Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-05

] that involved the sovereignty OIL the peO-
ple--the House was not bound by tecbni-
cal rules which were prescribed for the
regulation OF disputes between citizens
when compelled to submit their differ
euces to tribunals organized for the pur-
pose of settling them. The House was
on n broader basis. It had TO inquire
whether the people Of the Twelfth In
diana district had lawfully expressed
their choice. The question was whether
White was eligible TO the seat to which
he had undoubtedly been elected. He
(Cockran) did not believe that there WAS
any fair question OF law before the House.
He did not regard the record as any
thing but proof OF judgment Judg-
mont was the act OF a court which
stood independent of anything the
Clerk might do. In this case
there was no record OF what the court
had done, and the House WAS driven to
induiring into facts. White stood
before the House upOn his oath, de-
claring that in 1855 he went before the
court in Allen county. Ind, accompa-
MED by witnesses, and complied with
all the provisions OF law, and that GER
tificate OF naturalization WAS issued TO
him. Holding the views that he Cock
RAM did, there was nothing left for him
10 decide but whether he would believe
the sworn statement of a member OF the
House, corroborated by character
against which not one word had been
uttered in this debate. Applause.
Men on the Democratic side claimed TO
represent popular sovereignty III the
fuller meaning OF the word. They
clamed 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 Twelfth Indiana
district could speak they had declared
their wish, their will, their command,
that White should be their representa-
tive. [Applnuse.] Against this COM
mand of the people the Committee on
Elections had advanced a number OF cir
cumstances which it was said tended to
impeach the accuracy of Whites state
ments. He believed either that White
was naturalized in Indiana or that he had
committed perjury. He was lawful
member of the House Of Representatives
or his place was at the barof the criminal
court on the charge Of perjury. He
must look to the character of the person
npon 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 statements.
He came here with n history which
was part of the history OF his
country. He had held important
offices he had discharged the duties OF
citizenship he had she'd his blood for
his country iapplause]. and his Cock
ran'sl voice would not cast vote
which would make the wounds he re-
ceived in honorable service bleed afresh
by reason Of iugratitude Of his associates.
Applause. 1t would rather be his pride,
rs be hoped it would he in his power. to
cast a vote to show that he who risked
his life in defenceo of this land merited
reward which served him like an armor
invincible to the shafts OF the enemy
when in course of his career he had to
defend his character against assault
TApplause In what he (Cockran) said
he expressed his own loyalty to the
laws he did not believe that the po-
litical effect OF this vote would
sway single member on the
Democratic side so far from n sense
of obligation to his conscience as to cause
him to cast vote dictated by political
reasons but if such suggestion entered
the mind of any man, let him remember
that the best way to prevent vote in
this case from having any effect upon
the presidential election was for the
Democrats so to comport themselves in
the discharge of every duty that no
presidential election would ever come
into the House, but the votes of the peo-
pie would decide it in favor of that party
which he believes was pledged to every
system of good government, which ought
to win the confidence of electors. APP
plause. In conclusion, he SAID: Be
litving 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 / 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 n soldier of the Union
guilty OF perjury and unworthy Of the
association of honorable men," APP
plause and cries of "Vote" from the
Republican side.
Mr.. Wilson, Of Minnesota Demo
craft, spoke favor of the contestee and
declared that men would be moral per-
jurers il they did not vote their honest
convictions irrespective of every party
consideration.
After further speeches by Messrs.
Cultivate of Ohio and Mash of Penn
sylvania in support Of the majority reso-
luton and by Mr.. Cutting, Of New
York, in favor OF the claims of the sitting
member, the House without reaching
vote at o'clock adjourned.