The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-05-23
Coz sieREsslONAL.
HousE.

In the house, on the 18th, Mr.. Potter,
as a question Of privilege presented the
following preamble and resolution; Whereas,
The state of Maryland has, by its legislature,
formally declared that due effect was not
given to the electoral vote cast by that state
on the 9th day of December, 1876, by reason
OF fraudulent returns in the electoral votes
from the states of Florida and Louisiana
and Whereas, As an affidavit by Samuel B.
McLin, chairman of the board of state can
vassers, of the state of Florida, for the cleo
ton held IN that state in November, 1876,
for electors of president and vice. president,
has been made public, alleging false and
fraudulent returns of the votes for such
election IN that state, whereby the choice of
the people in that st tie was annulled and
reversed, and that action of the board of
state canyassers making such returns was
influenced by the conduct and promises of
Hon. Edward +. NOyes, now minister to the
government of France; and Whereas, It-is
alleged that conspiracy existed il the state
OF Eou1siana whereby the republican vote In
all the precincts of the parish OF east Felici-
ana, at a general election in November,
1876, was purposely withheld from the polls
70 afford Pretext for the exclusion by the
returning board of that state of the vote cast
in these precincts for electors of president
and vice.president and that James e. ADder-
SOD, supervisor of registration of east
Fehciana, and ID. A. Weber, supervisor of
registration in the parish of west Fehciana,
IN that state, III turtheranee Of that con.
| spiracy falsely protested that she election in
such precincts had not beer fair and free,
and that the state returning thereupon
! falsely and fraudulently, excluded the votes
| OF said precincts, and by means thereof and
other false and fraudulent action by said
returning board the choice OF the people of
/ that state was Rnnulled and reversed, and
| that such action of said Weber and Ander-
! son was indRced or encouraged by assurances
| of Hon. John Sherman, secretary of the
treasury of the United States And, whereas,
The gravity of these charges, the nature of
evidence upon which they are reported to
| be based, and tine official dignity and posi-
zion of the persons named in connection
( with said frauds, make it proper that the
| same should be inquired into to the end that
! the honor of the nation may be vindicated
| and the truth as to sueh elections made
/ known. Therefore be it resolved, That a
| select committee, consisting of II members
| from this house, be appointed to inquire
| into the aforesaid allegations as to the con =
! duct of persons in Office aforesaid, in respect
| of said election, and into the alleged false
| and fraudulent canvass and return of votes
| by state, county, parish precinct officers in
the said states of Louisiana and Florida, and
| into all the facts which, in the judgment of
| said committee are connected with or perti~
| nent thereto, and that said committee, for
| the purpose of executing this resolution,
| shall have power to send for persons and
| papers, to administer oath, and to take testi-
| mony, and in their discretion to detail sub
| committees with like full authority of said
| COMMITTEES in every particular, and with
| power to set in Florida and Louisiana
which subcommittee shall be committees
of this house, and the chairman thereof shall
be authorized to administer Oaths. That
said committees and sub committees may
employ stenographers, and be attended,
! each bya deputy sergeant-at-arms, and may
set during the sessions of this house, and
| during nd too
proceed IN their enquiry, and have leave to
| report at any time The republican side OF
| the house hereupOn resorted to the parlia-
| mentary eXpedient of Withholding their
votes, so that when the question came TO be
/ tested oy the tellers, there were only lie
ayes to nay. No quorum voting, Mr.. Potter
moved the call of the house, which was
made, and all the republicans answered to
their names, SO that no further proceedings
! under the call could be takeu.. Mr. Potter
then asked the speaker whether if the house
adjourned now this question would come VI
as unfinished business. The speaker in,
formed him that it would remain before the
house until disposed of. Adjourned.
In the house. on the 14th, immediately
after the reading of the journal, demand,
for the regular order were made on botI
sides of the house, and the speaker an
nounced the regular order. On seconding
the demand for the previous question on
the resolution offered yesterday by Mr.. Pot
ter the republicans refrained from voting
thus leaving the house without quorum, q.
there were but one hundred and eleven
democrats present, one hundred and forty
six being necessary to make a quorum. j
all of the house was then ordered, the call
disclosing the fact that there were two hume
dred and fortY-five members present
Further proceedings under the call were
dispensed with, and the question recurred
on seeonding the demand for the previous
question, when the republicans again re-
sorted to filibusteriDg tactics, and the house
was left without a quorum, the democrats
being able to muster only one hundred and
thirteen voters .. Mr.. WoOd-As the faeti-
Gus minority seem determined to ObstFuc'
business, move that the house adjourn .....
The motion was opposed by the republicans
butwas carried by yeas $50, nays l04.
In the housA, on the 18th, after another
Intellectual attempt to secure a ouorum fhe
hou e. on motion of Mr.. Potter, adjourned
without division.
The house, on the 10th, adjourned
without transaCting any business.
I! In the house. on the 18th, the regular
order of business was demanded ~
Mr. Potter, and the question recurTed on