Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-03-01
MATT. CARPENTER.
His Speech Before the Elec'orai
Commission in 1877.

Matt. Carpenter, has always been con
s;je-sS one of the most brilliant and eio'
ouent LAWYERS in the country In nc
srsna did he distinguish himseIi more
than when he stood up Tor honesty
Justice and popular freedom, before tie
Electoral Commission, ana no more
memorable words were spoken oe'ore
that Commission than those re utter'd
ON February Is. 1877, when the LOUIS
lana case was brought. up. Here Is an
extract from Mr.. Carpenters speech.
Ii the Commission please, to relieve
some anxiety that exists IN some parts
of the country near my own home as 10
whom appear for here, desire 70 say
in the frs, place that ! do not appear
for Samuel J. Tilden. He is a gentle
man whose acquaintance | nave not the
honor OF; with whom l have no sym
nathy; against whom | voted on the
I'm day OF November last; and II this
trihYnal could order new trial, L
sbonld vote against him again, beilev-
ing as | DO that the accession OF tne
Democratic party TO power IN THIS
country TO day would be the greatest
calamity that could befall the people
excnnt one and that one greater calamity
,rouH BE- 10 keep him ont by fraud and tdtse;;
hood. / appear here Tor lo,OoO legai
voters OF Louisiana, who, without ac-
cusation or proof, indictment or trial.
notice or hearing have been disiranchls'
ed bv four villains, incorporated with
perpetual session, whose official title Is
"the Returning Board OF louisiana ="
| appear here for the next republican
candidate for the Presidency, whoever
he NAV be, whether it shall be one oil
nv friends on this Commission or
some other man, and insist that TINS
court shall settle a rule here by which
in that campaign, il We carry Wisconsin
BIZ 10 1000 majority for him, as | hope
we shall be able to do, no board OF re-
turning officers can, by fraud, or false
hood, or bribery, be induced or be en-
abled 10 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 oil
this country by this days work. This
ia no ordinary occasion, no ordinary
tribunal, no ordinary cause. An emer-
gepcv has arisen which has induced the
two Houses of Congress to create q
tribunal never before known III tins
country; a tribunal made upon what
ever is most distinguished in this
country for integrity, for learning Tor
judicial and legislative experience to
tide the nation over great crisis IN Its
affairs. The decision which you pro-
nounce upon this cause will stand as a
landmark in all the future history oil
this country; and | ask You TO pause
and consider for a moment what you
are asked to do here. The honorable
gentleman from the House who have
appeared here against us do not pre-
tend that By the votes gwen on the eth
OF November Mr.. Hayes electors were
elected in Louisiana. No serious pre-
tence OF that kind is made. Now, II
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 he true as we
shall offer TO prove by record evidence
that they threw on. oil their count over
10000 votes for the Tilden electors,
that Is a matter YOU will not consider,
might not every honorable member OF
this commission as well sit down and
write his license to posterity 10 perpet.
rate all the frauds that ingenuity and
seft-interest can suggest.