New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-05
COCKRAN'S MAIDEN SPEECH.
HIS WARM DEFENCE OF CAPTAIN WHITE.
rHpowtNG POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS ASIDE AND

HIS WARM DEFENCE OF CAPTAIN WHITE.
~y,ox,xo po,,r,cAt CONSIDERATIONS ASIDE AND
CuAMpioSiNG THE CAUSE OF UNION SOLDIER
w,su,NGroS. Feb. 4.-Iu the House this a1ter
noon Rourlxe Cochran Of New-York, maae n'S
maiden speech in support of the contestees III 'o
Lowry White election case, ana MS ei"a"'"'
utterances elected rounds OF applause.
Mr. Moore Of Texas a member OF the majority
NJ ,bo Committee ON Elections, spoke briefly IN
support Of the majority resolution. and contended
flint the contestec had failed utterly to make PROOF
of his naturalization
Az o'Farnol. of Virginia took the same ground
Mr. Rowen of Illinois, presented the case oil the
contcstee and argued that he had completely proven
his citizenship 1t was said. Mr.. Rowell urged,
that the contestee was unworthy OF belief on nc
,ount of some utterances upon the stump. Why,
said lac, if al had the brand liar put upon
our brows because we sometimes made mistake
in what say on the stump. how many OF u.s.
who talk at all would go out Of the House with
the word liar written all across our foreheaus.'
AIR. Cochran, Of New,York, was yielded fifteen
minutes 10y Mr.. Rowel and as lac rose IN the centre
aisle to speak for the contestee he was watched
by every eye ana intently listened to. lie SAID
that he did not believe there was any lar question
of law before the House. lie did not regard the
record as anything but the proof OF the Judgment
The Judgment was the act OF the court, when
stood independent OF anything the clerk might 40
IN this there was no RECORD OF WHAT thc cour'
had done, and the House was driven u an w.
Quiry into the facts. . 81,
Mr.. White stood before the House upon his oath
declaring that in S65 he went before the court
in Allen County, Ind, accompanied By witnesses,
and complied with all the provisions OF law, ana
that certificate of naturalization was issued a., TO
there was nothing left for him to decide put
whether he would believe the sworn statement OF
n member Of the House, corrobOrated by character
against which not one word had been uttered IN
this debate: Applause .
popular sovereignty In the fullest 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 as the people of the
clarcd their WISH their will their command that
Mr.. White should he their Representative. Zap
plause.)
Against this command of the people the Com.
mittec Elections had advanced number OF
shH WaS Of WAS Will en s 10 %
either that Mr. White natutalized in Indiana or
that he had commiited perjury lie was !; lawful
was the bar of Criminal Court on the charge of
perjury. lie must look TO the character Of the
person upon whose statement he proposed to base
his action
This man came before the House with thirty
years of honorable life to give weight to his state
Of the history of hs county lie had held import
"T lie had sbsG 6 ' Blood aI ST
rams voice would not cast a vote which would
make the wounds he had received in honorable
service bleed afresh by reason of the ingratitude
Of his associates (ApplauSel
H. would rather he his pride rs he hoDed il would
he in his power to cast vote to show that he
who rsked his life in defence Of this land merited
reward which served him like armor. irwin
chile TO the shafts Of the enemy, when in the
course of his career he had to defend his char
acter against assault. Appause). In what he
tCockrani said, he expressed his own loyalty to
tho laws. lie did not believe that the political
effect of his vote would sway a single member
the Democratic SIDE far from sense Of
obligation to his conscience as to cause him to
cast a vote dictated by political reasons But
if such a suggestion entered the mind of any man.
let him remember that the best way 20 prevent
the vote in this case from having any effect upon
the Presidential election was for Democrats TO so
compof themselves in the discharge Of every duty
that no Presidential election would ever come
would decide it in favor Of that party which, he
beloved. was pledged to every system OF good
government which ought to win the confidence
Of the electors. Appause).
in conclusion he said: Believing as 90,
while the flag which Captain White and his as
socatcs have keps floating aioft In pride over
every part Of this country. floats over my head
while feel deeply grateful to the heroes who
preserved and cemented with their blood this
Union under which we live. l shall not cast a
vote which would be treason TO my constituency,
and which would pronounce soldier OF the Union
guilty Of perjury and unworthy of the association
" Vote from the Republican side).
Mr. Wilson, of Minnesota spoke in support OF
the contcstcc and declared that men would be
moral pcrjureri if they did not vote their honest
ton. ~. r
Ohio and Maish. Of Pennsylvania. in SUPPORT OF
the majority resolution ana ox Mr e., hs st;ing
member the House without reaching vote al
4 o'clock adjourned.