Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-03-07

impartiality, and to whose decision we would al
bow in most ready spirit of cordial acquiescence
They took the question into consideration and
heard it deliberately argued, and decided, as be-
eve, nghtfully, that the electoral vote of Louis.
lana belonged to Hayes and Wheeler.
Thurman-Will the senator allow me TO inter-
rupt him.
Blaine-Certainly.
Thurman-The electoral commission decided
that it would not look behind the decision of the
returning board
Blaine-Precisely, but it did decide
Thurman-l am not through. The decision
was that it could not look behind, and therefore
would receive no evidence, but does the senator
say that the senate of the United States, that is
made the judge of elections, qualifications ard re-
turns Of its member
Blane-( lnterrupting) -The senator is too rap.
i'd am coming to that.
Thurman-(D Designating the nterrupton) -
cannot look behind that returning board.
Blane-I am coming to that in due season.
The senator will permit me TO say, however, that
the electoral commission, of which he was an hon
ored member, did decide that the Louisiana re-
turning board was constitutionally and legally
competent to make the count which determined
the electoral vote of that state. Am righti
Ihurman-A majority did.
Blaine-A majority constitutes the board
(Lsughter). Then understand the senator from
Ohio to admit that the electoral commission did
decide that the Lou isiana returning board was
what II did do, and that they were unable 10 re-
view or reverse it, and that the same board were
competent to decide who were the presidential
electors of that state. 1t declared also who were
the legislature of that state, (he legislature per-
forming mere ministerial duty) and declared
who was the governor of that state, and | stand
here If / stand alone) to say that the honor and
credit and faith of the republican party, in so far
as the election of Hayes and Wheeler is concern
ed, are as indissoubly united in maintaining the
nf tba atuf nf hat hndu tha
lustrous house of Hanover, that sits on the throne
OF England to-day, is in maintaining the rightful-
ness of the revolution of 1858.
You discredit Packard and you discredit Hayes
You hold that Packard is not the legal Governor
of Louisiana, and President Hayes has no title
and the honored Vice President who presides
over our deliberations has no title to his chair.
| say therefore that the action as the returning
board, which the Senator from Ohio admits was
determined by the electoral commission to be a
competent, legal, and constitutional body rests
the authority of 5. b. Packard to exercise the gov
ernorship OF that State, and on the authority of
that board rests the Legislature of that State
William z. Kellogg was duly elected Senator by
the Governor of that State. Thus determined
he comes here commissioned as Senator, bearing
the great seal of the State, maintain, and do
not, unless challenged upon that point, desire to
go into any Of the details of the election.
Mr.. Thurman-Do | interrupt the Senatori
Mr.. Blaine-Not at all.
luuliuAu~COts Tue StlhlOr understand
that that returning board counts the votes for
Governor and declares who is elected Governor.
Mr.. Blaine-The Legislature did that.
Mr.. Thurman-Then the Senator is in great err
ror.
Mr. Blaine-No, never said any such thing
but they were based upon the same returns pre-
cisely, and the same returning board counted the
votes for members of the legislature, and also
counted and transmitted to the legislature the
votes for governor.
Mr.. Thurman-Yes.
Mr.. Baine-That is only one degree off IN line
al descent. Its the difference between son and
grandson. Uaughter)
Mr.. Thurman-I beg to say to the Senator that
the electoral commission never decided that the
returning board was a constitutional board for
counting anything but the electoral vote fol: pres
ident and vice president.
Mr.. Blane-Do | understand the Senator from
Ohio to maintain that the returning board was
good enough to count in the electors for president
but not good enough to determine who was gov
ernors
Mr.. Thurman-If the Senator asks my opinion
say it was not good enough for anything except
to be hung. Great lsug hter.)
Mr.. Blane-l believe the gentleman In Lou
isana, whom the Seuator from Ohio represents in
his opinions, holds that the electoral commission
deserve about the same thing, or at least eight of
them.
Mr.. Thurman-A majority. (Laughter)
MIR. Blaine-l want to hold the Senator to the
point that the legislature, the governor and the
presidential electors of Louisiana all derive their
legality and their rights to act from the same
source and the same count. That if one is dis
credited the other is discredited and that the
electors having been accredited by the highest
tribunal known to the Constitution and the laws,
he is precluded from raising doubt ON the ques-
ton. 1t is therefore that l maintain without any
elaboration Of argument, that resting as Mr.. kel-
logg does his claim to Senatorship. here, upon
as broad basis, and upon precisely the same
foundation that the Presidential electors rest upon
he is entitled to be sworn in, and | say to the
Senator from Delaware, whom am always desir-
Gus of treating with courtesy, that believe the
right of Mr.. Kellogg is just as absolute
as that of Mr.. Morgan, and therefore | could
not find that was under any obligation TO yield
the one TO the other.
A debate followed, and without action the SEN
ate at 3l5 o'clock adjourned till to morrow.