The daily gazette., 1877-11-24
The Facts as Agreed Upon
REPUBLICAN SENATORS vIRTU.
ALLY ADMIT HAYES TO
BE A FRAUD.
The T,lden Majority in Louisiana and the
Returning Bodrd-AdmiSSion that
May Cause Trembling in the
White House


Returning Board-Adnatssion that
May Cause Trembling in the
White House.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22.-The Senate
Committee ON Privileges and Elections
held two meetings to-day with closed
doors. The proceedings show a fixed
determination on the part of the six Re-
publican members of the committee to
cloak the fraud by which Kellogg was
elected Senator through the old device
of the Electoral Commission, the refusal
to hear evidence. 1t will be remembred
that after an attempt to decide the Spof-
sfork-Kellogg issue upon the prima facie
pretence in open Senate, it was referred
to the committee, which decided to hear
the case on its merits. Successive pre-
sentations of the case finally brought the
material Issues up. Spofford charged
fraud upon the Returning Board, and
Kellogg demanded an inquiry into the
methods by which the Packard Legisla-
/ ture was broken up.
The title and the policy of Hayes were
| both likely to be impeached in this pre-
| cedure, but the committee ordered evil
dence to be heard, and steps have been
taken to summon witnesses and lay papers
before the committee. Till yesterday no
| question existed but that the investlga-
| ton into this subject would last into the
regular session, and the records of the
committee bear abundant evidence that
this was the intention OF the majority.
1t is not easy TO estimate the conse-
quences of such an inquiry, in which the
Democrats of the committee propose to
uncover the fraudulent transactions oil
the Returning Board and their cocoon
spirators from first to last. The sudden
danger that Butler and Eustis would be
IseaJed forwlth in the Senate made anoth
or vote imperati vely necessary, and the
six Republican members OF the commit
tee have stultified themselves by series
of votes looking to the ex clusion of evi
dence and the immediate admission by
both sides of the facts upon which they
can agree.
In view of this action the delay during
the first five weeks becomes wholly un
necessary and inexcusable, but no diff
Guilty has been found in securing six Re
publican Ivotes upon each motion look
Ing to this summary concealment ol
Fraud. By skilful MANAGEMENT, how
ever, the three Democrats have forcee
the Republicans to series of dangerou;
admissions in the Louisiana case. They
admit, without the usual caveat in regart
to violence and intimidation, that tn,
ballots in the boxes gave S,0UO Demo
, cratic majority. They admit that tht
affidayits upon which alone the Return
ling Board could act were affixed to tn,
canvass of votes after the time appointed
by law and in New Orleans. They admi
that force was used to secure the presence
of Stevens to make up quorum in th'
Packard Senate. They admit that the
members seated by the rump quorumt
n and the Packard Legislature subsequent
, ly waived all right to seat and pressed
| no contest before the now existent ant
recoe nized Legislature of Louisiana.
The work of sitting the facts alleged
by each contestant will be continued a
the adjourned meeting to be held to-mor
= row, and at which the decision of the ma
iority of the committee will be announ
oed. The admissions already made shov
. that the right of the Returning Boar,
members of the Packard Legislature {,
their seats will be based upon the fac
8 that they held the certificate of the Re
, turning Board without reference TO tn
illegal and fraudulent character of it
/ acts, proof in regard to which Is to b
! treated as aliunde. Many of the fact
which prove the Fraud Will be adduce'
| from the evidence which the actlon OF tn
committee made part of the case to-day
to wit, all the testimony taken Dy elthe
e chamber in the Louisiana case last viii
ter.
will prepare a report for the Republ
, cans. There is a curious report atioa
however, that Morton left an opinion o
the subject, his last state paper. a II
: mort will probably be made by Monday
. and the floor be given it by Wheeler owe
}. Thurman's motion, as question of par;
d mount privilege.