After that arrangement was made there was a Senate caucus.
I brought up the matter and moved the appointment of a Committee
to consider the whole question of legislation with reference
to the security of elections. A gentleman who had recently
become a Member of the Senate rose and quite angrily objected
to taking up the matter for consideration. He declared that
he would not consent to have the subject introduced in a
Republican caucus. The proceedings of such caucuses are
supposed to be kept from the public. But they are pretty
sure to leak out. I could not very well get up and say that
my reason for asking for a committee was to see whether the
law should be suppressed or not. So I did not urge my motion.
But I did the best I could.
Before reporting the Bill I saw every Republican Senator
and obtained his opinion upon it. I have in my possession
the original memoranda of the various answers. Not only a
majority of the Republican Senators, but a majority of the
whole Senate declared emphatically for an Election Bill. I
further consulted them whether the authority, in case of a
disputed election, to order, upon hearing, the name of the
person found to be elected to be placed on the roll should
be lodged in the United States Courts, or in some special
tribunal.
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