Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-06-20
The House Declares the PreSi-
dents Title Settled.
Aud an Attempt 10 AnnuI the
Decision Ofihe Electoral Conn.,
mission Revolution.


a Washington special OF Friday
evening to the Cincinnati Gazette says
that the question OF the Presidential
title was, doubtless, settled in the
House this afternoon, so far as this
Congress is concerned. A resolution,
proposed by Mr.. Burehard, of Illinois,
declaring that il is not competent to re.
wise the action of the last Congress, Or
to anuul the decision of the Electoral
Commission, and that any ATTEMPT to
do so would be revolution, was passed
by the extraordinary vote of 2l6 yeas
to q nays. Immediately after this re-
solution was read, the Democrats dis
covered that they had fallen into q
trap. There was intense anxiety and
CONSERVATION on the Democratic side
as the roll call proceeded, and the
Democrats almost in body declined
ans wer to their names, and assembled
in little knCts about their side of the
chamber, uncertain what course to pur-
sue. A more effective parliamentary
broadside has not been fired into the
Democratic ranks this session. As roll
call proceeded, leading Democrats
began to vote with the Republicans.
AS the roll call neared its end it became
apparent that the number of Democrats
who had the courage to stand up
against the public opinion of the coun-
try was very small, and when the call
was completed it was found that there
were twenty-one. Democrats vino were
unwilling to declare that any attempt
to ivade the Presidential title was re-
volution. These twenty-One were,
Black burn, of Kentucky, member of
the Potter committee, and one of the
most active of the filibusters during
the Presidential count, and a gentle
man whose purpose on the Potter CON-
mittee is understood to be to proceed
to un5eat President Hayes if sny pos
sible ground could be found for it.
Then followed Bliss, of New York, q
strict party man; Boone, of Kentucky,
and Bragg, of Wisconsin, whose cour-
age failed later in the day, and who
voted in an exactly opposite way on
the resolution from the Judiciary Com
mittee. Bragg's vote is double
header. He seems to have intended
that he should have a record on both
sides of this great question. His
trepidation between the two roll calls
was marked and painful. Then Came
Cook, of Ga, Confederate Brigadier;
Sunset Cox, of New York, who shouts
fraud; Elan, of Louisiana, a last
ditcher; Fuller and Hamilton, of
Indiana; Hardenbergh, of New Jersey;
Hinkle and Henry, of Maryland.
Northern doughfaces; Hewitt, of New
York Samuel J.. Tilden's adjutant, the
very man who, this session, in speech
in Congress, declared the title of Presi-
dent Hayes irrefragable. There were,
besides, Mayhem, Of New York;
Phelps, of Connecticut; Pridemore, ol
Virginia; Robertson, OF Louisiana, a
last ditcher; Smith, of Georgia; South
ard, of Ohio, Warner, of Connecticut,
and last and most stalwart of them all,
VIM. NJ. Springer, of Illinois, who
wished to leave the door open for the
Potter committee, of which he is q
member, to bring in resolution to
unseat the President, if ground could
be found for such action.
The Democrats had intended to sub
NIT their report from the Judiciary
Committee at the night session, but
having been anticipated by the Re
publicans, they followed the leader
ship of the latter, and Immediately
presented their report, declaring thai
| it is not in the power of this or any
future Congress, of the Supreme Court
or of any tribunal which Congress may
establish, to revise the decision of the
Electoral Commission. The report wa:
signed by the Republicans and Demo
Gratis, with the single exception o
Proctor Knott, Chairman of the Judi
ciary Committee, and of Gen. Butler
prosecutor of the Democratic case
before the Potter committee. 1t i:
worthy of notice that neither Gen.
Butler nor Clarkson Potter voted on
either resolution. They remained in
the committee room Notwithstanding
all the other members of the COM
mittee left and voted, and operation:
of the committee were suspended
Potter's refusal TO vote, for his action
must be so construed, shows that his
recent. letter can not be interpreted to
mean that the purpose of his committee
is not revolution.
The resolution of the Judiciary Com.
nittee was adopted by vote of 234
yeas to IA nays. Finley, OF Ohio, one
of the original revulutionists, and most
bloodthirsty of them all, occupied per-
haps the most ridiculous position OF
any of his little clan of warriors. He
was the first man in Congress to move
against the Presidential. title, yet to-
day, he voted that the result can not
be changed. When the Burchard re-
solution was first brought in Finley, in
demonstative way, voted against it.
Pending roll call, Foster; of Ohio, into
whose district Finley has been gerry
wandered, approached Finely and jo-
cosely told him that that vote would
secure hist Fosters detection overFinley.
it was a dangerous vote to cast, and,
after the call was ended, Finley enter
ed the arena, and with a similar de-
rnnnstrafion voted the other WHY