The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-02-14
ALMOST A RIOT.
Exciting Scene In Congress "a ColOred
Elect Cheated Out Of Ills
Sent-LINelY Debhts,

Exciting Scene In Congress - A COlOre
COngrsssmau.E Elect Cheated Out of Iii
SeRt-LivelY Debate.
WASHINGTON, d. O., Feb, lS,-Durin
the debate in the Small.Elliott election
contest to-day Mr., Hemphill argue'
that elections are fair in the South AM
attempted to show that outrages also
prevailed in the North.
Mr., Lodg& OF Massachusetts, said tina
the argument OF the gentleman from
North Carolina (AIr, HemphilD was The
old, old argument, that you're an
other.h
1t was the argument that because one
wrong existed Il could be balanced by
saying that another wrong existed some
where else. Two wrongs had never
made a right and they never would,
Because the fundamental rights OF the
black citizen was torn up by the roots
in South Carolina, it was no answer to
say that there We're here and there in
stances OF race prejudice against him IN
the North.
He then went on to review the meth
ods which he said were praCticed in the
South to stitle the voice OF the majority,
sdying that it had come to such pass
that in Arkansas the fraud had begun
with the plumber OF the ballot boxes
and ended with the murder OF the con-
testant,
The Secretary OF State Of Tenn, had
been putting obstacles in the way OF
the delivery OF the certificates OF the man
elected on the face OF the returns.
The Governor OF West Virginia, had
withheld certificates from two Republi-
can Congressman, elected on the face OF
the returns. Did gentlemen suppose
that the people OF the North were going
to submit to such thing as that? 1t
was absolutely the most revolutionary
step that could be taken. These men
had undertaken to seize the powers OF
the house to Judge OF the election OF its
members, and to say who should con.
sttute n majority OF the American Con.
gress. 1t was part OF the same evil
system, Doth parties expended money
in elections. 1t was six Of one, and
half a dozen Of the other, butthe feeling
OF the North was in favor Of getting rid
OF this, and it would get rid OF it. There
must be fair elections in the South and
in the North, in the East and in the
West.
Mr.. Rowell, Of Illinois, closed the de.
bate for the Republicans, saying that
Notwithstanding all OF the assaults made
upon it, Robert Smalls' majority OF 100
votes still lived, With the exception OF
one witness, no voter had sworn that he
was prevented from voting the Demo.
cratic ticket or compelled to vote the
Republican ticket.
Mr.. Crisp, Of Georgia, in concluding
the argument for the majority OF the
committee, denied the truth OF the gen.
cral Statementthat had been made touch.
ing election outrages in the South, and
said there was nothing about Southern
election that was not rs fair and rs well
calculated to secure IN untnmmeled eX-
preston OF view as in an election in any
other section.
Mr.. johnson, of Indiana, tried to in
terrupt the speaker, but Mr.. Crisp
waived him of with the remark that
the gentleman was initiating smnlls. In
II State where they rcsorted to "blocks
of five" perhaps, they had better look
at home before they went abroad.
This remark brought the Indiana Re.
publiCans to their feet in indignant pro.
test, but Mr.. Crisp declined to permit
interruptions, and in the midst OF the
uproar his time expired. Then scene
OF tumult aud confusion ensued. During
the delivery OF Mr.. Crisp's speech the
main aisle OF the House had become
thronged with members OF both parties
who kept up IN inCessant demand for
the regular order, while Mr.. Crisp Nt-
tempted to have his time extended and
while the Indiana Republicans contin-
ued their vigorous but utterly unintelli-
gible demand for IN opportunity to re-
ply. The Speaker protein (Mr. Nc
Creary) attempted v0inly to Quell the
tumuit, which was gradually assuming
the proportions Of n riot. He was final
ly obliged to call upon the Sergeant-Nt.
Arms to assist him in preserving the
the peace. When quiet was restored Mr..
Crisp asked leave to extend his remarks
in the Record, but Mr.. Johnston, Of
Indiana, objected, unless he could be
given the same permission in answer, he
said, to the fling made against his State
by the gentleman from Georgia,
At Mr.. Rowell's suggestion, however,
leave was granted TO Mr.. Crisp to print,
and Mr.. johnson again came forward
with his request, but Mr.. 0'Ferrall, OF
Virginia, objected, which led to the re.
mark from Mr. Owen, Of Indiana, that
there is hereafter Of unanimous con-
sents,
The vote was then taken on the minor
ity report, declaring Mr.. Smalls entitled
to n seat, and it was rejected by party
vote OF yeas l2G, nays l43, with tho ex.
Ception OF Wilson, Of Minnesota, and
Russell, OF Massachusetts,, who voted
with the Republicans. The majority
resolution, seating Elliott, was then
agreed to without division, and the
HOuge adjourned.