The New York herald., 1878-03-14
Montgomery Blair's Resolutions Discussed in
The Maryland Legislature
DlSQUlETING ASSERTIONS.
President Hayes Both De-
nounced and Defended.
BLAIR DEF T. A II T. d.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

ANNAPOLIS, Nd. March 13, lS7S
The resolutions and memorial OF Montgomery Blair
came up before tho Maryland House OF Delegates AS
the order Of the Gay eight O'Clock tonight, the
motion being to substitute the resolution and me
mortal for the unfavorabe report OF the Committee
Federal Relations, which had the same under con-
sideration
Philip Frank Thomas said that 1t had been his in
tenton to make tow remarks upon the subjeci, but
Wow OF the brief time left the Legislature Tor work
OF Importance during the present and the
pie discussion that had already taken place he could
not SEQ the utility oil any further remarks being
made, as he had no doubt every member Of the
House had fully made up his mind on the subject
Mr. Scharf (deml OF Baltimore city, and chair
man Of the committee, spoke In support OF the un
favorable report saying that he did think that
anything Congress could do toward tho Presidential
problem would be Improvement upon the
action of the Electoral Commission. The voice OF
Maryland has already been heard by tho vote
OF her representatives In the resolutions Of the Sd Of
March, 1877, which declared that in the opinion of
that House Tilden and Hendricks iarly elected
President ana Vice President oi the United States.
He defended Mr.. Blair from tho attacks made
upon his actions while member OF Mr.. Lncon's
Cabinet and recitcd how he bad used his influence In
protecting the citizens Of Maryland from the tyranny
OF stanton and his provost marshals.
MR. THOMAS SPEECH.
Mr. r. i. Thomas said he cou.d not see what good
could come out OF further discussion The rcsoiu-
tions nigh: to reflect upon tho democratic
House OF Representatives, us they may reflect upon
commission If the latter he had nothing to say
against the resolutions for he bcey cd with the great
majority OF The people of the United slates that il
pcrpetrated gross fraud upon popular
nights, but he protested against them II
they reflected upon tho action OF tho democratic
House. Sir. BLAIR has named John Young Brown und
Mr.. Lamar, OF Mississippi, AS iusgatcd by Tom
the interests Of the Union Pacific Railroad 10 inau
ssa'I 10 the Presasncy Mr. Thomas defended "s thesS
gentlemen. anu asserted that the. action OF these
democrats and OF tho democratic House higher
grouud and the insnuations OF Mr.. Blair were pro-
found absurdiy. He protested against charging
these gentlemen with any combination by
which this fraud was perpetratcd. The whole
country demanded that tho bill tor the commission
should be adopted. amt when 1t was passed the
sense oi honor submit to its decisions They lou I'd
that unless they carried out tho PROVISIONS OF tho b
there would nave been IN interregnum, and war
would have been the inevitable result with anarchy
| bloodshed aud confusion.
WAS Tulsp
The constitution made provision for the election
of President ana Wee President should the commis-
sion ia 10 carry out the provisions OF the bill. And
why was this SO Becausi noLo cf the wise men VINO
framed laws upon That subject imagined that
tpis state OF things would ever ransprc The action
| OF tho democracy was to savc the government from
utter ruin. The speaker was humble member Of that
Congress- aud he refused 10 JON tho 1hbusters upon
| tho ground that IL would bring anarchy in the
country Mr.. Nlden did not counsel ilibustering.
| He was a more conservative and consderae man. aud
WAS not wiling TO be placed III the Presidcntiu chair
mon IN runs or his country II Tom scott was so
| pow orful and could make Huyes President, why did
| no not get the subsidies he SO much waniedY The
House not willing 10 risk the consequences OF
| interrcgnum, which would have occurred had the
| electoral votes failed Of count
! YOUNG BROWN DEFENDED.
