Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-23
FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
(Second Session..
The Senate.

", sAS
United States in the supreme court of the
United States. Placed on the calendar.
KELLoGa-sPoFFoRD.
Senator Hill, (Ga. from the committee on
privileges and elections, reported the following
resolution:
Resolced, That according to evidence now known
to the Senate, VIM. P. Kellogg was not chosen by the
legislature of Louisiana to seat in the Senate for
the term beginning March 4, 1877, and Is not en-
titled to seat in the same.
ResoEred, That Henry NJ. Spofford was chosen by
the legislature of Louisiana to seat in the Senate
for the term beginning March 4, 1877, and that he be
admitted to the same on taking the oath prescribed
by law.
He also submitted report in support Of the
resolution, which he asked to have printed.
Senator Hoar stated he was instructed by the
minority of the committee to submit their
views and as they were short, he asked leave
to read them.
Senator Hill had no objection provided he
was allowed to read the majority report.
MINORITY REroRr.
Senator Hoar read as follows: The undersigned
minority of the committee on privileges and cleo
TONS to whom was referred the memorial of Henry
NJ Spofford, claiming the seat now occupied by VIM.
Pitt Kellogg, submit the following as their views:
On the 9th day OF November, 1871 the Senate passed
the following resolutions
ResotUed, That VIM. P. Kellogg is upon the mer-
its of the entitled to seat in the Senate from
the State of Louisiana for the term of six years,
commencing the 4th of March, 1877, and that he be
admitted thereto on taking the proper OATH
Resolyed, That Henry M. SpoffoN is not entitled
to q seat in the Senate of the United States.
The arty majority in the Senate has changed
the above resolutions. Nothing else has changed
the facts which the Senate considered and deter
mined we're in existence then as now. 1t is sought
by mere superiority Of MEMBERS for the first time,
to thrust Senator from the seat which he holds by
virtue of the express and deliberate final judgment
of the Senate the act which s demanded of this party
majority would be in our judgment great public
crime. 1t will be, if consummated, one of the great
political crimes in American history, to be elassed
with the rebellion with the atempt to take posses
sion by fraud Of the State government of Maine and
South, of which it is fitting sequence. Political
parties have too often been led by partisan zeal into
measures which sober judgment might disapprove,
but they have ever respected the constitution of the
Senate. Men whose professions of returning
loyalty to the constitution have been trusted
by the generous confidence of the American
people are to give evidence of the sincerity OF
their VOWS. The people will thoroughly understand
this matter and will not be likely to be deceived
again.
We don't think proper to enter here upon a dis
cussion of the evidence by which The claimant OF
Keogg's seat seeks to establish charges affecting
the integrity of that Senator. Such evidence be
found in abundance in other great ties. 1t is not
fit to be trusted in cases Of vast amount of pro-
".
or to affect the title of seat in the Senate. This evil
dence is not only unworthy of respect credit but
it is In many instances wholly irreconcabIe with un-
disputed facts, and Kellogg has met and overthrow
Signed, Geo. F. Hoar. Angus Cameron, John A.
Logan.
THE MAJORITY REPORT.
Senator Hill then said that ss the Senator
from Massachusetts had insisted on reading the
minority report, he, Hill, thought it due to the
country he should read the majority report, fol
there was nothing more desired by the MAORI
ty than a full publicity and diffusion of the
facts in the case. He then stepped down into
the arch before the presiding officers desk and
faced the Senate, proceeded to read the report,
which is very long, occupying an hour and a
half in the reading. The report says:
In the opinion Of your mmittee the evidence
for the first time fully taken clearly and abund-
antly establish the following facts:
First-That said VIM. Pitt Kellogg, then holding
the Office of governor of Louisiana, and pending the
canvass in said election in 1876, did conspire with
divers persons, and in aid of such conspiracy did
fraudulenty use the influence and power Of his Of
flee as governor to prevent fair, free and legal
election in said State to the end that he might pro-
from the commissioners of election the return
Of legislative majority whose members should be
of the Republican party and presumed to be favcra
BILE to his election to the Senate
Second-That having failed N this, said VIM. Pit.
Kellogg, then holding the Office of governor, did
conspire with divers persons, and in aid of
such conspiracy did fraudulenty use the influence
and power of his Office governor to change the
suit returned by the commissioners of election to
the end that he might procure through false certif-
Gates of elections. the organization of pretended
legislature. majority of whose members should be
of the Republican party and supposed to be favor
able to his election to the Senate.
Thlrd-That said Kellogg did conspire with divers
others to prevent and by force through the Metro
pcltan police aided by the army of the United States
ohora of ha In.
ture, and especially those of the Democratic party,
from assembling in the halls of the Senate and House
Of in the State house of Louisiana and
did by threats, by use OF money by promise OF mon
ey and by other corrupt practices compel and induce
to assemble in said halls respectively, mob of his
conspirators against the will of the Leope of Lousi-
ana, many of whom had not been elected and some
of whom had been neither elected nor certified, to
the end that he might procure pretended legisla-
ture for the Inauguration of Stephen B. Packard
governor, who he we'll knew had not been elected,
and from which mob he might procure his own
election to the Senate and which pretended election
he knew said pretended governor would certify.
The fourth section charges that Kellogg excluded
persons elected and admitted those not elected to
said legislature, for the corrupt purpose before
named.
The fifth section charges that Kellogg, knowing
these facts, withheld them from or denied their
istence before the committee on privileges and cleo
tions thus inducing majority of the committee to
declare him chosen as Senator.
The sixth section charges that to prevent . Ievela-
uOu VI tue ldCt6 houOSS pTOCuIeu SOS0IulueuI VI.
ficer for his co-conspirator and charges hin with
bribing witnesses in the investigation before this
COMMITTEES.
The report then proceeds in support of these con-
illusions to quote long extracts from the testimony,
points out that no testimony was taken by the COM
ittee that formerly reported in favor Of Re logg,
and concludes with legal argument on the case.
Senator Hill moved that the resolutions and
accompanying evidence be printed and re-
committed, saying the committee should be
able to report it back Monday next when he
would call il up for action.
Senator Hoar proceeded to debate the motion
to print the evidence, saying it was important
to have it printed to show the people how en-
tirely the report of the committee was at vari-
snce with the facts. The committee said there
was no bulldozing in Grant parish. Hoar re-
ferred nreply to the Colfax massacre in that
parish. He also denied that the charges of
Kellogg's bribing witnesses, ETC., were sus-
tanned by evidence, the only man who testified
to it being Barney Williams, the notorious ex-
convict and rogue.
Mr.. Hill in replying to his remarks said he
was glad that that gentleman had been forced
by the reading of the reports to go into the
evidence which he had scorned to do in his mi
nority report. IN so doing. however. he would
find that he had jumped out of the frying