The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-06
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
The Blood-Stained Breckenridge Ousted
From His Seat.

Ane niooo-stafned Bfeckfnrtdge Ousted
From His Seat.
d WASHINGTON CITY, Sept. SIN the
House The Clayton-Breckinridge contested
election case was taken up, and Breckin-
ridge was accorded the floor in his own be-
half. He denied that the murders in his
district. as charged by the committee on
elections, were political. The men who
had charged, either on the floor or in the
press, that the people of Arkansas or any
group OF people representing that state had
ever shown sympathy with the infamous
murder or Clayton, or that he (Breckin-
ridge) had any knowledge of it in the re-
motest degree, uttered that which was
cowardly and mean. and which they knew
to be false. Democratic applause
Breckenridge continued by arraigning the
committee as biased. Clayton. he said,
was his bosom friend. 1t had been said
that he should have resigned after the
murder. To have done so would have
been to admit that he believed the Clayton
murder to have affected the result of the
election, and would have taken the case
from the Republican House, which alone
had jurisdiction. He then turned his at
tention to Judge Mcclure, stating that on
the return of the subcommittee the Re-
publican members indorsed Mcclure for
high judicial position in Arkansas.
Lacey, OF Iowa, chairman of the SUBJ
committee. said he had recommended
Judge Mcclure in strong terms, believing
him one of the most competent lawyers in
Arkansas. Breckenridge proceeded to
quote from Blackburn to show the bad
character of Mcclure. He criticized
in severe language the action
of the subcommittee, asserting that he
had been denied witnesses after he had
been promised they would be accorded
him. No greater debauehery of free
ballot had ever been committed by the
committee. He said in conclusion:
Come to your conclusion and l viii take an
appeal to the people. regardless of party, in the
district have the honor to represent, on the
broad ground of common honesty, and in No
vember they will reverse both your conclusion
and the method of your investigation. Demo-
cratic applause.
Dalzell OF Pennsylvania read in detail
the testimony bearing on the theft of the
ballot-box at Plummervill, and said its
theft was absolutely necessary to Breckin-
ridges return, yet he stood here and as
serted that it had been stolen by Republi-
cans, this Republican ballot-box. The
House stood dumbfounded in the face of
such sublime embodiment of impudence.
He commented upon the backwardness of
the state of Arkansas in endeayoring to
hunt down the murderers from her desc
Grated soil, not for vengeance, but for
Justice. The members of both sides were
here as sacred ministers to execute her just
DEGREES. [Applause.I
The debate having closed, Crisp of Geor-
gia moved to recommend the case with in
structions TO the committee on elections 70
report which of the gentlemen received
majority of the votes in the Second district
of Arkansas; lost-yeas So. nays 101. A
vote was then taken on the minority reso-
luton. confirming Breckinridge's right to
the seat; lost-yeas 81, nays l03. The res
olution declaring the seat vacant was
agreed to: yeas 1Q5, nays 62.
The House then took recess, the even
ing session to be for the consideration of
private pension bills.
The House at the evening session passed
thirty pension bills, and at 1880 ad-
iourned.