The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-24
OUAY'S BLACK COHORTS.
s1GNIFICANCE OF TIE RESULT OF
TWO CONTESTS.

Colored Men Langston and Miller
seated In Order to Satisfy the Col
ored Voters in tie North-southern
White Republicans Alarmed at the
Pull of the Negroes
WASHINGTON, May 23.-The republican
managers really care nothing about the
negroes of the south, but ever since they
have learned that the negroes of the north
hold the balance of power in all the doubt
full states, they have been very solicitous
about them. This accounts for the action
of the House elections committee to-day In
deciding in favor of Langston of Virginia
and Miller of South Carolina, colored con-
testants, and also in deciding against Chal-
mers of Mississippi. white contestant.
THE ORIGINAL INTENTION.
1t was the intention of the majority of
the committee on elections at the beginning
of the session, as stated by several members
of it. to refuse to seat either of the three
colored contestants, Langston, Miller and
Hill of Mississippi, in spite of the
fact even that Langston had made
a regular bargain with the repub-
lican national committee before he
went out to take part in the Ohio campaign
last year that in consideration of the
speeches he was to make in Ohio he should
have the support of the committee in his
contest. He was to be thrown out to please
Mahone the majority having less difficulty
in doing this because Venabie, democrat,
was plainly elected by Mahone's detection.
WHY THE POLICY HAS BEEN CHANGED.
But now it seems probable that all three
colored men will be seated, unless, indeed,
they are kept out by the white republicans
from the south representing negro districts,
who foresee, as Malone foresaw, that to
seat the colored contestants is to inspire the
nomination of colored men for congress in
minds of the majority of the committee
has unquestionably been brought
about directly by threats and
warnings conveyed verbally and
by letters from colored leaders in the
northern states as to the effect upon the
colored vote in the north Of Determinations
against colored contestants from the south.
1T SETTLED CHALMERS.
The same influences operated to prevent
a favorable report on Chalmers, who has a
better case than Jim Hill [colored], the
other contestant from Mississippi, who will
probably be seated. Ben Wade's speech
denouncing Chalmers as the Butcher
of Fort Pillowr has been circulated
among the colored people all over the north,
especially in the state of Ohio, from which
much of the pressure upon the committee
has come. The votes in the committee on
these cases were interesting. That on the
Chalmers case was unanimous, except that
Mr.. Houk of Tennessee reserved the right to
change his mind. That on Langston was
strict party vote, except that Mr.. Berger of
Camden, n. j., refused to vote. and that
Mr.. Houk voted for Langston with
doubt"
CRISP IN THE FRAY.
Before the vote was taken on the resolu-
ton to seat Langston, Mr.. Crisp, as the
spokesmen Of the democrats, offered q
resolution declaring that Mr.. Venable. the
democratic contestee, was elected and en-
for this. Messrs. Bergen and Houk refused
to vote and it was defeated by the other re-
publican votes. The majority on this COM
mittee has always been large enough to
overcome the detection of one or two
members. The democrats were ready to
proceed at once with the case of Jim Hill
against Catchings, but the republicans
asked time. and so it was postponed for a
week. The probability is that the repub-
llcans postponed action in order to consult
with Senator Quay on his return next week,
for Senator Quay is almost as anxious to
seat Hill as he was to keep Langston out on
account of his friend Malone.
SALE OF A CoNsULsHIP.
1t will be remembered that as chairman Of
the republican national committee. in des-
perate attempt to get some evidence which
could be used to unseat Catchings and seat
Hill, Senator Quay bought from William
Sorsby, who had been on the leading demo-
cratic newspaper in that district, some pri-
vate letters belonging to the editor of that
paper which were capable of being twisted
SO as to be embarrassing to Catchings. SEN
ator Quay paid for these letters with the
assistance of Secretary Blaine and President
Harrison with the office of consul at Quay
aquil. Senator Quay had a great deal Of
difficulty in getting Sorsby confirmed, but
he succeeded after two days fight.
ANOTHER CASE OF BRIBERY.
He had less difficulty in paying for the
manufactured evidence of another fellow in
that district to the effect that he changed
$50 ballots from Hill to Catchings in one of
the voting places, for he had only to
speak to Secretary Window to get him
good place in the treasury department. 1t
Is obvious, however, that unless Senator
quay can get the republicans to unseat
Catchings and seat Hill it will seem TO the
party workers as though he had wasted
tnese two offices without justification.
BULLOCK TO GO.
Action is likely to be taken in the Flor
IDA case next week, and it is likely to be
adverse to Bullock. the sitting member.
having secured all the votes they need fer
the party majority, the republicans are now
carrying on this election contest movement
simply for the purpose of inducing the
north to believe that there is need of a fed
eral election law for use, of course, solely in
the south.