The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-26
THE SENATE SHOULD INVESTIGATE.


DIR. Sampson Pope, of South Carolina,
who until recently has been Iillmanite'
but who left that party and was the can
didate for Governor on the Democratic
ticket IN the recent election, mas pre-
ssnted to the Senate of the United states
q petition. praying the Senate to inVestl-
gate the last election in South Carolina,
with view to determining whether II
ought TO allow Tillman to take seat in
that body as a senator from South Caro-
lima. Dr. Pope alleges in his petition,
which is all in his own handwriting, that
at the election which resulted in the
present Legislature-the enc that elected
Til1man to the Senatc-thousands Of
voters were prevented from casting their
ballots by reason of force, fraud
and intimidation; that thousands of
ballots were thrown out or de-
stroyed, and in many instances other
ballots were substituted for them by
managers or other persons; that the Con-
stitution of the United States and of the
State of South Carolina. and the laws
and that these frauds were committed
under the direction of Benjamin r. Till
| man, Governor Of the State, and the Hon.
}. l.. NJ. Irby, chairman of the State
| Executive Committee, who is a member
of your honorable body"
Senator Butler presented this petition to
the Senate, and it will. of course be set
down at once by the public as a part of
his contest with 1fllman for seat in the
Senate. Nevertheless there are issues of
the utmost gravity involved in the move
ment and we must not allow any sugges-
ton of this sort to remove our attention
from those issues. 1t is a matter of very
little moment to the people Of the United
states whether the senator from South
Carolina is named Tillman or Butler, but
1t is a matter of the most vital impor-
tance to the people of the United States
whether United States senator's are to be
worthy members Of that body of our
National Legislature or not.
The Constitution makes the Senate of
tho United States the judge of the cleo
members. While, therefore, 1t can have
no voice whatever in determining whom
a State shall send TO 1t. it is absolutely
master Of the question whom it will allow
TO occupy Il seat amongst its members
When, therefore it is averred to it, upon
responsible authority. that a person com
.rg 10 il and claiming a seat as a senator
from State has secured his election 10
the place by fraud, bribery or violence
it Is the duty Of the Senate TO investigate
the charge, and il IT finds the allegation
to be true, to refuse permission to the
applicant to a place upon its floor, as an
unfit person.
If Tillman has, as Dr, Pope asserts
manipulated the election machinery Of
South Carolina 50 as to suppress the votes
of her citizens, IN order that he might be
sent to the Senate by the voice of a l.egis
lature that has not been chosen 10y the
voters OF the State in an open, faE and
free elections, then the Senate should say
thai Tillman is not a proper person to
have q seat upon its floor and that South
son as her senator. who has not dis.
qualified himself before coming by such
practices as are alleged against Tilman.
We have little expectation of seeing the
Senate of the United States rise to any
such plane of independence and manli
ness as we urge upon IL. There are too
many OF its members who have secured
their own seats by practices that will no
more bear investigation than Tillman's
case will. All of these will assume an
impenetrable panoply of virtue that will
never allow them TO involve themselves
IN what they will insist is only a SQUAD.
Bile between Tilman and Butler for
seat In the Senate.
Nevertheless, although we have no ex.
pectation that any investigation of this
case will be made, we feel il our duty to
preach the true doctrine of the case. We
may in time II this is done, get back TO
the old and sound mooring grounds of
having honorable and worthy men fairly
elected TO our high offices.