Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-02-05
THE HOUSE.
THE INDIANA ELECTION CONTEST.
Mr.. Whites Claim to the Seat Warmly
Discussed.
COCHRAN STATES HIS POSITION
He Will Vote Against the Majority
Report.

WASHINGTON, February 4.-The House
resumed the consideration OF the Lowry
White contested election case.
Mr.. Moore, of Texas, member OF the
majority of the Committee on Elections,
spoke briefly in support of the majority
resolution and contended that the con-
testee had failed utterly to make proof OF
his naturalization.
M. 0. FeTell, OF Virginia, took the same
ground.
Mr.. Cochran, of New York Dem. }, was
yielded fifteen minutes by Mr. ROwell, and
as he rose in in the center aisle TO speak
for the contestee, he was watched by every
eye and intently listened to. He said that
in discussing the question of general pub
lie policy, one that involved the sovereign
ty of the people, the House was not bound
by the technical rules which were pre-
scribed for the regulation of disputes be-
tween citizens, when compelled to submit
their differences TO the tribunals organ
lied for the purpose of settling them; the
House was
ON A BROADER BASIS.
II had to inquire whether the people Of the
Twelfth Indiana District had lawfully ex.
pressed their choice. The question WAS
whether Mr. White was eligible TO q seat,
to which be had undoubtedly been elected.
He ,Cochran) did not believe that there
was any fair question of law before the
House he did not regard the record as any
thing but the proof of the Judgment.
TIE Judgment was the act OF the court,
which was independent OF what the clerk
might do. IN this case there WAS no record
of what the court had done, and the House
was driven to al inqniyy into the facts.
Mr. White stood before the House upon
his oath declaring that in 1865 he went be-
fore the court in Allen county, accompa-
MED by witnesses, and complied with all
the provisions flaw, and that certificate
of naturalization was issued TO him. Hold
ing the views he (Cochran) did.
THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT
for him to decide, but the question whether
he would believe the sworn statement Of a
character against which not one word had
been uttered in this debate Applause.
Men on the Democratic side claimed 10
represent popular sovereignty i'll the full
est meaDingsf The word; they claimed that
to their party belonged the mission
of tx ending the power Of the people at the
ballot box. So far as the people of the
Twelfth Indiana district could speak they
had declared their wish, their will, their
command that Mr.. White should be their
representative. Applause Against this
command Of the people, the Committee on
Elections had advanced number Of cir
cumstancts, which, it il said, tended TO
impeach the accuracy of Mr.. White. He
believed either that Mr.. White was natur-
allied in Indiana or that he had committed
perjury. He was a lawful member OF the
House of Representatives, or his place was
at the bar of q criminal court OF the charge
of perjury.
He must look to the
CHARACTER OF THE PERSON
upon whose statements he proposes TO base
his action. This man came before the
House with thirty years of honorable life 10
give weight to his statements. He came
here with history which was part of the
history of his country. In conclusion he
said: believing as do, while that flag
which Captain White and his associates
have kept floating aloft in pride over every
part of this country, floats over my head
while l feel deeply grateful to the
heroes who preserved and cemented with
their blood this Union. under which we
live. shall not cast vote which would be
treason to my constituency and which
would pronounce a soldier of the Union
guilty of perjury and unworthy of the as
sociation of honorable men," (Applause)
and cries OF ''Vote, Vote" from the Re-
publican side.
Mr.. Outhwsite, of Ohio, supported the
majority resolution and then the House,
without reaching vote, adjourned.