The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-03-17
MATT. CARPENTER.
His Speech Before the Electoral Commission
In 1877.

His Speech Before the Electoral Commission
in 1877.
Matt. Carpenter has always been con-
sidered one of the most brilliant and el.
cquent lawyers in the country. In no
arena did he distinguish himself me re
than when he stood up for honesty, JUS
tiCe and popular freedom before the
Electoral Con mission, and no more
memorable words were spoken before
that Commission than those he uttered
on February, 13, 1877, when the Louis
lana case was brought up. Here is an
extract from Mr.. Carpenters speech:
If the Commission please, to relieve
some anxiety that exists in some parts
of the country near my own home as to
whom l appear for here, desire to say
in the first place that 1 do not appear for
Samuel ]. Tilden. He is a gentleman
whose acquaintance have not the
honor of; with whom l have no sympa-
thy; against whom l voted on the 9TH
day of November last; and if this tribu-
nal could order a new trial, should
vote against him again, believing as l
do that the accession of the Democratic
party to power in this country to-day
would be the greatest calamity that
could befall the people except one, and
that one greater calamity 1Oould be to keep
him out By fraud and taL8ehood l Iappear
here for 10000 legal voters of Louisiana,
who, without accusation or proof, indiCt,
ment or trial, notice or hearing have
been disfranChised by four villains, in
Corporated with perpetual session, whose
official title is "the Returning Board Of
louisiana" l appear here for the next
Republican candidate for the Presiden.
Cy, whoever he may be, whether it shall
be one of my friends on this Commits.
sion or some other man, and insist that
this court shall settle a rule here by
which in that campaign, if we carry
Wisconsin by 10000 majority for him, a,
/ 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
a moment and consider the lesson you
are to teach to the future politicians of
this country by this days work. This
is no ordinary occasion, no ordinary tri-
bunal, no ordinary cause. An emergen.
Cy has arisen which has induced the
two Houses of Congress to create trib-
unal never before known in this coun-
try; a tribVual 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 it's affairs. The de-
cision which you pronounce upon this
cause will stand as a landmark in all the
future history of this country; and l
ask you to pause and consider for a mo,
ment what you are asked to do here,
The honorable gentlemen from the
House who have appeared here against
US do not pretend that by the votes
given on the 9TH of November Mr.,
Hayes's electors were elected in Louis
lana. No serious pretenCe 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 canvassing 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 Til
den electors, that is a matter you will
not consider, might not every honora-
BILE member of this commission as we'll
sit down and write his license to poster
ity to perpetrate all the frauds that in
genuity and self'interest can suggest"