The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-05-14
WHEELING W. TUESDAY MORNING, MAY A. 1873

( Mr.. Potter-Now l have got st last
an answer TO my inquiry, and l decline
to yield for the amendment. II the
frauds were attempted in Florida and
Louisiana, they we're carried out success
fully and became operative. If the OBJ
jecL of the amendment of the gentleman
/ from Maine, is TO show that there were
frauds in South Carolina, by which the
electoral vote of that State was counted
for Hayes, when it ought to have been
counted for TIlden, l shall be prepared
10 answer IS TO an amendment OF that
sort, but the gentleman from Maine will
not venture TO declare anything OF the
kind.
Mr.. Hale-In other words, you mesn
to say that any frauds that apply on the
one side are to be looked into, and any
frauds committed by the gentleman
own party are to be excluded. Applause
on the Republican side
Mr.. Potter-Oh, no! The world of
wrong is very wide, Ii the gentleman
wishes to inquire into matters of moral
delinquencies soutsde of Florida and
Louisiana, do not object. Let him in
troiuce his resolution for that purpose
and have himself put at the head of the
committee and gOIntO that investigation.
Applause on the Democratic side l
seek nothing of the kind. l am not aim
ing at persons. desire 10 ascertain if
fraud in the electoral votes of these
states was really perpetrsted, and if Sc,
how it was perpetrsted in order that such
tradds may be prevented hereafter.
Mr.. Hale-Aud the gentleman denies
any attempt at investigation where there
are clearly shown frauds, the Oldest in
American history. .perpetrsted by his own
party in q half dozen Ststes2 He refuses
to let that investigation 80 10 his com
mittee.
Mr.. Potter-I will vote for any kind of
investigation you seek, but the amend.
ment you propose is not germsine to this
resolution, and is intended to prevent
etlectusl investigation.
Mr.. Hale-But the gentl eman will not
let it 60 to the Committee OF which he
is head | do not ask for an appoint
ment of the Committee with majority
OF this side oithe House, but / ask that
the inquiry which the gentemsn's reso.
luton proposes be as sweeping as the
country desires it.
SMr. Potter-We'Il let the gentleman
from Maine sweep the dirt for himself
Laughter on the Democratic side.
Mr.. Hale-The gentleman evidently
does not mean to sweep. Laughter on
the Republican side
Mr.. Potter-Not with the inefficient
broom you would like used.
Mr.. Garfield took the floor, but was
met with calls to order from the Demo
cratic side
Mr.. Potter-I yield to any Of the Wis
ting statesmen. Laughter.
Mr.. GSrfed-I understood the gentle
man from New York to say when he
was first up, that he was not asking to
investigate the Presidential title, but TO
investigate the question of fraud in the
Presidential election. Now, if that is so,
can only say tina. the gentlemsn's last
position, that ne will not investigate
alleged fraud in any State unless the vote
of that State was necessary to put the
President in the chair is in conflict with
that idea. 1t seems 10 me that my
friend utterly changes hit position now
to one of seeking 10 get at the PresideD-
tisl title
Mr Potter-The gentleman from Ohio
says that l have changed my ground and
that | want to attack the Presidents
title. As the result of this inquiry does
not concern me low, 1 have said and
repeat it that have no purpose of dis
turbing it. He says that If only want
to investigate the election frauds the
other side of the House would be glad 10
90 INTO general and sweeping investi-
CATION: that Il, one so general that it
would never eyentuate IN any exsmins-
tiOn at all, but there Is between these two
extremes very obvious distinction.
| seek TO investigate not with
a view of disturbing the Presi-
dent or with any other view TO
the disturbance of the settled results.
seek to investigate the frauds which be
came operative, which were successfully !
carried out, which were effective and |
which were brought 10 our notice by the
memorial of sovereign State Of the
Union. These are just exactly IN two
States and no more. Therefore an inves-
tigstion looking beyond these two States
would no. be germsine to the resolution,
and would be of no practical effect.
Mr.. Conger took the floor, but was
met with loud shouts Of order from the
Democratic SIDE. de, however, succeed
ed in saving that if the other side would
not permit his side to take any part in
framing the resolution of inquiry, the
Democratic side might pass its resolution
if it could. [APplause on the Republican
side
Mr.. Potter-Theg gentleman from Mich
igsnl Is kind; we can do that without his
permission. But If he will otter resolu-
ton TO investigate any frauds that be
may alicge, We will be more liberal than
be proposes, and it will receive the votes
of this side OF the House also.
Mr.. Butler-Will the gentleman from
New York Poiterl allow me to add TO
his resolution the words South Caro-
lima"
Mr.. Garfeld-"Missssippi' slso.
Mr.. Potter-No, M Speaker; tor the
simple reason that 10 frauds in South
Carolina or Mississippi became operative.
The distinction Is obvious. | must now
insist on the previous question.
The Republican side of the House
hereupon resorted to the parliamentary
expedient of Withholding their votes, 90
tnal when the question come to be tested
by the teliers there were only ll6 ayes 20
l no-no quorum voting.
Mr. Potter moved call Of the House,
which was made, and sll the Republl-
cans answered TO their names, so that \ 0
further proceedings under the call could
be taken.
Mr.. Potter asked the Speaker whether,
il the House adjourn now, this question
would come up as unfinished business
The Speaker said it would remain BE-
fore the House until disposed Of
Mr.. Couger aud other Republicans
called upon the Democratic side no! 10
show signs Of weakness so early. The
taunt wss answered just g. defsntly, and
il vas intims;ed that the question would
remain be.ore tie House until there we're
erCugh Democrats Dresent TO constitute