The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-02-28

efnm6nC uHu Debu lnhuBuThleui uO man
whether poor or rich who committed a
crime had escaped punishment. He de-
MED that the Returning Board was being
persecuted on political grounds. Who
had anything to gain by that? Certain
ly not the people OF Louisiana. Certain
ly not the National Democratic party for
Hayes's title had been passed on by
Congress. The Returning Board was be-
ing prosecuted for forgery, That the
crime of forgery was triable in so far af
the recent election was concerned but II
was crime of enormous proportions and
the man who falsifed returns struck a
blow at civil liberty aud free govern
ment If this movement in Louisiana,
which appeared to be very simple one,
was to excite the public mind, to excite
animosiEes which he had hoped were
sleeping, in Northern communities, lie
should deplore it more than any other
man.
Mr.. Elan went into the history of re-
turns from Vernon parish and the action
of the Returning Board in that case. In
view of what had occurred during the
last fifteen years, and in view of the at
tempt which was now being made to re-
conCile all portions of the country it was
unfortunate that this issue should come.
1t could produce no practical result. The
President and his Cabinet had no right
however, to interfere with State Court
He believed that the trial Of General An
derson had been fair and honest, but if
any law had been violated an appeal
should be taken to the Supreme Court.
Mr.. Carlisle quoted from a speech
made by President Hayes to prove that
troops were withdrawn from Constitu-
tional duty and not as an act of Concilia-
tion.
Mr.. Hale asked then if the people of
the South were placed under any obliga-
ton by it,
Mr.. Gibson replied that they were
placed under the highest obligations that
American citizens could assume. The
obligations of freemen in free State in
the American Union were to obey the
laws of the United States and to obey the
laws of that State.
Mr.. Clymer said every portion Of the
country outside the borders of Louisiana
as well as in it, was interested in the pro-
ceedings now taking place in that State.
In behalf Of the people whom he repre-
sented he could say that they desired
persons connected with the electoral
fraud as principals, should be punished,
and that all who were abettors and aid
ers should be punished, because while
the country might have to submit to the
consequences of fraud in the interest of
human liberty, all the people everywhere
should know and by whom the great
crime had been perpetrated. This ques-
ton should not be considered as a local
one, The whole people should give en-
couTagement to the people of Louisiana
to go right forward and discover who |
were the principals. He denied that any |
agreement implied from resolutions
adopted by the Louisiana Legislature of
any expressions used by Gov. Nichols |
were binding on him or anybody. The
Returning Board prosecutions could do
no harm in the present and they might
be of immense value in the future.
Mr.. Thompson asked Clymer what
remedy he would propose in case the au-
thorities of Louisiana should prove re-
creant to their duty and refuse to punish
a criminal.
Mr. Cymer-Give us entire authority
and we will see that the laws are en-
forced.
Mr. Thompson-Who do you mean by
Gus"
Mr.. Clymer-The Democratic party
[ Laughter.
Mr.. Patterson-That is a nice sort of
people to keep order, Laughter
Mr.. Garfield next obtained the floor
and said the strict letter of the law had
been adhered to at the end of the rebel
ion there would have been an end to the
awful spectaCles of prosecution and pun
shment (under the law signed by George
Washington against those who had
the crime of treason.
Mr.. Gibson asked if Garfield held the
heory that every man in the Confeder- Z
tie service had been guilty of treason
Cries of yes, from the Republican side) !
Mr.. Garfield replied that he was un-
Wiling to 60 back to that question, He (
would only answer by asking the gentle. !
nan to look at the naked statute passed
" the first Congress and signed by
ieorge Washington and then let him as
lawyer answer his own question. He
yent on to say that the President had +
arried on his purpose further than any :
ther American citizens had ever car q
led on a great purpose to accomplish r
esult. 7
Mr.. House-Has he had the support y
the Republican party in the North in +
is efforts at Conciliation and restoring h
eaCe to the country? n
Mr. Garfield-He has had their sup h
ort just as in so far as they had reason +
} believe that a reciprocity of feeling +
ould follow his efforts. Applause on a
le Republican sidel. There was, how. 4
YER, different degree of faith among v
~ brethren here as to how far that re. /,
proCity would go. !,
Mr.. House asked if the entire Repub. h
can party with here and there an ex. :
option, had not opened a war upon u
resident Hayes for his attempt to con. h
late the country and charged him with d
eserting his party. Applause on the h
emoCratic side and cries of "No, sir" n
4 the Republican sidel n
MI NhIuelu T6pll6u bnaJ Gl6f6 laQ al" n
ays been men here and there who dis o o
usted the result Of that policy, and he Il
as grieved to see that that number had a,
zen increasing week by week and re i
ntly hour by hour. [Applause]. t.
WHY TROOPS WERE REMOVED.
Mr.. Waddell asked if troops had not G
zen removed from the South as a mat.
r Of constitutional duty, and did not
10 Republican party make war on the
resident for that? n
Mr.. Garfield replied that the with i
avail of troops from the Governors 81
ON and Office in New Orleans was ~ :,
duty. AS a political stu. Il
mt he (Garfeld) had never doubted o %
ID did not doubt to-day that Packard II
I'd been honestly and fairly elected ~