Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-02-26
BANNING OIL Garfield.

Az stated IN the Gazette yesterday Ocn'
Banniog. Of Ohio. administered severe castl-
CATION 10 lis colleague, Mr.. Garfield. The
House being 10 Committee Of the Whole a0d
The question being On Mr.. Southara's amend
mcnt to tho L3gs!atiEo Appropriation bill,
to repeal tho lew relating to Fcrcra! supervisors
of elections, Mr. Banning said: -
81 learn from the Congressional Rec3rd That
during ny temporary absence from the House
CD Wednesday list, tho gentleman from OHIO,
10 discussing tho amendment offered By ny COL
league. mado The following assertion -
"'Areaay eGough men from the city oil Gin.
cispa,i have been sent to the penitentiary Tor
fraud to take away The majority by which ono
of the members 90 this floor vas declared elect
cd to bis seat.
$50 FIR as am aware Mr.. Chairman, this is
the frs. time that this infamous fa!sehood has
found any one SO reckless OF truth as to become
its ipdorscr upon this floor. 10 1872 | vas
elected from the Second Congressional district
of Ohio over Il. Z. Hayes By o majority OF
1905. In 1874 [ was reelected by majority
Of !, $50 over job E. Stevenson. In lS7G,attcr
the most exciting contest that hsd ever oc-
Cured in the district in which every appliance
known ia corrupt politics was used GguiuSt me,
Gov. Hayes certified my majority to be seventy
Eve cv;r Senator Stanley Matthews. l believed
then, as | noT know, that fac contest would
have given mo much larger majority. Judge
Matthews gave mo motto, OF contest, which L
answered. But suffice it to say tina: he aban'
doncd tho contest, aud never took word OF
testimony.
after ito tlector, charges Of fraud were
made by both parties, and examined into by
the Uoited States District Court. with o
republican Judge, q republican district at.
tcrDey aod republican marsha What,
SIR was the result? 10 the whole OF Ham.
iton county. comprlslog two CorgrcsSooal!
districts, fifteen persons in al were convicted OF
illegal practices, Of whom five were sent TO the
penitentisry. Ten Of these fifteen WeTefrom the
Second district, and three Of these ton were Re-
publicans, one being colored Republican.
This sir is tho record regarding the election OF
as it has been furnished 20 me, district COM
posed Of honorable mon who hate fraud and de-
test talsehoo5 In their behalf, in tho interest of
truth, snd as matter of ustico 10 myself, lpro'
nounce the assertion made by the gentleman To
be untrue. aud dencunce lis suthor, whoever
he may DO, ss ialsiiieT. Before utterlng this
assertion the gentleman should have been GER
tain that j. was truo and should not hsve msde
himself responsible on this floor, and before the
country, for that which tho record elbows 10 be
false.
RI am Informed that tho gentlcmsn is wont TO
clothe himsalfin the white robes OF an evangc.
list, aud, ascending the pulpit. to preach the
Gospel OF Him who commands: Thou shalt
not boar false witness againtt thy Ieighbor"
Surely, Mr.. Chairman, he of all men in this
House should satisfy himself Of the truth or isls-
ity Of sn accusation before placing IL upon tho
records OF = Nation.
"One word moro, Mr. Chairman. desireto BIO
distinctly understood about this matter onco for
sll. If any person, sir means TO assert that a
single fraudulent vote wss cast at the election of
1876 with my knowledge, By my advice or through
my procurement. here and now pronounce the
assertion n malicious falsehood. l might follow
the iluslrious example offered me and retsli6te
by gathering up all the ISLANDERS connected with
the sen.lemsn's official record, SO we'll known 10
the press and the people of the country, and pour
them out on this floor. But ss l know nothing Of
my own knowledge as TO the truth or falsity of
these chsrges, scorn to do So
And here I leave the gentleman to full on
joyment of the position ho has made for him.
self"