New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-20
AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
CONGRESSMAN sMALLs SEATED.

WASHINGTON, July 19-The Republican majority
in the House has done another act of substantial
justice. At O'Clock this afternoon George ID. Till
man had ceased to occupy a place in that body
which belonged to another man, and Robert Smalls
q colOred man, who Mas chosen by large majority
of the people of tho Vth South Carolina District to
represent them in Congress- admitted to the seat
of which he has been so long unjustly deprived
The debate was opened this morning by
Mr.. Briggs, of New-Hampshire, who made an excel
lent speech exposing the methods of fraud and vo-
lence TO which the Bourbons resorted in order to
suppress the voice of the majority. Mr. Atheron, Of
Ohio O Democratic member of tho Elections Com
mittec. made violent and pcttifoggng speech In
favor of Timan-a speech distinguished by lack of
candor and cool disregard of the facts disclosed
by the testimony. Then Mr. Horr, of Michigan
| came forward and unroed and placed on the
clerks desk, in full view of the House, map in
coloIs showing the "Dibble-try of South Carolina
by the Bourbon Legislature This map Mr.. Horn, with
q walking stick as pointer, began to describe, and
his object lesson in the political geography of
the Palmetto State was both instructive and enter
tanning, although the Democrats by no means cn-
joyed il, and declared that it bad nothing to do
with this contested election case. Mr.. Horr was
frequently interrupted by Atherton, Evins and
other Democrats with assertions that the South
the Republicans had been guilty of in Ohio, Penn
sylvania and other States Mr. Horr retorted that
even the Democrats in Ohio had never been able to
invent such piece of villainy this. Theirs was
pure gerIymandering; tins was pure viainy. Evins,
of South Carolina became very much excited, and
asserted among other things, that Mr. Horr W as IN
error in saying that election precincts had been d
| vided, but Mr.. Horr Immediately showed that such
was the case by reading from the new election lIw
| passed after the redistricting of the State.
| The speech of the day. howcver-for the Repub-
| lcans-was made by Tilman himself. lie admitted
that the Caucasians of South Carolina had risen
in their might" to overthrow the rule of majority
| comuosed of " Barbarians AS he phrased it. he
warned the majority of the House that curses would
come home to roost" and that they would commit a
| great wrong when they turned away represent
atve of the virtue the intelligence and the wealth
of South Carolina" in order to make place for a
man who only represents the choice of majority
| of the voters Several times did Mr.. Tlllman in
form the House that he will be reelected next No
yember 4" ] expect TO come back here by a free
election, as came last time," he said. MI. Till
mans new district contains a coored majority OF
nearly 5000 but he assured the House that great
| MANY of the colored men are Democrats. Some
| portions of Tillman's speech were very amusing
| and provoked repeated applause and laughte
| Mr.. Miller, of Pennsylvania, closed the debate
| in a very interesting speech which bore
marks of careful preparation. Separate votes were
| taken OH the resolutions declaring Tillman not
| elected and Smalls entitled to the seat The first
was adopted by vote of 145 to 1, and the last by
| vote OF 141 to 5, among those who voted in the
| negative on the last resolution was Chairman
Calkins, who holds that the election should be de-
clared void and the seat vacant
The tally clerk made mistake in the footing of
the vote on the first resolution, which was
not discovered until after the vote had been
announced. In announcing the vote on the
second resolution the Speaker called at
tention to this fact, and said that he had di-
rected his vote to be recorded. This gave the
Democrats an opportunity to raise clanor which
they were not slow TO do, denying the right OF the
Speaker to vote under the circumstances, propO-
stion which was absurd in view OF the fact that
his vote was needed 10 complete the quorum Mr.
Blackburn declared that the clerk had fasiiied the
record, and accordingly Chairman Calkins after
ward moved an investigation. His resolution was
laid over as Mr. Blackburn had in the meantime
left the ball. 80 WV,
The case of Smith against Shelley Of the IYth Ala
baIDa District was then taken up, the Democrats
still refusing to vote. When Smals responded Tor
the first time TO his name there was applause. The
Smth-Shey case IS one which affords not the
slightest ground for doubt that The contestee should
DE unseated.