Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-03-16
MATT CARPENTER
ms SPEECH BEFORE THE ELECTORAL CON,
MISSION IN 1877.

Matt Carpenter has always been
considered one Of the most brilliant
and eloquent lawyers in the country
In no arena did he distinguish him
self moro than whom he stood up foi
honesty, justice and popular freedom
before the Electoral Commission, and
no more memorable words were spoken
before that Commission than those be
uttered on February 10, 1877, when
the Louisiana case was brought up
Here is an extract from Mr.. Carpen.
ter's speech
IL the Commission please, to relieve
some anxiety that exists in some parts
of the country near my own homo as
to whom ! appear for here, | desire to
say in the first place that | do not ap'
pear for Samuel j Tilden. He is q
gentleman whose acquaintance | have
not tho honor OF with whom | have
no sympathy; against whom | voted
on the 9TH day of November last and
if this tribunal could order a now trial,
| should yete against him again, be-
lieving as do that the accession OF
the Democratic party to power in this
country today would be the greatest
calamity that could beiall the people
except ono, and that one greater cdldmi,
ty loould beto Keep han ont by fraud and
tdlSeho0d. ! appear here for 10000
legal voters Of Louisiana, who, with.
out accusation or proof indictment OF
notice or hearing, have been disfran.
chised by four villains, Incorporated
with perpetual session, whose official
title is "The Returning Board of Lou.
isiano," ! appear here for the next
Republican candidate for the Presi.
deney, whoever he may be, whether il
shall be one Of my friends on this
Commission or some other man, and
insist that this court shall settle rule
hereby which in that campaign, If we
carry Wisconsin by 10000 majority
for him, as ! hope we shall be able to
do, no board of returning officers can,
by fraud, or falsehood, or bribery, be
induced or be enabled to throw that
State against him and against the
voice and will Of our people. | beg
your Honors to pause moment and
consider the lesson you are to teach to
the future politicians Of this country
by this days work. This is no ordi.
nary occasion, no ordinary tribunal, no
ordinary cause. An emergency has
arisen which has induced the two
Houses of Congress to create a tribu-
nal never before known in this coun-
try tribunal made upon whatever
is most distinguished in this country
for integrity, for learning, for judicial
and legislative experience to tide the
nation over a great crisis in its affairs.
The decision which you pronounce
upon this cause will stand as a land
mark in oil the future history of this
country and ask you to pause and
consider for moment what you are
asked to do here The honorable gen.
tlemen from the House who have ap.
peared here against us do not pretend
that by the votes given on the 9TH of
November Mr.. Hayes electors were
elected in Louisiana. No serious pre-
tence of that kind is made. Now. if
you are to decide in this case that, no
matter how great and appalling were
the frauds committed in the canvass
ing Of their votes, although it be true
as we shall offer TO prove by record
evidence that they threw out of their
count over 10000 votes for the Tilden
electors, that is matter you will not
consider, might not every honorable
member of this Commission as well sit
down and write his license to postcr.
ty to perpetrate all the frauds that in
genutY and selfinterest can suggest 2