The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-03-27
Contested Elections.


The Washington correspondent of the
New Y ork Tribune, referring to Mr.. Tuck
er's allusion to Hon. John S.. Wise as the
transient member from Virginia, - draws
the conclusion that the seating of the three
Democratic contestants from Virginia was
predetermined, and in accord with the
spirit that controlled the Virginia Legisla-
ture in securing q two-thirds majority in
that body. The writer continues after
mentioning that Garrison had been seated:
Two Virginia contests remain-that of
Massey against Wise and that Of 0 'Ferrall
against Paul. The majority for Wise was
nearly 5000, and Paul. majority was about
800. After his election Paul resigned and
was appointed United States District
Judge. He has, however, defended the
validity of the certificate Of election issued
to him before the elections committee.
The arguments before the subcommittee
occupied about six hours. The chairman
of the subcommittee, Mr.. Lowry, of Indi-
ana was present about half the time. AS
soon as the arguments were closed and
without allowing a. moment for delibera-
ton. he read a resolution declaring OFFER
rail- entitled to the seat, and Immediately
demanded vote. A Republican member
of the subcommittee earnestly and re-
peatedly protested against this extraordi-
nary proceeding, but the chairman, who
apparently had received his orders, per-
sisted and thereSOlutiOn was adopted. The
matter was brought before the full COM
mittee Saturday, and Mr.. Lowry, after
reading his report, and without allowing
the Republican members of the sub-com-
mittee to submit their views Oh giving any
opportunity for discussion or elaboration
by members Of the committee who had
found no time to investigate the details of
the case, demanded an immediate vote on
his resolution declaring O'Ferrall entitled
to the seat. A Republican member of the
committee thereupon spoke his mind
freely. He declared that the case had been
rushed through the subcommittee under
the whip and spur, and he thought it only
right that it should not be put through the
full committee under the gag rule. He
could easily understand that what Mr..
Tucker said yesterday and from the action
Of the Democratic members of the sub
committee that the fiat had gone forth,
and that every Bourbon contestant from
Virginia must be seated. The committee
finally agreed not to take the vote Saturday.
The report prepared by Mr.. Lowry is a
remarkable document. The history of
contested election cases does not furnish
parallel for. the extraordinary statements
and legal propositions contained in this
document. MI. Lowry throws out enough
votes cast for Paul to elect O'Ferrall by
about 800 majority. The pretext is that
the votes excluded were cast by men who
had not paid the capitation tax assessed
against them and who were therefore not
entitled to vote. but there is not scin-
tilla of legal proof to show that delinquents
voted, or, if SO, to show whether they
voted for Paul or O'Ferrall When this
case is brought before the house for action
it will provoke a hot debate, unless the
gag rule is applied there with as great sue
cess as it was in the subcommittee.