New-York tribune., 1871-05-04
POLITICAL.
MEETING or TaE LEO o,ssLATURE-rHs ELEturosf
QUESTION REyERRRC TO COMMITTEE
Cb.NNECTICUT


MEETING or TaE LEO GssLATURR-rHs ELEcvrow
QUESTION REyERKeS TO COMMITTEES.
Hartford, May 3.-As there was no in
sugurston OF Governor To-Day vAy few strangers cana
here TO attend the opening ~ the General Assembly
The great question Of interest came up In the House
on the appointment Of the usual Committee On the Can
yass Of Votes The Democrats suppose That Special.
Committee was to be raised, aud therefore slaIe
opposition at the outset After tho Com.
mttee had been ordered raised, petitions frys
the moderators OF NewHayen, Cheshire and
Enfield. setting forth substantially tho same
statement of presented TO the Board Of
Canvasscrs, were read and referred 10 the Committee
The Speaker appointed in the Committee the following:
Treat OF Woodbridge, Ingersol Of New-BayeD. Wait ~
Norwich. Pratt OF Rocky Ill., Hall Of windham. Soy
morr OF LtchAeld, and Horthrcp OF Middiotown. OF
the7e ihBerso, Seymour and EOrthrup and Democrats,
WIN 'he cuisines. 80 far concluded r Treat o1ered tho
following resolution
Rssolpsd That the Joint Select Committee on the Can.
inquire into the allegations OF the petitions OF Chaa
>. scott, Augustus C. Packard, and David Brainari,
nee and 10 report the facts thereon and that said
Committee are hereby authorized in order eecully b
prosecute such investigation 10 subpenas for wit
nesses Ia send for and papers and open and
examine such ballotboxes "a said Committee may fndt
necessaiy or useful for them 80 20 open and examine
hereby ordered.
1t was at this point that the Democratic di,coveres
their error, and began their light Mr. Eaton opened
vigorously against the passage OF the resolution and
general discussion entered on which lasted until
2. Mr Ingersol made the sbest speech tho DeD-
ocratio side and Mr. Hall OF Wndham the most forcibe
on the Republican.
The point OF the Democratic opposition that tho
Legislature has power to go back OF the caAvasser
report; that the Constitution ia providing that the
Legislature shall examine the returned meansby
votes the result Of the ballots there being a. was
claimed wide difference between votes and balletA
II boldly asserted that even fraud.
on the part OF moderators apparent. the
Legislature cannot recount the ballots. All this wa
most eecuallY answered by quoting from the proceed
ing OF the Constitutional Convention OF 1873 showing
that proposition there made to let the Board Of
Canvassers declare the election Of Governor and
state officers, but it voted down, and
the declaration was left for the General
Assembly; and the Republican speakers showed con
cusively that IL the Democratic doctrine true
people could be defrsude1 every year. motion by Mr.
Eaton to refer the resolution 70 the judiciary Committee
lost, also submitting the question Of the
power OF the Legislature to the Supreme Court Of tho
State.
Several other dllaOry motions made, and finally
the Democrats surrendered with q good deal OF
buster but with display Of flbusternZ to
tho passage OF the resolution, which was sent
at once to the Senate and there adopted, Senator
Fay being placed upon the Committee All the Demo
cratic members OF the Committee asked 10 be excused
from serving but the House declined and they then d
cined to serve, though this put them In position Oh
antagonism TO the authority OF the House.
Both Houses adjourned to p. m, next wednesday
The Investigating Committee will meet in the senate
Chamber at 10 o'clock tomorrow, and, 1t "a probaoe.
will act on the Cheshire and Enfield votes here, and wiz
then proceed to New. Haven and conduct The exsm'ns-
ton of the Fourth Ward matter in that city They hope
to get through by Friday night.