The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-03


and disorder who objected to it.
Mr.. Folett insisted that the resolution was
broad enough to give the officer full opportunity
to show his surroundings, and to show every
condition that contributed in any way whatever
to the conduct with which he was charged. He
Mr. Follettl did not desire to make personal
statement of all that occurred on election day.
He preferred to do that after the investigation
should have been made, when it would no longer
be necessary for any gentleman on this floor to
defend the position he occupied by the extreme
charges of partisan papers. He preferred to
have the facts before he spoke on the conduct of
that election. He proposed that the people of
the country, on proper investigation, should be
informed of the actual condition of things. The
gentleman from Ohio Mr. Keifer had SAID
men arrested and discharged without there
being preferred agant them any charge of crime.
They had been arrested simply because
it was known why they had come
into Cincinnati from adjoining States. AS to
the deputy marshals, they were armed with
British bulldogs and told to use them. If that
was a method to secure peaceable and orderly
election, in Gods name don't do It'll The statute
prohibits the United States army from coming
near the polls Who would say that drilled
officer was not a more suitable person to be at
the polls than men selected from the work house
and from the poor-house for their known brutal
ty and criminalityl These charges made
in good faith; if they were not true he wanted
the country to know it, If substantiated by ev-
idence, the House should not hesitate mo-
ment to say that the officer thus derelict in duty,
thus violating public trust, was no longer fit to
be a servant of the people
Mr.. j. D. Taylor, of Ohio, alluded to the ter
rifying of colored men on election day.
Mr.. Miller of Pennsylvania, regretted that the
investigation stopped at the Ohio river. 1t
should be extended to the Southern States where
no regard was paid to how ballot was cast or
counted.
Mr.. G. D. Wise, of Virginia said he had a
resolution prepared looking to investigation
of the election in Southern State.
Mr. Miller said that Ivhila he halieved that in
the Southern States they had ceased to kill and
destroy, and the shotgun had been laid aside
temporarily, still they kept up the practice Of
counting their men in without regard to the bal
lots cast.
Mr.. Keifer asked leave to offer an amend
ment, directing the committee on expendi-
lures in the Department of Justice to invest
gate all the circumstances attending the recent
election for members of the House of Representa-
tiyes from the First and Second districts of Ohio
but Mr.. Folett refused to yield. Mr.. Follett
also declined to yield to Mr. Hiscock, who de-
sired to offer amendment enabling the
marshal to bring forward the facts justifyng or
explaining his action.
Mr.. Reed declared the resolution one-sided on
its face, and instigated by gentleman who
felt himself personally aggrieved by the count
ing OF votes on election day.
Mr.. Barksdale said he would promote an inves-
tigaton of the election in any Southern State.
Mr., Converse thought the country would read
with some surprise OF the course pursued by the
ton to mpeach an officer of the United States.
He thought it the first time in the history of the
country when party had resorted to all sorts of
machinery to avoid an investigation of public
officer When 1t was proposed to lmpeach him,
not only had gentlemen on the other side done
that, but they had even undertaken to arraign a
sovereign State and propose to inquire whether
that State had not been attempting to interfere
with the election of a member of Congress.
Mr.. Keifer-Who arraigned STATED
Mr.. Converse understood the gentleman
himself to have stated that at the election in
Cincinnati, the laws were overridden and sover
eign citizens not allowed to vote their senti-
ments.
Mr.. Keifer-I said nothing against the State
only against few individuals
Mr.. Converse-Not only did the gentleman
make that statement, but another gentleman
from Ohio II. D. Taylor made more serious
charge against his native State and the two
gentlemen and the gentleman from New York
(Mr. Hiscock) proposes to investigate the State
and see whether she has not under taken to in
terfere with the purity of elections The fact
was, continued Mr. Converse, that there never
had been time in Ohio when the humblest man,
black or white, could not go to the polls in per-
feet safety and deposit his ballot election day.
The only interference with the ballot came from
men wearing the livery of the United States.
lie had risen for the purpose of repudiatng this
slander on his State and her laws. The ap-
pointment of deputy marshals was only scheme
TO enable the Republican party to carry the cleo
ton. They simply obtained money out of the
treasury to help that party carry the election
Mr.. Brumm inquired why if the gentleman
was sure that Ohio was pure, he did not chal-
lenge an investigation.
Mr.. Converse-It is simply slander on our
State. and this marshal himself has not had the
hardihood to make that charge. l scorn to
stand here and see my State arraigned by
petty marshal l do not propose to have my
State arraigned and put on trial because some
marshal may say he has reason for arming
deputies.
Mr.. Hiscock made another vain attempt to
have his amendment considered. The resolu-
ton should be amended so that marshal might
show that he acted in good faith
Mr.. Follett declared that the charge that ne
groes were prevented from voting was without
foundation. Negroes from Kentucky and Vir-
ginia, who were brought in freight cars like cat
tie, for the purpose of voting in Cincinnati were
the only ones interfered with. He had little care
for what the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Reed)
said about him personally. So far as the honest
voters of his distrf& were concerned he was sat
isfed. He had received 2, 900 more votes than
he did two years previously but he thanked God
he had not been elected by the votes of men who
had been brought into his city and turned loose
to vote If he had been defeated on account of
the presence in Cincinnati of such distinguished
citizens as Powell Clayton, Filley McElfresh
and the officious gentleman presiding over the
Pension Bureau, it was not his loss. 1t was the
countrys destruction and stab at liberty.
The resolution was then adopted without di
vision.
Mr. g. d. Wise, of Virginia, asked unanimous
consent to offer resolution for investigation of
the conduct of United States marshals for the
Eastern district of Virginia during the recent
election.
Mr. Reed objected.
Mr.. Reagan called up-the interstate commerce
bill, and the House decided to consider it. not
withstanding the effort of Mr.. O'Nelll, of Penn
sylvania, to postpone the discussion until to-
morrow.
Mr. Reagan offered substitute for the bill
4 tIoa A.
last session. the bill generally known as the
Reagan BILL" and entered into an exhaustive
comparison of the two measures
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Reagans remarks,
the House adjourned