examine the returns, and on the fifth day
of the session reported that the returns were permeated with fraud
and forgeries, and that the persons elected and named by the
committee were entitled to seats instead of those who held the
fraudulent certificates of election. Without these changes the
Republican majority was three on joint ballot. The report was
adopted after a full and ample hearing, and the Republican members
were seated.

In the senate a committee was also appointed and came to the same
conclusion. The senators holding the fraudulent certificates
claimed the right to vote on their own cases, which was denied by
Lieutenant Governor Kennedy, the presiding officer, and the Republican
senators were awarded their seats, but this did not occur until
some months after the election of United States Senator, which took
place on the 13th of January, when I was duly elected, receiving
in the senate 17 votes and Thurman 20, and in the house 67 votes
and Thurman 42, making a majority of 22 for me on joint ballot.

I was notified at Washington of my election and was invited to
visit the legislature, members of the senate and house of both
parties concurring. It so happened that at this time I had accepted
an invitation from President Cleveland to attend a diplomatic dinner
at the White House. I called upon him to withdraw my acceptance,
and, on explaining the cause, he congratulated me on my election.

The reception by the two houses was arranged to be at 4 o'clock p.
m. on the day after the election. I arrived in Columbus at 3:30,
and, accompanied by Governor Foraker and a committee of the two
houses, proceeded immediately to the hall of the House, where the
legislature and a great company had assembled. I was introduced
by Lieutenant Governor Kennedy. George G. Washburn delivered an
eloquent address of welcome in behalf of the legislature, closing
as follows:

"Your return to the Senate in 1881 was only additional evidence of
our continued confidence and esteem, and on this, the occasion of
your fifth election to that honored position, I tender to you the
hearty congratulations of the general assembly and of the citizens
of this great commonwealth. Conscious that you have rendered far
greater service to the people of your native state than it will be
possible for them to repay by any honors they can confer upon you,
I again bid you a most cordial welcome and invoke the continued
guidance and protection o