The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-01-09
Memorial on the Electoral Fraud,
Introduced In the Maryland HOpse
OF Delegates by Hon. Montgomery
Blair.


ResoEred, By the House Of Delegates
the Senate coreurring, That the following
memorial be signed by the President of
the Senate and Speaker of the House,
and copies thereof transmitted to the
President Of the Senate of the United
States, and to the speaker of the House
OF Representatives.
I'd, Resclr>d. That our Senators in Con-
gress be and hereby AZ" requested to fa-
vor the object of the memorial, and that
copies OF the came be for srded to them.
The following is the memorial:
To the Senate and House of Representa-
trueS, in Congress assembled:
Your memorialists, the General As
sembly OF the State of Maryland, repre-
sent that by the terms OF the act of the
Forty. fourth Congress establishing the
Electoral Commission, it was provided
that no decision of the Presidential cleo
tion under that act should preclude
the judicial decision of the question; that
the obvious intent OF this provision was
to assure the people that it would be de-
termined on its merit by the proper judi
cial tribunal, IN event that the Commits
sion should hold itself incompetent to
inquire whether the formal returns of
the several States which were submitted
to it were Il ue or false; that in consequence
of this decision the present incumbent OF
the Presidential chair was seated N vir-
tue of the returns, which were notorious
| ly false aud fraudulent, and 80 in effect
| admitted by Mr.. Justice Strong, whose
vote seated him, and also by the incum-
! bent himself in disregard to those returns
rs respects Stste officers whose titles to
office were also based upon them, and
we're in every respect identical wi tn bis
own; that whilst repudisting those re-
! turns by the incumbent for all purposes
save his own election, is an admission
that it was fraud to use them for that
| purpose, the motives which induced
this partial repudistion greatly aggravste
his otIense; that by the published state
ment of Mr.. John Young Brown, which
has remained uncontrsdlcted since April, |
1877, it appears that this repudistion was
the condition imposed by said Brown |
and his associates, then holding the |
balance of power in the House OF Repre- |
sentatives, upon which alone the incum.
bent would be allowed TO be counted into |
office upon thesu false returns; |
that this condition was accept. |
ed for tho incumbent by Messrs
Stanley Matthews and Charles Foster
then and since his closest friends, and |
nos. authoritative representatives; that
the said Brown and his associates had |
been elected AS adversaries OF the iGcum-
bert, but had separated from the great |
body of their political associates in the |
House of Representatives to carry INTO
effect said arrangement; that st the time
of entering into il they were advocates
of bill then pending IN said House to
grant large subsidy to the Texas Pa
cifc Railroad Company, 10 which the
President-elect was known 70 be op-
posed, and it is iust Inference from all
the circumstances that whilst they were
willing to defeat his Inauguration
for this reason they could
not venture TO set with their
political opponents for that object,
If such cooperation involved also the
surrender of the local governments Of
the States IN question Ms well rs tha. of
|
ponents; that 10 remove the obstacles It
WAS stipulated in effect that the inCum:
bent should treat the returns ~ frsudu-
lent 80 far ss they affected the local gov
ernments OF said States, by Withdrawing
the United States troops, the presence Of
which alone, il WAS known, gave them
any force; that it thus appears that the
constitutional question, 50 grsvely and
elaborsteIy debated in Congress before
the Electoral Commission, and in the
public press ne the question upon winch
the PresIdentisl contest hinged, and
with which the public mind
was 30 long exercised, hsd no psrt what,
ever in determining the contest, but was
in tact determined BY body OF men
elected by one party, but openly acting
with their opponents m the interest OF
certain railroad corporations ~ the deci-
sive moment; that every interest OF the
country is greatly prejudlccd, and its
most vital Interests sTe put IL jeopardy
BY suffering the people to be superseded
as the political power, srd substituting
Ior them such monied organizations A.
will pay for defrsuding them; that IN the
opinion OF your memOraiIsts the ConuH-
ued prOstrstiOn Of the business q the
country l. largely due 10 the fsc' 'Es'
the confidence OF the people IN lhe con-
iuct OF public officers Is ssakeoi tnAt al
irresponsible executive. setninS'rS'ion
has been Installed, |hlcb mas NOV
the support Of the country or
e,ther ~ is great political psrsiesi
thai this oosdicis sith The theory Of Re-
npbI,c.n Institutions, and that oi ne |
notbsr country whence they were derIv.
ad; that 10 carry on or 10 ge: Pe-session
OF the government, the incnmoe mt mus;
seek support from thCse elected ne hf
opponents; that this relS,loa is ~ Itself
corrupllpg, Is shown By all experience;
that no useful public sileace can be rem
dsrrd by sn sdministI alton whose title
10 power rests on fraudulent election re- !
turns manufactured By ~ own pzr,i-
sans, and made effective by al agree.
ment with subsidy, and the iobbIng men
Of the opposing party; that The lndspen- !
sable first step 70 any reform Of pubic
service ls 70 restore the government "
the people; that II is only 0y men who
have been elected by the people, and
ylg are free from SlI enisngsfnE
alliances with the jobbing interests from
which slf the great souses have sprung,
that any reform can be effected. Your
nemors lists therefore pray that Deediul
legislation msy be adopted 70 Ascsrtsin
judicis.Iy y hs was elected President a.
The recent election snd 70 give sisct 70
the viii Of the people, and vii ever
pray, &c.
Mr. Blair sdyocaisd his memorial,
urging its sdoption And reviewing sener-
Ally rresideni Hayes title 70 the Office.
Mr.. Lord. Republican. moved 70 lay
the memorial on the table, and called Tor
the Ayss ard nays, which resulted IN s
vote 0 10 70 a Il Was then rs.erfed u
the Committee on Fsderzl Relations.
aoIIie HaEuire Sentenced
PorTsvILLE, PA, January s-Pennit,
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