The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-05-14

ing the subject treated OF in the presm
bic and resolution just read. a copy o.
that resolution has boon RENTED to thi:
House and has been referred to com
mittee within the knowledge of mem berl
of this House, in which the following
language is used: "Thst the full effect
has not been given to the
electoral vote cast by Maryland
on the 9th of November 1876, by reason
of fraudulent returns made from other
States and allowed TO be counted pro,
vissionaliy by the commissioners and
subject TO judicial revision" 1t further
alleges that the returns from LUuisisns
and Florida which were cast for the
present occupant ofthe Presidential chair
were fraudulent and void. Here is an
appeal of State of this Union to tbs
Federal legislative power for the cor
recton of high grievance said to have
been committed in the States OF
Florida and Louisiana against the
rights of the State, in having
by fraud IN the said States of Florida
and Louisiana produced a different re.
suit in the election for President and Vice
President from that actually decreed by
the people themselves at the polls
Whether these allegations can be sus-
tanned by proof it is is not for the Chair
to consider. 1t is enough for the Chair
to know that they come from power,
which within the limits is reco gnized
as sovereign by the Constitution
and that the Issue involved runs to
the welfare of the people Of all States
nor is il within the range Of prOpriety
for the Chair to express an opinion rs TO
how fsr such an investigation should go
to reach the facts, nor what limits should
be set upon 1t. A higher privilege than
the one here involved, and broadly and
directly presented as to the righttul oc-
cupancy of the cnief Executive CHAIR of
the Government, and as to the Connec-
tion Of high Government officials wtl the
frauds alleged, the Chair is unable to coz
ceive. The Chair fnds enumerated
among the questions Of privilege set
down in the Manual the following
"The election of the President" The
Chair therefore rules that the preamble
and resolution embrace q question Of
privilege of the highest character, and
the Chair recognizes the right Of the
gentleman from New York, TO offer
the same. Applause on the Democratic
side The other points are of course
held 10 reserve.
Mr.. Conger appealed from the decision
of the chair.
Mr. Potter moYed to lay the appeal on
the table, and the motion was agreed to
yeas l2S nays lOS-a party vote, except
Messrs. Fort, Mitchell and Butler, whO
voted with the Democrats and Mess-s.
Buckner and Mills voting with the Re-
publIcans.
Mr.. Congcr raised the point Of order
that as the resolution gaye the Commit
tee the unusual power to SIT during the
recess and to report at any time, and for
the chSirmen OF sub committees TO ad-
minister oaths, it could not be adopted by
q mere majority vote; also that as the
vote provided for expenditure OF money,
It must be first considered in Committee
of the Whole.
The Speaker ruled that as TO the right
of the chairman OF q sub committee to sd-
minister Oaths, that was matter TO be
decided by the committee itself If it
was contrary to law, then it did not mat
ter whether the power was gwen by a
two-thirds vote or by majority vote.
Mr.. Garfield made point Of order that
it required two-thirds vote to give a
committee power to report at any time.
The Speaker sustained the point, when
Mr.. Potter struck out that part OF the
resolution.
Mr.. Hale asked Mr.. Potter 10 yield to
him to offer an amendment.
Mr.. Potter said he introduced the res.
solution at the request of his political as
socia.es made this neutrality-suspicious.
whose wishes he did not feel at liberty to
refuse. The resolution COntemplstes
nothing but inquiry into the facts OF the
electoral votes OF Florida and LouIsians,
and as to the participation of the officers
of the government IN connection with
the alleged frauds there. What can be
done alter the inquiry is completed
What ought to be done, should De deter
mined only alter an inquiry has been had.
Mr.. Potter then moved the previous
question, saying the House could deter
mine by vote on that question if the
matter should be further debated.
Mr.. Hale SAID he tsi an amendment
to offer which was clearly germaine,to the
resolution, and be submitted that in all
fairness he should be permitted TO offer it.
He hoped the gentleman Potter
would not seek here aud now to stite
further debate or TO prevent the RepublI-
can side from offering amendments that
would make the Investigation exhaustive
and searching. He therefore asked the
gentleman TO yield TO him to offer hi5
ameniment.
Mr.. Pot,er-I will yield to the gentle
man 10 state the nature Of the amend
ment. 1t may be that. IN the form Of an
amendment, he merely wants to get in q
speech.
Mr.. Hale-The better way Is for the
gentleman to allow the amendment 10 be
read.
Mr.. Potter - The gentleman from
Maine il exceedingly familiar with par
liamentsry law, and Is able ID state the
nature Of MS amendment, and when he
states it, then l will allow 1t to be
offered.
Mr.. Hsle-Then I will read the
amendment.
Mr.. Potter-I did net ask the gentle
man TO do so. asked him TO sts.e whs!
the nature Of the amendment was'
Mr.. Hale-My amendment Is here
holding it IN MS hsnd) and l desire to
offer it.
Mr.. Potter-I accept al the responsi-
brlily that belongs to me as to the ques-
ton of determining if the amendment
all come in. l do rot yield to sliow
the amendment 10 be offered. The final
responsibility, however, does 10. rest on
ne, but upon the House OF Represents.
tives, which may refuse 70 second the
previous question. But the gentleman
has made no answer TO the request 70
s.sts what his amendment relates to, any
more thsn he says it relates to the gener-
81 subject OF alleged presidential frauds,
Mr.. Hsle-WiM the gentleman let the
ameLdment be read and he will under
stand Whist it is. l will send i: 70 th7
Clerks desk. [Shouts OF No! No! on the
Democratic side.