Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 August 1890 — REBUKE TO PARTISANS. [ARTICLE]

REBUKE TO PARTISANS.

LECTURE READ TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Ttao Minority Report In the Clayton-Breok-ln ridge Klect on Contest Denounces the Action of the Majority as Unjust, Scandalous, and Full oi Slanders. [Washington special.] Through Mr. Maish, of Pennsylvania, the Democratic members of the House Committoe on Elections have filed a minority report In the contested election case of Clifton R. Breckinridge against John M. Clayton, from the Second District of Arkansas: The report is particularly severe on tiie sab-committee that investigated tho murder of Colonel Clayton and ■on the Elections Committee. After citing the fact that the Second District had returned Democratic members in all except one election, and contending that the presumption, therefore-, is in favor -of ; Mr. Breckinridge, the'report admits the stealing of the ballot-box from Plummerville Precinct, but holds that this did not change the result and that Colonel Clayton could not have been elected with tho addition to his returns of Republican ballots cast at Plummerville. Relative to tho instructions given by the House for a “full and thorough investigation” of the case, tho • report calls attention to tho great number of Issues involved. The sub-com-mitteo, it states, spent but twelve days in taking evidence. “The House may judgo upon this,"the report goes on to say, “and it will be called upon to judge, from proceedings still more unusual and shocking, how disgracefully and criminally this case has boon handled. Party prejudice, malice and a purpose to accomplish an improper end seems to have deadened every sensibility in„gentleqion from whom the House and'the country had a right to expect bettor things. Some unworthy purpose seems to be their end and object. Some ignoble compact seems to have forestalled their action. Some base and disingenuous mind seems to have guided them, and it is far short of tho truth to say that this investigation has been a miserable farce and that the majority report is unfounded in truth, not justified by the evidence, and is defaced by the repetition of partisan slanders not sustained by any testimony. Knowing the utter insufficiency of relative evidence to unseat Mr. Breckinridge, knowing, indeed, that it proves Mm elected, the majority report ranges in every imaginable direction formattter to distort in the vain' hope to borrow strength thereby,” The report says in conclusion that when those intrusted with official power so forget right, justice and duty as to act as the majority of the comqiitte. has done, it brings distrust and odium on a party and the House, an# their actions and conclusions should be rejected and rebuked. “Never has a great question been so wretchedly, so feebly, so unjustly, and so scandalously treated and adjudicated,” adds tho report, “but passion under injury and wrong is not the mode of redress, and if the House puts the seal of approval on the report and recommendations of the committee, then we appeal to the people to rebuke It and right it by their votes.”