The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-30
HON. STANTON ]. PEELLE.
A ROusing Informal Reception to Our Le-
gally-Elected Congressional Representative,

At half past 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon
about three hundred gentlemen, headed by the
When band, marched to the Union Depot to
meet Hon. Stanton j. Peelle, who was expected
to arrive on the Bee-line, and escort him to the
Denison Hotel, where an informal reception had
been arranged for him. The train was delayed
more than half an hour, and many left the de
pot, it being the supper hour, but fully two
hundred remained, and when Mr.. Peelle stepped
from the train he was greeted with rousing
cheers and many a hearty shake of the hand.
The procession then reformed and escorted Mr..
Peelle to the Denison House. into the office and
lobby of which more than five hundred people
had crowded to testify by their presence their
appreciation of the worth of the duly-elected rep.
resentative of this district, whose seat had been
stolen from him. Here again was a season of
handshaking, after which Charles L. Holstein,
United States District Attorney, made a brief
but glowing speech of welcome. He said;
Your friends and my friends have delegated to me
the pleasant duty of welcoming you home. In 1SS2
we elected you for the second time to the Congress of
the United States. Your commission was signed and
sealed by the highest authorities in Indiana, but a
Democratic Congress, without rhyme or reason, except
for the fact that you are q Republican, has over
ridden the will of our people and given your seat to
another, perpetrating the highest crime that can be
committed upon the rights of the people, by fraud
and violence, destroying the elective franchise. That
wrong shall and will be rebuked and righted, for we
shall return you by such an overwhelming majority
that even a Democratic Congress will not dare to
again unseat you. Again | say you are right vel
come home, and you come home to a third victory,
for your victory next November will be the most glo-
rious of all.
Mr.. Peelle, when the cheering following Mr..
Holetein's speech had subsidized, thanked his
c,,o-l-.- H. G.. H. ao-o,lsan~
of this kindly reception, a testimonial for
which he was profoundly grateful. For the
past two days he had been at the bedside of a
very sick mother, and his mind, of course, had
been with her. But he was reminded by this
meeting that the people of this district are de-
termined to right the wrong that has been per
petrated by the House of Representatives.
Mr.. Peelle continues:
In the contest through which Ihave just passed com
manded the conservatism, honesty and justice even of
the Democratic House. In addition to the Demo
cratic members who voted for me, Mr.. Burnes, of Mis-
souri,, Mr.. Ellis and Mr.. King, both of Louisiana, were
for me-, but retained from voting at the personal so,
hcitation of Senator Voorhees,. As the roll was called
and Democratic members voted for me, they were at
once importuned either to change their votes to Eng
fish, or refrain from voting altogether. Mr.. Voorhees,
spent the better part of two days in the cloak-room
sending for members who were supposed to be for me,
and who were for me, using all the political strategy
Hb IA possessed ii. u SSI IuSm u NObS u GnkISn
or refrain from voting. Mr.. Potter, of New York, had
expressed a desire early in the debate to make a
speech il my behalf, but a short time before the time
arrived he was requested to step into the cloak-room,
where Senator Voorhees, and the senior English were,
and although Mr.. Potter voted for me, he was induced
not to make a speech. There was not a Democrat on
the floor of the House who had given the case the
slightest investigation, or who heard the argument on
the floor but conceded that the grounds were INSULT
cient to unseat me. Ex-senator Mcdonald had been
there during the winter, and his hand was seen in the
contest in many ways, and especially among the free
traders of the Democratic side, whose efforts for Mr..
English had been secured by Mr.. Mcdonald.
The Speaker of the House was not
slow to speak to members on the subject,
and did secure one or two votes for Mr.. English, of
members who up to that time had refrained from
and intimidation and the scenes on the floor of the
House of Representatives during the progress of the
vote were characterized. even by some of the Demo
cratic members, as disgraceful. But 1 have no COM
plant to make concerning the action of the House, as
the contest was conducted, as far as | was concerned.
in an honorable way and no member was asked by me
to vote for me. L felt much gratifed at the support l
they are by far the ablest men IN the House
on that side of the House. AS to those
who voted against me, or refrained from voting al
together, | have no criticism to make, as every man on
the floor must exercise his own judgmen; tand without
impugning the rights of any voter, | have simply
stated some of the facts in connection with the contest.
The next contest will be at the ballot-box next Novem-
nominated the people will again have an opportunity of
rightine the outrage which was perpetrated by the
House. | solicit his re- nomination"
AS Mr.. Peelle concluded he was again given
three rousing cheers and the crowd dispersed.