Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-05-14
TELEGRAPHIC.
.a z1{a ann aF-dt
XLVI, CONGRESS.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, May Is

ed. a-v a~v ts-r
Senator Blair, IN. II presented
a view of minority of the court
on alleged frauds, in the late elec-
tion, on the subject of disfranchise-
ment in Rhode Island. Laid on
the table.
Senator Platt (Conn) said that
he was not now a member of that
committee, and that he could not
sign the minority report, but as a
former member thereof, he wished
to state that he fully concurred IN
the report.
A bill to abolish all tolls on the
Louisville and Portland canal after
July 1st, 1880, was read a third
time and passed.
A bill to provide additional ac'
commodations for the congressional
library was taken up and discussed,
but at the expiration of the morn~
lug hour went over without action.
The senate then resumed consid.
Grafton of the KeIlogg>Spoford
resolutions, Senator Hampton. Is.
c. having the floor.
Senator Hampton rs. C.) said he
was not lawyer, but proposed to
discuss the matter on generally
recognized principles OF justice and
right, endeavorng TO tree himself
from partizan feeling. There were
cases, and this was one, where the
senators should lay aside sectional
prejudices and party allegiance.
lie did not impute to Mr.. Spotiord
or his friends any improper motives
and therefore he was panied to diff
fer from them and from his party
associates with whom he held so
many views in common. They would
at least credit him with sincerity in
this difference. Mr.. Kellogg's cre-
dentials were presented in June,
1877, and referred to the committee
in March. Mr.. Spofford's we're pre-
sented in October. Both parties
consented to the consideration O.
certain evidence taken by the other
investigating committees.
The senate also passed a resolu-
ton authorizing the committee to
take full and original evidence.
There was no doubt that the COM
mittee had full authority to investi-
gate all the merits of the case. Mr..
Spofford at one time filed a request
for more evidence, which was denied
by the committee, on the ground
that sufficient testimony had been
taken. This ruling Senator Hamp>
ton thought unjust, but it was
undoubtedly fully competent for the
committee to decide when to stop
taking testimony. If committee
abuses its power in this respect an
appeal can be taken to the senate at
the tune. 1t announced its dellb
crate Judgment that MIR. Kellogg
was entitled to his seat, yet it is
now claimed that that action had
no binding effect. He could not
admit the principle that the settle
ment of the contested election case
ON its merits could be overthrown
at will upon the accession of
a majority Of a different party. If
this case can be reopentd now, what
is TO prevent its being reheard again
and again p? In al. nLigAtion there
must be some end Of strife, and in
the spi,it of the law this case should
rest where it is.
Mr.. Hampton then cited a num-
Der Of authorities and precedents, in
this country and England, to show
that it was a well es abIiJhed priu-
clple that, when a case was once
settled upon its merits, 1t could not
be- re>opened. The consequence of
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