The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-06-03
Report OF the Minority on New En-.
gland BulldOzing.

Senator Blair, in behalf of the minor
ity of the Senate Select Committee ap-
pointed to inquire. into alleged frauds,
ETC., in the recent elections, recently
submitted report taking issue with the
finding of the majority as presented by
Senator Wallace last month, in regard
to alleged intimidation of voters in the
States of Massachusetts, and Rhode
Island, characterized by the majority
as "civilized bulldozing." The minor
ity of the Committee deny that one sim
gle allegation of fraud, misconduct, civ
ilized or uncivilized bulldozing" or
intimidation or attempted intimidation,
or political misconduct of any kind on
the part of any Republican or any en-
ployer or manufacturer, or any person
of any party, either in the State of Mas
sachusetts or Rhode Island, was proven
before the Committee. No doubt some
abuses may exist, since these States are
in this world; but any impartial person
will say that the Committee did not
find them. The conclusions Of the ma
jority are not in accordance with the
facts. Not only were none of these
charges proven, but on the contrary so
utterly were they exploded by the in
trinsic weight of evidence before the
Committee that no impartial man who
reads the printed evidence can contra
dict this assertion. The minority review
at great length the testimony taken in
Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and
say:
We have thus touched upon all allegations
of fact found by the majority from the great
mass of testimony taken by the Committee.
than we are ut liberty to appropriate, it is i'm
possible to properly analYze the testimony and
exhibit the utter failure Of this partisan at
tempt to dcfame the people of two of the
most renowned of American commonwealths-
II suffrage is free and pure anywhere on the
chusetts and Rhode Island. Religious to!era-
tion rose in the one and American liberty was
virtues of the sres survive in their sons.
W:oever attempts to institute parallel be
tween them and the terrible condition which
has welknigh extcrminatcl Republican gov
ernment in some less fOrtunetr portions of
the eternal principles of lib ,rty and Justice as
| they exist and are practiccd in Massachusetts
commits an act OF futile hostility to the cause
of good government throughout the land.
The minority remark that, finding
no evidence whatever of Intimidation at
elections, either in Massachusetts, or
Rhode Island, they concur with the ma
Jority of the Committee, although for
/ an opposite reason, that there is no call
| for National legislation upon that sub
! ject, so far as those States are concern
ed" d" But" they add. "we can not ad-
init the impotent doctrine of the Com
mittee that if their conclusions of fact
were true, to-wit, that improper
practices exist in the State visited, so
far as the election of National officers
are concerned, and the freedom of
choice by voters has been interfered
with and persons practically threatened
with dismissal from employment if they
voted in opposition to the wishes of
their empIoyers-it is not within the
competency of Congress to correct this
wrong by additional or any legislation,
provided the State fails to remedy SO
profound an evil. Suffrage is not under
final control of the States so far as
National elections are concerned. A
duty is devolved by the Constitution
upon the States which, by adopting the
Constitution. they have agreed to
perform. If they fail to perform that
duty they do not destroy the Constitu-
ton, but simply violate their duty and
compel the Interference of Congress to
preserve the Government by establish
ing and enforcing necessary laws"
The minority report is signed by
Senators Blair, Hoar, Teller, and
Kirkwood.
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