Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-06-21
THELOUISIANA FRAUD.

Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, 18th.
The election in Louisiana was carried
by eighty thousand majority or there
about for the Democrats, while there is
in that State, under free ballot and
fair count, clear Republican majority.
The Legislature chosen under that fraud
ulent system met and elected a U. S.
Senator, on Tuesday last. This will ena-
BILE our readers to understand what fol-
lows, which is the regular report of the
proceedings of that body on Wednesday:
Mr.. Chandler offered resolution re-
ferring the credentials of Senator Glib
son, of Louisiana (for his new term), to
the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tions, and instructing that committee to
inquire into all the facts of the Senate
rial election, and to ascertain and report
whether or not at the recent State cleo
ton in Louisiana, which included the
election of the State Legislature, the 1885,,
746 votes returned for the candidate of
the dominant party for Governor were
actually cast, in view of the fact that at
no previous election had the votes for
the candidate for such party exceeded
SO, 794; and why, in the Parish of Madi-
son, $3.50 votes were cast for one party
and none for the other; in East Felici-
ana, 2,276 to 5; in Morehouse, 1854 to
IA; in Ouachita 1894 to 5; in Sabine, l.
Al to 2; in Tensas, 1927 to 113, with
similar returns from other parishes; also,
to ascertain and report whether or not
at such State elections there was any vi
olence, intimidation or fraud that pre-
vented a fair election, and whether false
returns were made and counted. In
case the committee shall conclude that
there were illegalities, frauds, false can
vases and false returns so extensive and
systematic in their character as to show
deliberate plan to carry the election,
without regard to the votes actually cast
and to choose Governor, State officers
and State Legislature by such illegal,
false and fraudulent means, then the
committee is instructed to proceed furth-
er and inquire and report whether the
Legislature was actually and duly elect |
ed by the people of Louisiana, or was,
in fact, solely the creation of the return
ing and canvassing officers, and whether
of May, 1888 (the day of Senator Glib
sons election), Republican form of
government, including Legislature en-
titled to choose q. S. Senators.
We reproduce this report Of the pro-
ceedings because it was not generally |
read or understood, and we want it now
to be both read and understood. This |
is the way both Senate and House are
filled with members who have no more |
right to sit there than persons chosen by |
town mobs. Gibson has no legal right |
to seat in the U. S. Senate, very little |
more than the person who writes this ar
ticle. Therefore he should be rejected |
and sent back to Louisiana. The Senate
has the unquestioned right to judge of
the election and qualification of its own
members. Under this power Mr. Chand-
Ter offered his resolution. 1t remains
for the Senate to act and to declare the
seat vacant In like manner every seat
in the Senate and House filled by the
of legal votes or false counts
should be declared vacant, and this prin-
ciple should be clearly embodied in a
plank in the forthcoming platform of the
party. To evade this issue
or seem to compromise it would be un-
worthy the Republican party. The South
ern States in suppressing legal votes or
falsely counting votes cast, with view
to enthroning the minority in power,
waves the so-called bloody shirt in its
worst form, and no cry of that sort
should deter the Republicans from as
serting the rights of the people under
the Constitution. If this shall not be
made an issue in the approaching cam
paign, we might as well not have cam
paign. If the Constitution is to be
trampled under foot, what's the use of
govenmentY
Political leaders need not fear the peo
pie. The latter are all right. The lead
ers feared the people once, when slavery
ruled, and were agreeably disappointed.
So they will be now if the issue shall be
fairly presented. Let the South wave
the bloody shirt if it will. 1t is for us
to wave the Constitution.
A MAD DOG bit several men and chill
4 4 I