Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-02-06
THE HOUSE.
The INDIANA ELECTION CONTEST,
Mr.. Whites Claim to the Seat Warmly
Discussed.

WASHINGTON, February 1.-The House
resumed the consideration OF the Lowry
White contested election case.
Mr.. Moore, of Texas, a member OF the
majority of the Committee gu Elections,
spoke briefly in support of the majority
resolution and cOntended hat the con-
tes;ee had failed utterly to make proof Of
his naturalization.
NJ. o. Terrell, OF Virginia, took the same
ground.
Mr.. Cochran, OF New York (Dem,) was
yielded fifteen minutes by Mr.. Rowell, aud
"a 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 vas 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 vas
On y BASIS,
Ii had to inquire whether the peOpleof the
Twelfth Indiana District had lawfully eX-
pressed their choice. The question was
whether Mr.. White was eligible to q seat,
to which he had undoubtedly been elected.
He ,Cochrln) did not believe that there
was II fair question Of law before the
House he did not regard the record rs any
thing but the proof of the judgment.
The Judgment was the act OF the court,
which was independent OF what the clerk
might do. In this case there was no record
of " hat the court had done, and the House
was driven to an inquiry 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 oflaw, and that a 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
be would believe the sworn statement OF q
member of the House, ~corrobOrated by a
character against which not II word had
been uttered in this debate Applause.
Men on the Democratic side claimed TO
represent popular sovereignty in the full
| est meaning of the word; they claimed that
to their party belonged the mission
of extending the power of the people at the
ballot box. SO far g 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 mad advanced n Number OF CIR
cumstaRceS, which, it is said, tended 10
impeach the accuracy OF MIR. White. lie
believed either that Mr.. White was natur-
allied in IGdiaua or that he had committed
perjury. Tie was a lawful member Of the
House of Representatives, or his place was
at the lar Of a criminal court on 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 a history which was part OF the
history OF his country. In conclusion ne
said: Believing rs / do, while that nag
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 WIN
their blood this Union, under which we
live. l shall not casts vote which would be
treason to my constituency and which
would pronounce n soldier of the Union
guilty Of perjury and unworthy of the as,
ISOLATION of honorable men," (Applause)
and cries OF Vote, Vote" from the he
publican side.
Mr.. Outhwaite, of Ohio, supported the
majority resolution and then the house,
without reaching a vote, adjourned.