National Republican., 1882-07-11
The Contested Election Cnses.

sented by the testimony. The manage
ment of the cases hitherto disposed of
demonstrated that the friends of fair
elections had in Mr. Calkins, the Chair
man of the Committee on Elections,
ability. 1t was also clearly shown that the
anti-Bourbon majority in the House was
reliable and determined, and that quo
rum could always be maintained when it
was made manifest that there was to be
n struggle. 1t was further shown that
the minority could not overbear or OBJ
struct the majority.
All these conditions still exist, and
two additional contested election cases
have for some days been before the House
for consideration. These are the cases of
Mr.. Tillman, of South Carolina, who is
still casting Mr.. Smalls' vote, and Mr..
Shelley, of Alabama, who is voting for a
seat left vacant by death. The Committee
on Elections have reported that neither
of these gentlemen have q right to seats
in the House. The first duty of
all deliberative bodies, after organiza-
ton, is to ascertain who are entitled
to disputed seats. This is the very high
est duty of Congress, because it is great
wrong that men never chosen to the
body should vote upon the passage of
laws. Itis, under the general parliament
airy law, and under the rules of the House,
n question of the highest privilege, and
nothing else Uould be in order today if
demand should be made for a considera-
ton of the case either of Tillman or
Shelley. We name these because they
are cases upon which the Committee on
Elections has reported.
Having referred to the absence of the
chairman of that committee from the city,
we are pleased to record the fact that he
is again at his post. The order of busi-
ness decided upon in the Republican
caucus some time ago gave the appro-
priation bills the preference over the
election cases. This we are informed
was made desirable because the Elections
Committee, although constantly and la
boriously engaged, had no cases then
ready for consideration. The committee
has devoted many weeks to the hearing
without merit, or without proper pre-
sentation.
The Manning case will be considered
by the committee this week. The sub
committee have not as yet agreed upon
any report. Mr.. Calkins declares in fa-
vor of throwing out twelve precincts, in
cluding the Oxford precinct, where the
Bourbons prevailed by the use of artil-
lery. But the remaining precincts would
still give Manning the seat Other men,
bers of the subcommittee see their way
clear to throwing out other precincts
which would unseat Manning, on the
ground that the Bourbons conspired to
defeat fair election by purposely Sc
lecting as the Republican members of
the precinct election boards ignorant
persons, who were incapable of discrimi-
mating between the ballots cast. The gen.
eral committee will decide which view
to adopt, and will report accordingly. 1t
| will be most disastrous to the cause of
| honest elections if so fragrant a case as
this shall be wanting in the technical
proof of what is common knowledge, and
one of the most disgraceful. chapters in
the history of our times. To us the
proof seems sufficient that Manning was
not legally elected. To seat him is to
encourage more outrages. To send him
back to the people will be notice to the
lawless elements in Mississippi that they
cannot prevail where Republican power
exists to render their crimes fruitless.
The admission of Lynch, Bisbee,
Mackey, and Lowe to the seats to which
they had been elected electrified the
country. 1t made the law respected
rs it had not been before for many
years. The Republican party had
| finally commenced to fulfill its pledges.
| The North, which had been told by Re-
publican candidates for Congress for
sixteen years that Bourbon minorities
were returning the lawmakers from
Southern districts by violence and fraud,
at last saw the Congressman who had
been elected to right those aOrongs actually
engaged in the work. At the South
Liberals and Republicans were alike re-
joiced that the day of reckoning had come.
They said that Bourbon crimes against
the freedom of elections would cease if
the House of Representatives would
prove that elections must elect at the
South rs well as at the North.
To admit Smalls, and to declare Shell
ley's seat vacant, in accordance with the
committees recommendation, is now the
highest duty of the majority. These
cases are now ready for vote. There is
to be another election for Congressman
before the next meeting of Congress
To postpone these cases until next De-
cember would load the Republi can party
down during the coming campaign with
proof of its imbecilty and Indifference
to the right of suffrage in the South and
would be a notice to Southern Liberals
and Independents that they have less
influence to secure hearing at Washing
ton than their Bourbon enemies and per-
secutors have to secure postponement
Of such hearing. There is no excuse for
delay. A quorum can and will be had
when it is insisted upon. The majority
has proven its powerin the cases already
decided. If it should now retire from
the Capitol leaving other cases Undecided
which are ready for vote, what argu-
ment could be urged during the fall cam
paign for the reelection ofmembers who,
in any manner, contributed to such be-
trayal of the cause of representative
government? We know of no difference
of opinion on this subject among the
Republicans or Liberals in the House /;
what we have said is merely in reply to