National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-02-14

speak. had spoken, and had said in due form that
Manning had received majority Of the votes cast
THIS case should be decided like otner cases
where 1t had always been held tnat no 9siuvnCS
could be introduced to impeach the cerIihcate OF
the governor.
Mr. Curtin offered resolution reccmmittIngt to
the committee on elections me question on we
prina facle right to a seat, with instructons 10
ascertain and report whether certificate OF cleo
tion was issued by the governor of Mississippi 70
any one, and, IA So to whom. He contended that
the elections committee had made mistake In
going behind the returns of the governor ana
making on investigation OF the facts which tended
TO prove the final merits of the case. ~ 49,
Mr.. Oates supported Mr.. Curtin's resolution, as
sertng that the committee on elections IN invests
eating the facts of the case and not eonfning us
erroneous construction OH the action of the house.
Mr.. Cobb spoke briefly in favor Of the. minority
Mr. Cox, of New York, said that Mr.. Manning
certainly thought that there were some bad fea-
lures in his certificate when he declined TO pre-
sent it, He was anxioas that the house should as
sumo the responsibility of accepting the certificate
and seating him The house refused to take the
responsibility and referred the matter to the cleo;
lions committee. The committee, in turn, refused
the responsibility, and the question, like Banquo
ghost again came back to the house.
Mr.. Davis, of Missouri, argued that neither Mr..
Chalmers nor Mr.. Manning was entitled, prlma
faole, to the seat and favored the speedy decision
Of the case upon the merits.
Mr.. Robertson spoke in favor OF the minority
report and against the action Of the majority in
going behind the governors certificate. He would
say in the ford language of his friend Joe Black
burn-he meant the senator. eect-that man :
nings credential was as legal rs though II was
borne by AN angel from heaven ITSELF and bore
the sign title of Jehovah himself
Mr.. Dorsheimer said that he would vote for Mr..
Curtins resolution, becaused he believed that the
report of the committee was not responsive to the
resolution Of the house referring to II the decision
of the prima facie right. In deciding that right
the committee had only the power to decide
whether the certificate was proper in
and was not "a forgery. 1t was
not within the Jurisdiction OF the committee to
impeach the certificate by extrinsic evidence
which had reference only to the merits Of the cas5.
4 prlma facie case. the clerk of the house, in
making up the roll at the beginning of congress,
must have an equal power. This would be very
dangerous doctrine TO assert. Tho advocates OF
the majority report had laid great stress on the fact
that Mr.. Manning, by not presenting his certificate,
had himself impeached its integrity, but he con-
tended that no man elected by an American con-
stituency had the power TO confess himself out oil
court. The house alone had the right to decide
upon the validity Of the election of Il representa-
tive.
Mr.. Herbert presented an argument in favor Of
the immediate seating of Manning on the prima
faCie case, even though in three hours atterward
the house should decide that ON the merits Chal.
mers was entitled to the seat.
MIR. Crisp spoke in support OF the majority reso-
luton.
After speech by Mr.. Pettibone, in support OF
the majority report, the matter went over until
to-day.
Mr.. Harmer presented petitions in favor of PEN
sloning union soldiers who suffered in Anderson
vile, Libby, Belle Isle or other confederate prs
ons. Referred
The speaker laid before the house letter from
the secretary of the navy transmitting the
amounts claimed by contractors for care of the
double turreted monitors. They aggregate S27S,
GAG. Referred.
The house then (at 1o) adjourned.