The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-02-26
XIV CONGRESS.

stated that he had voted yesterday for the
passage of the civil sundry appropriation
bill under the impression that it contained
nothing but appropriations. 1t however,
contained legislation in regard to arrears
of pensions, which had he known,h would
have voted against the bill.
Mr.. Harris reported resolution 10 re
gard to the contested election il the Third
Missouri district declaring that Frost, the
sitting member, is entitled to the seat
The house then went into committee OF
the whole Mr.. Blackburn in the chair, on
the legislative appropriation bill, the ques-
ton being on Mr.. Southard's amendment
repeating the law creating the office of cleo
toral supervisors, etc.
MIR. Banning quoted from Mr.. Garheld's
speech last Wednesday to the effect that as
many men had been sent from Cincinnati
to the penitentiary for election frauds as
would take away majority OF one OF It's
members from that city, and said that so
far as he was aware that was the first time
that this infamous falsehood had found
any one so reckless of truth as to become
its endorser upon this floor. He said that
the investigation of election frauds in 1876
in the whole of Hamilton county, examined
into by the United States District Court
and the republican marshal resulted in the
conviction of only fifteen persons. of whom
only five were sent to the penitentiary, and
three of them were republicans. He
pronounced the assertion made by the gen
tleman to be untrue, and denounced Its
author.
Mr.. Garfield said he had made no charge
against the gentleman, and did not desire
IN nnt
named his name or district. He said all
he knew about the election frauds in Ohio
was only what the intelligent reader OF
current history also knew. 1t was said IN
public print that one car took Eph Holland
and seventeen of mis- associates to the penl-
Tertiary. If that general statement OF
facts rendered his colleague reckless, he
(Iarfeld) was not responsible as the records
bore him out.
Mr.. Ewing asked Mr.. Garfield if Eph
Holland had not been pardoned out of the
penitentary by Gov. Hayes, and whether
he was not now an active Republican
worker
Mr.. Garfield did not think Holland
would prove success under Republican
auspices.
Mr.. Banning said Holland had been
pardonod at the request of the Republican
party.
MIR. Hayes said if these laws were en-
forced the Democratic party knew the pen
itentiaries would be filed with Democratic
voters.
Mr. Davis, of North Carolina, criticised
the right Of elective franchise in Rhode
Island and Massachusetts, aud said that in
the latter state no one was allowed to vote
MI p 81 n H.
said if that were a test in the southern
states nine-tentus OF the Republicans in
those states would be excluded. He said
that in 1876, by fraud, perjury, forgery
and improper use Of the army and federal
officers the will of the people had been de-
feated. The pending amendment was
against fraud and the improper use of ted
eral officers. No one on his side Of the
house approved of fraud.
Mr.. Phillips opposed the amendment and
said: A few years ago there had been
seven colored Republicans in the house.
while now there were but three. Next year
there would be none. He said che Demo
Gratis were trying to drag the country back
to old states rights doctrine by striking
down the safeguards which the law had
thrown around the ballot box.
MIR. Hewitt said the opposition expressed
by the gentlemen on the other side showed
how impossible it was for them to under.
stand the motives which govern the Demo
cratic party 10 their determination to erase
from the statute books every pro
vision which intringed upor
the personal liberty of citizens,
All such PROVISIONS had been put upon the
books during or since the close of the war
He said the Democratic party had planted
themselves on the old stronghold thai
there was no safety in centralizing power
that the only security for liberty was in the
people themselves. The gentleman frou
Maine (Frye) few days ago, said these
laws mus. be repealed in order to enable
the Democrats TO carry New York in the
next election. Did he not know that the
election of 1876 was au honest election anC
carriedby Tilden by over 30,0002 The dem
Ocrats had carried the state with increas
ing majorities eyer since those laws were
enacted, and would ihaye continued to d.
so to the end Of time but for the interveu
ton of Davenport, by which citizens wee
prevented from voting.
Mr.. Whitthorne said the supervisor
laws usurped the right Of popular soveign
~ aud he was in favor Of its repeal.
Mr.. Hale said these laws for the protec
ton of the ballot box could not and shoult
not be repealed in an appropriation bill
His side of the House would meyer consen
to the project being pushed forward ant
carried through to repeal these laws. The.
cannot be and shall not be repealed. Ap
plause on the Republican side.
Mr.. Southland replied to Mr.. Hale an,
closed the debate.
Finally q vote was taken and the amend
ment adopted-Yeas 1855, nays 10.
The committee then rose and the bill
and amendments were reported to tn
House. All amendments were concurret
in in gross, except few On which sepa
rate votes were demanded After vOting
separately on several amendments a vot
was reached on the amendment repeating
the laws in regard to United States Super
visors and electors. In the division Their
were lO7 votes in the Affirmative, but tn
Republicans refused to vote and raised
point of no quorum. The vote was the
taken by yeas and nays, aud again tn
Republicans declined voting, the onl
exceptions being. ChittendeD, Fort ar
Kiliinger, who NSoted in the negative
The vote stood, yeas l43, nays 3, one les
than n quorum. The Speaker thereupo
voted yea, making quorum and declare
the amendment agreed to amid grea
demonstrations Of applause on the Dem
ocratic side.
Then Mr.. Hale, resorting to dilator
tactics, moved that when the House ad
iuurn it be until Thursday. This motto
was greeted with derisive laughter on tn
Democratic side, and Mr.. Hale was aske