The Portland daily press., 1878-05-15
WE'D ESDAY MORNING, MAY IL.

report at any time. which be sustained and
Potter struck that provision out of the resolu-
ton.
The effect of all these decisions was that the
resolution must be Immediately considered as
privileged question, aud that majority vote
only vas required to adopt it, Potter was now
again recognized, and demanded the previous
question, after reiterating that he did not now
contemplate any disturbance of the tenure of
the President in his office, but sought only to
probe the charges of fraud that had been made
in connection with the election, for the salts
faction OF the country. Hale asked Potter to
yield in order to enable him to offer an amend
mept. The Democrats cried out: 'No! Mop
Potter declined to yield 10 order to permit the
amendment TO be offered, unless he was first
Informed of its nature. Hale offered to send it
to the clerks desk to be read. Potter would
not allow that. Hale said it was germane to
the purpose of the resolution and proposed
further investigation in the same direction.
Potter said he would permit any amendment to
be offered which related to the elections in
Florida and Louisiana or fraud in any State
which had been operative to accomplish the
result of seating the incumbent of the Presi-
dency. Hale said it extended the investigation
into other States where fraud had been al
legged Potter declined TO permit it 10 be
offered, saying in effect that nothing was ger
name to the investigation proposed except it
tended to discover frauds by virtue of which
Hayes had obtained the Presidency. This dec
larati0n revealed the real aim of the business as
partisan movement, having for its ultimate
object the impeachment of the Presidents title.
Potter had all along denied only present pur-
pose to uDseat the President, saying that he
could not say what course might be taken in
view of the evidence that might be obtained.
Hale and Garfield at once attacked the narrow
and partisan scheme which proposed to search
into but one kind of frauds, and those of one
patty and to resist every effort to get at the
whole truth Garfield was especially strong and
severe 10 his exposure of the inconsistency of
Potter'S last declaration with his former ones
He at once declared. the Republicans shouting
their assent. that if he would amend his resolu-
ton SO as to institute full and bipartisan in
vestigaton of all the frauds alleged upon prob
able grounds affecting the result of the late
election, it should have the unanimous support
OF the Republican side of the house. But if it
was TO be an investigation to manufacture par
ty capital for the use of the Democracy in the
fall campaigns, the Republicans must be ex-
cused from helping to order il Potter insisted
on his refusal TO YIELD The Democrats wrought
up now to a degree of excitement, unwilling
to brook delay called for the vote. The Speaker
put the question on recording the demand for
the previous question. The Democratic side
shouted ''yea" and the Republican side shouted
'nay". division was called fOr,-109 DEM
ocrats stood up When the other side was
called upon to rise not man stood up, and as
soou as the vote was announced, cries of "nC
quorum" came from the Republican side
Tellers were ordered and 115 Democrats passed
between the tellers in the affirmative, and no
body 10 the negative. A call of the House was
now ordered aud while it was in progress Ran
dali left the chair to confer with the Democrats
on the situation, and there was much brief
caucusipg. The Democrats were surprised by
the Republican tactics, and very mad. After
while the roll-call was suspended and by Ran
dalPs advice a motion to adjourn was made
and carried, Randall ruling that the question
should come up as unfinished business