Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-06-05
Conclusion of Yesterdays Proceedings

CONCLUSION OF Yesterdays Proceedings
From the second edition Of The Star last
evening.
The Minority ePOrt of the Com.
mittee ON Credentials.
the m heG report p tS Sa the Rspeo
dentials say that It DID not appear that
there had been any district conventions In Ala
bama at which the Alabama contestants had
been chosen. Their authority here could rest
only on action In the state convention. II the
principle OF district representation Is the sound
one. then more than half OF the delegates sit
ting In this convention are here without right
and If the rule is rigtdly applied the body would
ma m Itself without quorum: tApplause.l
the Illinois contest gives long history OF the
case. 1t starts out with denial of the charge
made against the state convention of having
ehee a,ea,d into gigantic conspiracy to defraud
conspiracy had been laid before the committee.
and an examination OF the record com
petely and decisiyely refuted such charge.
Speaking OF the state convention, the minority
says: "1n bodies OF this character the minority
OF the majority must rule. There can be no d.
vision OF the rule, and the majority OF
The republicans of the state of Illinois as
embled In state convention. pursuant to
the cali proceeding from the legitimate Official
source, declared their preference for Ulysses
s Grant, and instructed the delegates to
his convention to say that the majority of the
convention OF the state Of Illinois possesses no
such powers? WIN this convention undertake
20 say. and will the country justify 1t In saying.
that the majority OF the people In so great d
state shall not be permitted to express their
preferences on questions OF this character, and
that Ii they have clear and distinct preferences
they shall be utterly helpless In the selection
OF the methods by which that preference is to be
iaade e1ectua? 1t Is absurd upon the face Oft to
say that Illinois or any state has a right to
instruct its delegates to vote for a particular
candidate, and yet has not the power to make
such instruction effeetual and binding. 1t is
absurd to say that great state possessing this
power of giving expression to its Will and the
will OF its majority possesses no means for pre-
venting the defeat of that VIII by violated In
structions, by broken pledges or by corrupted
faith. The republicans of the state OF Illinois,
and indeed of every other state in this Union,
viii ere long be alive to the danger
Which Which enXirons the rights OF the ma
Io'cement OF those rights cannot depend
alone On mere declaration of what that major
trys will is, but must be clothed with the
power OF executing and asserting it, and Ii this
will thus expressed is In danger OF being defeat
cd by fraud by trickery or corruption, the state
thus imperilled has the right to place, as the
cannot be corrupted, and whom no agencies OF
political treachery or fraud can reach. This was
precisely what tie majority of the republicans
If the state OF Illinois, in state convention as
sembled, undertook to do, and succeeded In
doing. Since the republican party has had an
existence there has been but one instance where
he republicans OF the state failed to instruct
their delegates to national convention to vote
as unit They were instructed to vote for
Lincoln on precisely the same terms as the state
delegation were instructed to vote for Grant.
There has fortunately in the political history of
the state of Illinois, as appears been no instance
IN which any delegate thus instructed has ever
deemed 1t wise or prudent to undertake
10 Violate those instructions There has
heen but one instance in which those
Instructions were not given, that was in 1876,
when the positive majority OF the convention
favored the nomination of Mr.. Blaine. BY
mere oversight the formal1ty of Instructions
as omitted, and delegates, taking advantage
tf it, voted against the clearly known willo
nomination of Mr.. Blaine Wear assured that
1t is but historical truth that In 1876 not del.
egate could, by any possibility, have found a
place as such had his opposition to Mr.. Blaine
been announced"
The minority report also non-concur with the
majority In the cases of Utah and West Vir-
glnia: The report is signed by B. F. Tracy, of
New York, Powell Clayton, of Arkansas and
others
The Majority Report Up for Action.
Mr.. Conger handed III corrected list of men,
bers OF the convention as reported by his COM
mittee. He then moved that the convention
proceed to consider the Louisiana case.
Mr.. Cessna moved to adopt all the report on
which the committee had agreed and then
proceed to the separate consideration OF the
ba1na, Illinois, West Virginia, and Utah.
Undisputed Cases.
Mr. C0nger.-D0eS the gentleman'S motion In
Guide the Louisiana case among the undis-
puted?
Mr.. Cessna replied in the affirmative.
Mr.. Conger.-Then have no objection.
Mr.. Conkl1ng called for the enumeration OF
the questions which would fall within the list OF
Mr.. Conger said this list would embrace the
cases OF Louisiana, the I'd district OF Illinois, the
Illinois delegates at large, the I'd and 4rh or
Mr.. Logan inquired how it happened that
there was any report as to the four delegates
at large from the state Of Illinois. 1t was the
first time that he had heard OF the right to their
MIR. Conger replied that petitions against the
right OF the four delegates at large had been
committee, and hence it was necessary for the
committee to notice that subject In It's report.
Indignant Protest Of NIr. Logan;
Cheers for Grant.
Mr.. Logan Indignantly protested against his
right to seat being called In question and in
limated that he perfectly well understood the
object OF 1t. He submitted that he was entitled
to fair play, and he complained Of the treatment
armies Of the nation to victory had been treat
81. [Cheers for Grant, Had the republicans
OF Illinois ever failed to do their duty In the
hour Of peril. When the dark cloud lowered
had they not given their muscle, and nerve and
soderly qualities for the preservation Of the
repu eae eso[ App oU1 o+o, o
of Kansas in the list Of und1sputed questions.
Mr.. Cessna modified his motion so as TO give
separate action on the Kansas case.
MIR. Sharpe, of New York, moved to amend
the pending motion so as to strike from the ma
jorty report SO much OF 1t as relates to the ILL
nois delegations at large. [Applause.l
Mr. COnger's Reply to Logan.
MT. Conger, replying to Mr.; Logan, expressed
profound regret that gentleman whom heaso
that the committee on credentials intended
the slightest reflection upon him. He
reminded him that the credentials OF
all delegates had been submitted to the COM
mittee. those OF the high and llfted-up as well
as those OF the humblest delegate from the
wilds of the south daughter and applause.]
II would have been unworthy of the splendid
committee On credentials not to have told the
convention la distinct words that the lofty and
distinguished citizen Of the state of Illinois was
entitled to seat in the convention. He made
no apology to that gentleman or to the state of
Illinois, or to this great body of people for the
moral courage OF the committee which enabled
1t to say to the world that the gentleman (Mr.
Logan was entitled to his seat 1.-THE good hui
mored sarcasm Of the reply was greeted with
roarS OF laughter.l
MIR. Logan Not Satisfied
Mr.. Logan returned to the charge, and asked
why distinction had been made as to the four
delegates at large between the state OF Illinois
and other states
Mr.. Cessna, OF Pa, "a member of the COM
m1ttee,) replied that the reason was that objec-
tons had been made to the four delegates at
large from Illinois and none to those from any
other state.
MI noSS,,osS A.,,o,,a,,no,n& AlO,~<o6