The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-14

Advertisements for The WEEKLY Sun, is
sued tomorrow morning. must be handed IL U,ts
u0,O,0 before SIR O'cOck
The resolution for the investigation OF the
Florida and Louisiana frauds was intro
duccd To the House yesterday, by Mr.
CLARKsoN n. POTTER of this State. 1t was
not passed ut the close of the days session,
owing to the absence Of many Democratic
members and the tactics adopted by the
Republicans to secure its defeat; but the
Speaker announced that il would remain
before the House until disposed Of
The preamble to the resolution refers To
the memorial Of the State of Maryland, to
MCLIS's affidavit concerning the false and
fraudulent returns from the State of Florida.
made under the influence Of EDWARD +.
MOVES, and to the alleged conspiracy
In Louisiana. through which the votes Of
certain precincts were falsely and fraudu
lently excluded 10y the Returning Board
under the influence Of JONI SHERMAN; and
it refers to the gravity of these charges, the
nature Of the evidence by which they
nre sustained, and the official posi-
ton of the persons connected with
them as reasons for their investigation,
70 that the honor OF the nation may
be vindicatcd The resolution that follows
this preamble provides for the appointment
1T "a select committee of eleven members of
the House to inquire into the alleged false
md fraudulent canvass and return of votes
md into tho conduct of the officials named
In the preamble.
As soon n the resolution was offered In
HE House yesterday a debate sprang up, I'm
which members of both parties participated
LONGER Rep.) Of Michigan said II
did not present question OF privilege; hut
to this Mr.. POTTER replied that If any sub
iect could be cnttled t. preference in the
House, IL was the memorial Of State con-
rcrning an alleged fraud which changed the
rcault of the election Of the highest officers
of the Government; and that if this inquiry
is not privileged, nothing can by
its nature be privileged. HALE and
GARFIELD argued that the resolution did
not present question OF privilege; and
they We're reinforced by MILLS, Texas
Democrat, who received applause from
the Republican side when he declared
that this Congress had no power
10 interfere with HAYES, and
that any attempt in that direction
rorcible argument upon the ground that II
privilege is limited TO an inquiry concerning
the Presidents election before he is seated,
the House must be forever prohibited from
investigating successful frauds which might
be- brought to light aitcrward. There We're
special reasons why fraud which had
been successful should he exposed; tho re-
fusal Of the House to inquire into successful
4
instead Of securing peace, would jcopardize
It. Speaker RANDALL made concise state
ment Of the facts Of the case to which the
resolution referred and made the ruling that
this resolution embraced questions Of the
highest privilege, and that he recognized
the right OF Mr. POTTER to offer it. From
this decision an appeal was taken, and Mr.
POTTER, having moved 10 lay tho np-
peal on the table, his motion was
agreed to by Il majority Of 2o-BES BUTLER
and two other Republicans voting with the
Democrats, and MILLS Of Texas and Buck
NER Of Missouri with the Republicans.
Then CoNGER OF Michigan raised two point,
OF order first, that the resolution could
not bc adopted by a mere majority
vote; and second, that it must first
be considered in Committee Of the Whole;
but both these points were, after debate,
overrulcd by Speaker RANDALL. Then
HALE of Maine desired to offer an amend
ment to the resolution, the nature Of
which he refused to announce, though
It became apparent that it went out
side Of the resolution, and proposed an
investigation Of alleged frauds in half n
dozen other States than those named in
the POTTER resolution. Mr.. POTTER declared
that the amendment was not german, and
was intended to prevent an eifectual
investigation; and he refused to accept il,
rs we'll as other amendments that We're
offered and called for the previous
question. The Republican side Of the
House horeupon rcsorted to fllibuster-
ing and withheld their votes, 50 that
less than quorum Of the House voted and
business could not be carried on. Speaker
RANDALL announced that the question
would remain before the House until dis
posed Of, and soon afterward the House adj
journed.
Had all the Democrats OF the House been
In their places and done their duty the re-
suit Of Yesterdays session would have been
different Let there be no skulkcrs to-day