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1876.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 407
[See image for text]
The fact, that Mr. Harris, after what has here occurred,
may have chosen to decline an active contest on his own be-
half, has nothing whatever to do with the question. His
appeal on behalf of the people, who gave him their suffrages,
and the thousands who were prevented from joining in doing
so, is ten-fold stronger than any he could make on his own
part only, as af candidate for office. And when his appeal is
backed, as it is by thousands of our fellow-citizens, clamoring
for justice, and for the freedom of elections, it comes to us
with irresistible force. If, as the majority of the Committee
appear to think, we cannot be guided or controlled in the
Governor's case, by the testimony taken on behalf the memo-
rialists, who were candidates for election to this House from
the City of Baltimore, so much the better and stronger reason
is there for us to make an investigation of our own, and if
such an investigation is manifestly our duty, why put it off
till the end of the session, or subordinate it to any other in-
quiry ? Why not enter upon it vigorously, manfully, and,
at once ? To these questions it seems to us there is no
answer attempted to be given by the majority of the Com-
mittee which will bear a moments examination.
It does not do to say that Mr. Harris withdraws his per-
sonal claims, for if the election of the 2nd of November in
Baltimore was fraudulent, violent and void, and Mr. Carroll
was not elected, it is our sworn duty so to declare in spite of
the returns, let Mr. Harris do what he may. We have to
answer to the Constitution and the people, and to no one
else. And it is idle, if we may be permitted to say so, to in-
timate that we can declare the election void as to the dele-
gates from Baltimore city, upon testimony taken in their
cases, and yet allow the gubernatorial candidate, who was
returned as elected by the same returns on the same ticket,
and at the same election, to continue to occupy the Executive
Chair of the State. The same election cannot possibly be
both void and valid at the same time, and no legislative
body can face its constituents or the world with such a pro-
position. It is not a mere question between contestants as to
their individual rights where a decision binds none but the
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