Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-07-29
New Series-Vol. 20. No. 80

Senate it was for the Senate to say. But
certainly sufficient evidence has been
sent here to put the question on its in
quiry. The report of the committee of
the Ohio Legislature which had been
sent to the Senate did not show certainly
any great hostility to his colleague. The
Senator should see that there had been
no passion, no heat, no undue persecu
tion in the prosecution of the case by
what was called the Cowgirl Committee.
That committee decided that as to the
four members of the Legislature charged
before it, there was no evidence to i'm
plicate them, but they expressed belief
that there were gross frauds connected
with the Senatorial election in Ohio in
1884, and for that reason, and because
that committee had no jurisdiction of
the question, the case was reported to
the Senate of the United States for the
Senate to do what it thought best and
right. The Senate had in this the state
me1t of committee which had looked
into the matter, to some extent impert
fectly, and that committee had come to
the conclusion that the matter ought to
be sent to the Senate of the United
States, which alone had jurisdiction of
the question.
OHIO LEGISLATIVE ACTION.
That was not all. The members of the
House of Representatives, elected after
the storms of the contest of the last two
years, had passed resolution, declaring
the belief that the election of Henry B.
Payne to the Senate bad been purchased
by the corrupt use of money, and asking
that the matter be rigidly investigated
by the Senate. The Senate of Ohio had
adopted similar resolutions, the Repub+
lican State Committee of Ohio had by
unanimous vote adopted resolutions to
the same effect. So had also the conven-
tion of Republican editors in Ohio, 6S
in number. He had hoped and believed
that his colleague would have seen his
way clear, under all the circumstances, to
demand an investigation, and be had no
doubt that full investigation would
have exculpated his colleague from all
wrong. If he had not, however, others
had by the corrupt use of money con-
trolled the election. While his colleague
would not be dishonored, or disgraced
thereby, the public could be satisfied as
to the extent and nature of the offense.
and the public sentiment in the Senate
and among the people would have been
Just, generous and forbeariDg. That had
been his opinion, but he supposed that
his colleague had felt that while he was
himself free from blame he ought not
to compel an investigation by which
others who were bound to him in vari+
GUS ways might be affected. This is the
first time 1t was ever urged in the SEN
ate of the United States that it should
not examine into the character and cont
duct of an election and into the qualif+
cations of its members.
WHAT THE SENATE OUGHT TO DO.
When a great State of 100000 people
comes here through its organs and as
serts its belief that the election of a
United States Senator has been tainted
with fraud and corruption it will not do
for the Senate or for member of the
Committee on Privileges and Elections
to say, I'VE do not believe that you have
shown evidence enough; you have not
convicted the rascals who participated
in this offense"
My friend from Illinois complained of
injustice. Well, think that injustice
vas done him. 1 sympathize with him
heartily. 1 think that injustice was
done him by Murat Halstead, but be has
every leader. He has attacked
Grant and the Senator from Illinois and
myself. But is it the petition of Murat
Halstead that the Senate is asked to act
upon? No, sir. 1t is the petition of 6s
of the leading newspaper editors of Ohio,
nearly every one of whom is warm
friend to the Senator from Illinois.
Mr.. Logan-I have no complaint to
make about these editors, and have not
made any complaint about them. But
it is mere request by these men. They
do not furnish any evidence. They do
not give the name of any man who
knows anything on the subject. They
do not present any facts, but merely
request to do something.
Mr.. Sherman-I have merely present.
ed it to show that this is not narrow
feeling, easily smothered, and that the
refusal to investigate will not extin>
guish it. 1t must have been a very
strong feeling that induced Gen. Kenne-
dy, one of the bravest and truest sol>
diers of the war, to write that letter to
the Senator from Illinois, which was
read yesterday. his comrade and friend. |
1t must have been strong feeling that
would induce Gen. Kennedy, the Liea+
tenant Governor of Ohio, a man of
character and conscience and honor and
courage, to state these things to his fell
low soldier and friend. That is an evil
dence of the strong feeling that prevails,
and the very editorials which my friend
read yesterday are also an evidence of
that strong feeling.
WHERE FRAUD. IN OHIO POLITICS WAS
BORN.
Mr.. Sherman proceeded to give a ret |
view of Democratic politics within the
last two or three years, stating up to
that time politics had been practically
pure. He gave an account of the High
land House Convention, held in Cincin
natl, in August, 1888, when, he said, or