Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-09-01

came up before the COMMISSION Wnetn-
or the returns being fraudulent, they
could 90 behind them, appeared be-
fore that Commission We were re-
onired 10 state in writing the reasons
WHY the vote of Louisiana should not
he given TO Mr.. Hayes, and We put it
down in writing that We were prepared
TO prove that majority OF the Tree
votes OF Louisiana were given Tor the
T;lden electors. We offered TO prove
that by a conspiracy entered into be-
tween the Governor OF that State, Will
liam Pitt Kellogg, who appointed every
officer that controlled the elections III
the State, that by a conspiracy entered
into bv him and the Returning Board, it
was agreed that whateverthe vote might
he they would give the certificate OF cleo
tion TO the Hayes electors. Garfield
sat ON that Commission. He said: we
wont let YOU prove it. You are con-
cluded by the returns AS a member
nj the Electoral Commission, sworn to
Irv MEDICALLY and determine the right
ofthe case, whether Tilden and Hen
Sr;rks or HAYES and Wheeler had the
riohtiul majority, he refused to examine
and try the very question and the only
Question they were appointed by law to
try and determine, viz: Whether a ma
ioritv of the votes OF Louisiana were
cast Tor the Tilden electors or for the
HAYES electors Certainly there was
not so big fool in either
House of Congress, as not to know
that Wells Returning Board certificate
had been given to the Hayes electors.
The only question the Commission was
10 try was whether that certificate was
true or false. Garfield knew 1t was
false. and because he knew it was false
he refused to try the question. Ii he
believed il was true, he would have
heard the evidence torrnve it true. For
in his speech in the House upon the
ELECTORAL Commission hill he asserted
again and again that ii the hill passed,
the Commission would 90 behind the
returns to try the question OF Tact upon
the merits. Garfield, knowing the re-
turns were false, in violation oil his pub
lie speech, before the bill passed, voted
10 sustain the false and fraudulent re-
turns
Mr.. Garfield went to New Orleans Tor
the express purpose OF examining INTO
ali questions and facts OF the Louisiana
election and making fair and candid
inquiry and reporting the open resultto
the American people, on he roS there tor
sinister and ,m~oHhy p'"poSe-d too' Of
his party-dn instrument OF tra"d' ana
~roag and outrage. Which one OF these
was his true character would only be
known by results. He returns to
Washington. He occupies his seat on
the floor of the House OF Representa-
tives. lie makes speech on the Flee
toral Commission Bill, under circun-
stances that required the utmost SINGER
ity, the highest honor, and the Purest
patriotism. He pledged himself that If
this bill should be adopted by the
House, and so peace should be assured
to the country, that this matter should
be fairly, honestly and publicly inqulr-
ed into, and that the honest count MOHd
uyeraH This was his solemn pledge.
The bill was passed. The Electoral
Commission was appointed. The men
interested in maintaining the fraud, in
perpetuating mischief, in consolidating
unjust power in the hands OF party,
liner their man. They knew that JAMES
\. GARFIELD would "play his cards to
suit their purposes, and notwithstand'
ing, these false, canting and basely
hvpocritical declarations of his open
speech, that he would do the basest
work done by any man in public life,
and he was made member OF that
Commission. Whatever OF wrong, and
outrage, and infamy was i'll this matter
is peculiarly concentrated on this man,
and by his own treason-treason to his
own manhood, to his own word, and to
individual honor.
1t was shameless in Mr.. GARFIELD to
do these things. Bat Mr.. GARFIELD's
previous record was before the public in
the official report OF Judge POLAND; it
was before the country in the facts OF
the DEGoLLYER case. His party knew
that the man who could do these things
would do almost anything else; would
violate his word and commit any
astounding act OF inconsistency and un-
fairness, and so JAMES A. GARFIELD was
selected to do the work. Looking to MIR.
GARrIELD's past record there was no
Inconsistency in his conduct. 1t was all
in keeping with the man. If inconsls-
tent it was in being the tool to make the
unconscious acknowledgment, or the
unblushing avowal that he had simply
"plaved his cards" without regard to an
enlightened and moral sense OF duty.
The metophor which lie uses is borrowed
from the gambling hells, and is
worthy OF the place from which it came
and Of the use to which it was applied.
Now read Senator DOoIITTLE's open,
public statement OF what occurred be-
tween this man GARFIELD and the Hon.
CATER ii. HARRISON:
'To further show Garfeld's guilty
knowledge, and his moral weakness to
resist the behests OF his party, | state
another fact upon the authority of the
Hon. Carter II. Harrison, then mem
Der of Congress, aud now Mayor OF the
city OF Chicago. Alter the decision,
Harrison asked Garfield how it was pos
sble for him, after his speech in the
House, to refuse to go behind the re-
turns and TO decide the question OF fact
upon merits. Garfield replied: Car
ter, if you had the cards, wouldn't you
play them?' He knew the certificate
OF the Returning Board was false. He
knew Tilden was elected and Hayes was
defeated. He knew that if the Demo-
cratic party would agree upon the Elec.
toral Commission for the sake OF peace,