Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-06-05

Thirteenth and Seventeenth Congressiona
Districts. The committee also report against
the contestants in the Second Illinois Dis
trict and do not sustain the objections to the
four delegates at large in the same State.
They further report in favor of the sitting
men from the Ninth and Nineteenth Districts
of Pennsylvania, and the Third District Of
West Virginia.
The committee suggests that final decis,
ion OF many of these contests depends upon
the adoption by the Convention of the prin-
cple of Congressional district representation.
This the committee hold to be sound. IAp-
plause.
The report cites j. D. Cameron's support
of the right of individual district representa-
tioA at the Convention of 1876 under precise
ly similar circumstances, and similar call
for a National Convention. They cite the
form of the call of the Convention in 1876 as
evidence that it was the purpose of the Re-
publican party to establish the principle of
district representation. This was sustained
also by all precedents in the party down to
date. In no case has fair action of a district
in selecting its representatives been overruled
or changed by any State or National Con-
vention. [Applause.l
The committee does not believe that this
right of congressional district representation
should now be invaded for the first time by
the action of National Convention. II a
Nv, bac ifv
override the will of the people, fairly ex-
pressed in the selection of district delegates,
it might as well appoint at once all the dele
gates. [Great applause Nominations made
through such misrepresentation were not
likely to be ratified by the people. 1t was
the duty of the Convention to disapprove en-
phaticalIy all attempts to overrule the high
moral customs of the party. [Applause.l
The committee sustain the seating OF the
delegation from Utah, as regularly and fairly
chosen.
MINORITY REPORT.
Clayton of Arkansas presented a minority
report. They differ with the majority as to
the application of the principle of district
representation. The recommendation of the
majority, if adopted, would work as an ex
post facto rule, reversing the long established
usage of the party in many States. APP
plause. They urge that there is a vacancy
in the district claimed by Rapier, and that
the sitting members are entitled TO the seats
which the majority report awards to Smith
and Warner. The minority say that as Ra-
pier refused to accept the pledge exacted
by the State Convention, he is here without
credentials also that he was not elected by
his district, that only nominated, and that
except through the action Of the State Con
vention's ratifying his nomination he had no
authority whatever. It did not appear that
there had been any District Conventions in
Alabama at which tine Alabama contestants
had been chosen. Their authority here could
rest only on the action of the State Conven-
ton. If the principle of district representa-
ton is sound one, then more than half the
delegates sitting in this Convention are here
without right, ard if the rule is rigidly ap-
Piled the body would End itself without a
quorum. LApplause.l
In the case of Illinois the minority made
an elaborate statement of the alleged facts,
but presented nothing in addition to what the
press has already given.
The minority defended the right of State
Convention to instruct its delegates to vote
as unit, according to its will, and presented
argument in support of the same.
1t was received with considerable applause,
in which Conkling conspicuously joined.
The minority report concludes on the Hi
nois case with a recommendation that the
sitting members be retained in their seats as
duly accredited representatives. They also
non-concur with the majority in the cases of
Utah and West Virginia.
The report is signed by 3. T. Tracy of
New York, Powell Clayton of Kansas, and
others.
THE CONTESTS.
Conger handed in corrected list of mem
bers of the Convention, as reported by his
committee He then moved that the Con-
vention proceed to consider the Louisiana
case. Cessna moved to adopt all of the re-
port on which the committee had agreed, and
then proceed to the separate consideration of
disputed issues, involving the contests in
Alabama, Illinois, West Virginia and Utah.
Conger asked if the motion included the
Louisiana case among the disputed.
Cessna replied in the affirmative.
Conger then said az have no objection. .
Conkling called for an enumeration of the
questions which would fall within the list OF
undisputed cases.
Conger said this list would embrace the
cases of Louisiana, the Second District OF
Illinois, the Illinois delegation at large, the
Second and Fourth Districts of Kansas, the
Ninth and Nineteenth Districts of Penn
| sylvania.
Logan inquired how it happened that there
was any report as to the four delegates al
large from the State of Illinois. 1t was the
| first time that he had heard of the right tc
their seats being questioned:
Conger replied that petitions against the
presented to the Convention and referred tt
! the committee, and it was necessary for tht
! committee to notice the subject in its report
Logan Indignantly protested against hi
right to a seat being called in question, ant
complained of the treatment which he ant
mauy who had led the arms of the nation tc
victory had received. [Cheers for Grant,
A Kansas delegate objected to the inclu
sion of Kansas in the list of undisputeC
questions.
Cessna modified his motion so as to give
separate action on the Kansas case.
Sharpe of New York moved to amend tbs
pending motion SO as to strike from the ma
jority report SO much of it as relates to th'
Illinois delegation at large. tApplause.l
Logan asked why distinction had beer
made as to the four delegates at large be
tween the State of Illinois and other States
Cessna of Pennsylvania, a member of th'
committee, said the reason was that objec
| tions had been made to the four delegates a