
late election aud it equally beyond my power 10 aunt
the prOprety accepting either cannot eGagSerate
The reluctance win when dr from the wise ana can
did men-Wser and more candid men IL WOulu ot ndu 10
sndybo have pronounced the dgment of the Electoral
Commission upon which are now TO vote acknowi-
edge Unink appreciate, the strength OF the po7iti9h
Ne cannot be TOO jealous the constitutional right Of
state TO choose Presidential electors IN such manner
AS tle Legislature thereof may direct We cannot DC
too careful Of Congressional Interference WIN T uJ
accredited results Of such choice Nheher we HhG OF
dislike 1t, the right OF state 10 choose r h Tl'G
tors IN its way and TO ascertain ana cetiIy tneto
in such forms as 1t may pIescrl2e rs Dy oI our i" W
mi control admit all this N technical statement Oh
a clear principle OF our Constitution pIhoiPi, NO.
over in it, general application as wise as 10 is ci,i
s,,n1g1 aiitrc cases where the law strictly interpreted
and strrnnOusly enforced, works OUT result "hic c.l
Of the law asiae anu t the spirit OF Iightcousncss
. d.fa piues
comes before IN the pCndinR Issue uIhit cu-ahu
TINS seems beyond dlspue-tat lue ElGoTi' nti,n
siam have strictly and accurately applied the IOnsutu-
tOD and the TO the question lad DeIoie lt' set
~ isvs must ultimately rest becomes thereby sub
yertedl Granted that tine decision reached IA larry
within the yet what II the pound OF nesh eahot Oe
taken without drop of blood what u TINS JeaOus
care Of the rights and prerosatlYes Ol o'as G ~
foster faction, and blunt The sense OF justice ana 5
iIe prevalence Of fraud that the very i0unuduOh OF
rights shall dlsdpptaIi ~, r. suicIa nnisnn \, en-
died except by suicide, ana Ihc sI poisVH Uer
g.udered not much in arbitrary statutes OI Govern
Sornt AS I'm immoral practices OF people whicn the GOV
ernment docs not punish ana canlO. RS I'm " M
csse fear that the strict and accurate reFpIetdo VI
ths CONSTITUTION applied TO the electoral vote OF Louis
lana would imper that vote In the future ana increase
the very dangers WIch thr COhSlI.ul . nv ',o
avoid that am unaDie W coHoui WIN ~ " if
tlOn. .,., ,,vp.rV
Mr. Joyce REP, VT supported the decision OF the
Electoral Commission, and asked whether anybody sup
d that # the decision had been the other way the
calling sounds about corruption would have been heard
from the Democratic party.
Mr.. Levy Dem La made an appear 10 inc great gen
- American heart on behalf Of the state Ia thlS hOur
f dn,nesc and of national peril. ana ne went on W ug
o, nc me frauds committed by the Returning Board
ord m which the Commission now gave ioee dhd eHect
Mr. Townsend kep, Peun defended we aCton VI nc t
Commission and argued that 1t was tied Go"9 by 'ie
CONSTITUTION and law. and that II was oOuhu 20 70
the certificates returned 70 Ins fIeSiuo"' VI ~"
Mr. MCMAHON Dem, OhiO) said that, in his opinion,
tho decision of the Commission in the case Oh
US worse IN its consequence 70 the American poope
than he decision in the Florida case IN mat case Le
had simply diHregar0ed tne ~"
~ sttemDted 10 oyerrule H. He had been 10 Loushhh,
30 he could say that Samuel j. Illden had carried
dnusapa Ia fairly and honestly as Hayes hao carIieo
Ohio .. ---.--.- -. .a,... .,o ,,-opo and
ioncs emboded in the decision and argued thal the
whole subject should be referred back 10 the
By this decision Government OF order wac 10 De sup
D.ntea nv Government Of fraud and violence; and ne
feared that IL was the beginning OF the emu oi 'he
republican Institutions Of the country A.
acop of the Returning Board but he asked what must
100 haar ths condttIon of a made such a
.e-H YN-- w nrdeG 10