Year: 1868

Mr. bIaCkman SaIQ that both the maj l0Flty
and minority reports would be considered a
the same time. The adoption or rejection oi
the resolution would decide of the adoption
or rejection of the reports.


Mr.. Lynch said that if the General had
asked for an investigation he would cheer
fully vote for the resolution, but he had not,
and we are under no obligation to make ii
without such request on his part. Until
he calls for such an investigation it is a
gratuitous work on the part of this Senate
and a lowering of its dignity to appoint q
committee for such purpose.


Mr.. Jewell, of Orleans-At the time in
troduced that resolution l called upon the
Secretary to read from the first report sub
mitted to this House by the Committee
on Elections. In that report they very
positively asserted that the Major Cen
eral Commanding had without any
authority and improperly changed the
change Mr.. Campbell had been deprived
of his seat in this Senate, and that Mr.. Sam
bola had been improperly returned as the
member elected from the Second Senatorial
District. The next repoI5 on this matter
was that of the committee appointed by
this body after it had been permanently Or
ganized, in the case of Pinchback VS.. Jew.
ell. will read from this report, and see
whether the Committee on Elections ap-
pointed after the permanent organization do
not base their report upon this charge of
traudulentlY changing the election returns.


Now, sir, whe made that count? The
resolution does not say that fraudulent
votes were polled, but that | obtained my
credentials from Major General Buchanan
upon a fraudulent count of the votes
These votes were counted under the super
vision of Major General Buchanan; they
were counted by the officers of his staff
This, then, amounts to q disgraCeful impu.
tation upon the character Of these military
officers.


stated in my seat when presented that
resolution that l mad been informed that
General Buchanan desired this investiga-
ton, and had asserted his Willingness to
furnish officers from his own command to
assist in making this count. think, sir,
it is nothing more than Justice to
an officer of the United States army
to give him an opportunity to free himself
from such charge as this, and sir, when
the Senator from Carroll asserts that it
would be improper to appoint this commit
tee until General Buchanan had expressed
desire for an investigation, think he is
decidedly in error. think it would be out
of place for General Buchanan to ask for
such an investigation, and that it is our
duty voluntarily to appoint this committee,
and see whether these charges are serious,
or made simply in the interest of party
that when all other methods of Ousting
members fail, they may throw themselves
back upon this plan of the change in re-
turns by General Buchanan. Sir, it is due,
not only TO General Buchanan, but to every
member who holds an election certificate
from General Buchanan. l ask, sir, why
can they not with equal propriety recon-
mend the ousting OF every Senator here
who holds his seat by virtue of the certif.
cate Of General Buchanan


Sir, the lodging of this question by gen.
tlemen is the most powerful argument for
its passage. Unless they are afraid they
can not maintain the charge against General
Buchanan, why are they afraid to have the
investigation. | tell you the gentleman
knows full well that if an investigation of
this matter could be had, it would be shown
that General Buchanan's report was correct,
and every member who has been ousted in
this and the lower House, has been deprived
of his seat without law, justice, rhyme, or
reason. Although the resolution has been
referred to a committee, and the ma jority Of
that committee see the justice of it, we see
the Senator who always makes professions
of his desire to do Justice to all parties, oD.
posing that majority report. Sir, I am as.
tOnished that gentlemen who assume such
positions should wish to stitle this investiga-
tion.


When there are any charges upon the
other side he is the first man to vote for an
investigation. But sir, when lCe ask for an
investigation to establish the Justice of our
claims to our seats, we are denied. trust
that the Senate will do us and will do Gen
eral Buchanan the justice to appoint this
committee and let the investigation be
made. If the charges are substantiated. SO
much the better for them; but if otherwise,
let the result go before the world.


Mr.. Campbell-I regret very much, sir,
that I am compelled by the tenor of the
gentleman's remarks to take any part in this
discussion. l should have deemed it in
better taste myself to have abstained as did
from the discussion before the committee.
But, sir, remarks which fell from the Sena.
tors lips having personal application to
myself feel it my duty to answer and repel
the imputation contained in them. Now, so
far as the gentleman has seen fit to charge
not only myself but the Republican mem
bers of this body with being afraid of an
investigation, so far as | am concerned,
sir, hurl the imputation back in his teeth
as false, and infamouslY so, and am re
sponsible for my words. The gentleman
knows very well, and so do, all his friends
here, that there is a tribunal established by
tine Senate for the very purpose of investi-
eating these charges. Now, sir, if l said
frankly what thought to be the motive OF
this resolution, 1t is to take from the regular
ly authorized tribunal - the Committee on
Elections-the Investigation of this case,
and put it before special tribunal, for what
purpose l do not know. And say with
Senator Lynch, if General Buchanan desires
an Investigation, let him send here his au-
thorized representatives. I do not know
that the gentleman represents him here or
has any authority whatever for offering
such a resolution. And, sir, the charge
against General Buchanan does not simply
refer to the frauds in the Second District,
but throughout the whole State. He is
charged with malfeasanee in office aud bold
conniyance at outrage and fraud of which
Registrars and Commissioners were guilty,
and the evidence of which remains sad
commentary upon the patriotism of officers
high in command in the Fifth Military Dis
trict. Generals Hancock and Buch-
anan seem to have acted in bitter
and unscrupulous hostility to the State
constitution and Congressional recon.
struction. Charges were sent IN TO them OF
which they did not deign to take the slight
est notice. The committee charges Generals
Hancock and Buchanan with having ap.
pointed men who openly violated
the law, who permitted malfeasance
throughout the whole State. Let General
Buchanan signify his desire for an inVesti'
cation and no one will accord him the priv
ilege more cheerfully than l. But the OBJ
iect of all this Is apparent-to get the case
facts are concerned-so far as relates to Mr.,
Sambola and myself, they are open for the


investigation of any person who will exam


inc the figures at headquarters. And


court investigation, and deny that any


member has had reason to suppose that


deprecate or wish to dodge an investigation,


The charges of the committee was that


General Buchanan changed the figures oi


the returns as they were made to him orig


inally; that can be substantiated, and ha:


been done before the proper tribunal.


Mr.. Jewell--I rise to reply to the Senator