Daily Kennebec journal., 1878-05-15
The Presidential Struggle.
Introduction OF Resolutions COncernl M
the Florida and Louisiana Elections
The PRESIDENTIAL STRUGGLE.

NAshiSSTON, May 10, 1910.
The revolutonists have succeeded in obtainipg
the control Of the democratic party in the house
of representatives. and those OF that political faith
who agreed but few months since that the de-
cision of the electoral commission should be po.
ientis and final, have to-day taken part in an in
1ammatoty measure calculated to arouse the
partisan passions of the people. In Other lands
liberty has been ''created by arms to-day and
crushed by arms Tomorrow, but it has been our
boast that the will of the people as lawfully ex-
pressed has been always aequesced in. States
manship and prudence have prompted the acquies-
ence by the defeated in the result, and has been
reserved fur Samuel j. Illden TO have inaugural
ed measures calculated to plunge the country into
wild disorder and to uncha in the wicked passions
of civil strife. Mr. Hale and General Garfield re-
sisted the introduction Of the resolutions stanchly
on the ground that it was not a question Of priv
ilege, State having no right to demand . hear
ing except through its representatv on the floor.
General Garfield, in concluding his eloquent pro-
test, said that If the mover ofthe resolution would
say that it was to pave the way to impeachment,
then 1t was question OF privilege. II, however,
It was intended merely TO get At the validity of the
Presidents title, 1t WAS not q question OF prv-
ege, because the title had been settled by the &C
ton of both houses, and WAS out of the reach OF
either house. Looking at the democratic side,
and stating that he reserved all further questions
OF order on the resolution, he said "You have
thrown off your damnable faces, let the play 60
on.
Mr.. Mills, democratic member from Texas
took strong groun nds that this WAS no question of
privilege. He said that whstever power was vest
ed in congress in the matter of the election Of
President Hayes was vested in the 44th congress
and when it spoke and declared the prese ut in
cumbent elected. that was the end of it, Any-
Thing that the 4ith congress did in the matter
which the 45th congress attempts to set aside is
nothing short OF usurpstion Of power.
The SPEAKERS RULING.
Other representatives spoke, but at last the
speaker had to give his decision, and be e,abol-
atelv ruled that grievance from sovereign
state was the hi CHEST privilege he could conceive
of. This brought down the democratic side of
the house and their claquers in the galleries. AZ
ter some manupuvering Mr.. Conger appealed
from tue decision Of the chair and the roll wa,
called. The appeal was laid on the table by 1873
yeas against los nays. The vote was strict par
~ vote, except that General Butler and Repre-.
sentative Fort. republicans voted with the demo
Gratis TO lay on the table, and Mills of Texas and
Buckner of Missouri voted with the republicans
to set aside the speakers ruling.
GENERAL DEBATE
ensued on the resolution. Among other objec.
| tions raised, General Garfield insisted that the
majority OF the house could not authorize com
mittee TO sit during its recess, because when the
house adjourned it carried its committee. with il,
and the committee could only be allowed to sit
during recess by the suspension of the rules of
the house. Mr.. sayer had read several preced
| ents to show that frequently comm lttees had been
authorized TO sit during the r. cess by the vote of
the ma jorlty OF the house.
Mr.. Gai iield-That 10 true hut there wa, M
point of order made against il.
speaker Randall ruled on the point of allowing
charmen OF the subcommttees to administer
oaths, that It belongs with the committee it,.lf
and not with the House.
Mr.. Butler cited precedent in the Andrew
| johnson impeachment trial, wherein the chair
| man OF the sub committee on the Judiciary ad-
mlnistered oaths. and no question WAS raised a. to
| the right.
| MI Potter asserted, with q smile that VA,
chlldllke and bland, that all he and his associate.
| desired was the truth. That WAS sought by the
| eminent and experienced members of the Electo
| raj Commission. and its decisions were apparently
| accepted by men Of all parties and belonging to
! all sections, as of supreme and binding force
Now just as confidence and prosperity have begun
to dawn upon the country, they are to be bliphted
| by the cold clsmors Of New York attorneys want
ing revival OF those exciting scenes that threat
| ened the nation.
1HE WHOLE Truth Nor WANTED.
But when Mr. Hale proposed to the searcher af-
| eet uuth mat there be an investigs alton which
would unioid "the whole truth" the New Yorker
declined lie knew well that the Southera States
were CARED ior Illdeo BY force aud intimidation,
ptachced by the democrats on the colored vote,
whse 10 oregon there was reckless use Of men
ey Iot Tue one vote needed. Mr.. Potter didn't
want tnese truths, oh no he ouly wanted what
would be the first series ot meshes in a net TO be
tnfo"h over the Administration for its destruc-
uon not thst he and his partisan friends have
sno reason Tor conplsiaing Of Mr.. Hayes, but be-
cause they sre determined TO make Tilden Presi-
cent II lhey can, even If they psrslyse every ia
ou'uV ano o'iXa' every interest and degrade our