| Mr.. Thomas defended Jonn Young Brown from the
charges OF completely with Scott and others Tor tho
| defeat OF Mr.. rilden aud said that he (BrowD)
considered himself bound by honor to oppose
! niibusterlng and stand by tue decision OF
the commission. He believed that there was
u consultation In which there were assurances that
If Mr. Hayes became President the States OF Louisiana
and South Caroiaa would be restored TO sell-govern-
ment, but denied that there was any consldera-
tion or bargain IN the premises. Mr. Thomas
| denied that there was any power In this
| country 10 decide Presidential election except IN
the two houses OF Congress- anu there provision
any jurisdiction IN tho premises Tnis is political
question and can be decided by Congress alone.
| MONTGOMERY DLAiR's ADDRESS.
| Mr. Blair arose ana said that while members may
vindicate themselves, they TAIL to touch the roal
question, whcn is, Shall tho will OF tho people be
ovcrridden by combinations over which they
| control 2 This couuiry has Locome u prey, and
the people have been robbed by stupepdous
fraud. He wished 10 vindicatc the rights
OF tho people and place them a solid foundation
These gentlemen may have apparions before their
| imaginuiions This fraud ucnt President was over.
ridden a week or SO ago in the most c0ntuma.
cous manner by great majority OF both
par.ios, which showed in how small an
|
people. Mr. Blair then proceeded to read his resolu-
tons and defend tho sentiments therein expressed by
pointing out the truth OF their assertions to tho
presence OF the military TO uphold tho perpetraton OF
The fraud IN IFS ,nc'piency ana contamination.
| sLEDGE HAMMER ARGUMENTS
Resuming, he sa.d :--.'Must great people submit
quietly TO So great crimcY Then indeed the nation
inoribund" The speaker arragned the aimuislra.
ton of Grant. asserting that tho corruption or his
reign had impoverished the country, ana that 1t
was the strong arm OF The military that
iosted fraud into the Presidential char He asked
| hat thori Ot 10 To
ask Its Ia Congress and the democracy
generally II It was not possible that somo judicial
| the popular will Mr.. Blair gave history
OF tile formation Of tic Electoral Tribunal,
aud stated that the democrats were mslei nto votin
Tor the bill forming The commission uton tho assur-
ance OF the republicans that that commission should
go into the merits ol tho case. that -, be1iud
It's inconsistent ncts, standing by the Governor s
certificates IN one case and tho Returning Boards
! IN the next Sir. Blair said he Was no aspirant
| for Office and hoped that no ono would look
| at tins subject with prejudice toward HIM.
| He only sought TO- promote the welfare OF
| tho people Ho has been arraigncd for his actions
| In the past Ho was but atom In tho march OF
great events, and hoped that whatever mistakes, real
| or imagined ho had made would not lead melnbers
| 10 vote In opposition TO his resolutions.
LET US HAVE PEACE.
Mr. Lcib, republican, said That the people OF the
country, the men who fought on either side wish
let this matter alone, while the country marches into
prosperity and peace, and ye, the dstin.
| pe OF dscord in our midst. Tho gentleman
has no following in Congress or the country. His ac-
tion may have the element OF boldncss IN II, but
no statcsmanship. Tho speaker defended Pres
ident Hayes ana said he was leading tho
armies of the country TO battle, while he (Mr
Blur) WAS dreaming over his Uiopi,n schemes.
Tnrce Governor oil the great State oi Ohio, member
oil Congress- and leaving ms blood upon the eopes OF
South Mountain, 1t Is unbccofniDg III the gentleman
from Montgomery to denOmiuate tho President as a
"wretch."
The discu ssion lasted until near mid ight, when
by consent other resolutions offered
by Mr. Blair as substitute for tho uniavor-
able report, IN which II Is asserted that
by acquiscence In tho Presidential fraud Congress
invites future usurpatons ana the deposition oil Mr.
Tllden Is denounced as iigrant outrage.
The resolutions were rejected tor want OF a consti.
tutona majority Tho vote was-ycas 81 nays ~