, 1877-02-18
CONGRESS-.

was objected to, and al adjournment tool
| place.
CONGRESS.
/ SENATE.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. l7.-Eight Senators
were In their seats at 10 O'Clock totlay, but nj
! objection being made, communication from
| the President Of the Electoral Commission was
| read converting tho decision of the Commission
| touching the Electoral votes from Louisiana.
On motion Of Mr.. Ha,nlin, it was agreed thai
the House be informed that the Senate was
ready to proceed with tho count Of votes fol
President and viee~pres'dcnt.
| Mr. Kelly, rising to a personal explanation
/ said he did sign the cipher dispatch for Mr.
| Patrick, who represented that it was a telegram
to ". T. Peiton for $4,000 to pay lawyers fees
| in Oregon, and il not used would be returned.
/ He denied 1c ever attempted to buy q Repilb-
| lican Elector, or that he ever authorized any
! ono to make such All oIcr for him.
! Mr.. Kelly further explained that about Nov.
25 be was in the depot at Salem, Ore, and 4
| gentleman introduced himself as Mr.. Patrick,
/ stating be Yas authorized by the National Dem
ocrati: Committee to come to Oregon to look
into the matter Of Watts eligibility. Kelly and
Patrick went to Portland together; saw Bel
1inger, Chairman OF the Democratic State Com
I mittee, who said it was expected proceedings
Governor to issue certificate to Watts. Be1lin-
ger said he had partially employed firm OF Re-
publican lawyers to defend any action against
The Governor. Tie firm, wanted 4 fec OF 5,0O
but had agreed to take ssooa Bellinser al;o
said it was the belief that the Governor would
issue his certificate to CroniD, although he
WIS very reticent OIL the subject. After. con-
ycrsation it was suggested that the National
Democratic Committee should par the expenses.
Patrick asscntcl4 and said he had full authority
FtN3~4 hat mn
With cipher dispatch the SlU,G0O one, and re-
quc5ttl Kelly to n1orsc it, rs he was public
man, and 1t would b. easier to get money. kc1-
lv could not read the cipher, but took Patrick S
fnlorse the aboyct He (keiiy) thought Pat
rick came to Oregon with the idea that lie could
be Instrumental in changing the result OF the
vote. and desired such opinion Of him to be
entertained in New York.
Regarding the famous *' Cable y dispatch
Kelly read the following
Nus1,noton, d. C.: Deny TINT sent any telegram
to.Tilaen: never sent cipher IN NY life.
{si5nea} L, 4, GROVER.
Oregon did rzht to eudeavor to free his name
from the nefar1ous transactions IN Oregon. nc
country had lived through the Centennial with
out Guy Presidential Elector betrayius the party
which elected him. but it had not lived through
the Centennial without seeing 2n attempt to
great political party.
Mr.. Bogs sail lie condemnded fraud in Oregon
or anywhere else, and he was not willing to sit
in his place and permit stigma OF the kind
charged by the Senator from California (Sar-
gent to rest upon the Democratic party as the
only party guilty OF fraud. The country knew
there were frauds in Florida and Louisiana, per
petratcd BY the Republican party, aud it knew
how these frands resulted. These frauds were
like whitcd scpu1chres, fair without but foul rs
he'll within.
A1r. Sargent, replying, spoke at length as to
the condition Of afairs in Florida, and charged
that the Democrats threw out the Republican
votes and stuffed the ballot-boxes in that State.
4 message Was received from the House of
Representatives announcing that that body
wo;1ld be prepared to receive the Senate Mou-
day morning ut II O'Clock to resume the couut.
Mr.. Bogy said kilograms were cent from
election, which meant fruud. That fraud was
not SO plain and direct as the Oregon case be-
cause the uiau in Oregon IVES new in the busi-
ness. The kilograms from Washington to Flor
ida cnanatcd from mcn OF more experience in
fraud and rascality. The Electoral Commission
in the case Of FLORIDA laid down two rules for
its guidance: First, that they would not in-
yestisate anything which had transpircd before
or preceding, the return made by the Governor
excepting IN relation to the eligibility Of Elect
ors. Their decision left that question open
for investigation By vote OF to T. 1t
vas, Of course, believed by the whole couatr;
that the same rule would be applied to Lo,1isi-
ana, yet VIC know that but yesterday that de-
clsion was reversed. We know that member
oe that Commission but yesterday changed his
position upon that subject, and, while it was
competent in the State Of Florida to 90 behind
the returns to e1an:n whether Electors were or
were not eligible under the Constitution OF the
United States, when tho motion WAS made by
the Senator IRON Delaware (Eayarl) to apply
the SAINT rule to Louisiana, tie decision was re-
verscd. The name o1 that 1lan who changed lis
vote upon that tCon!1Aission iJus.icc Bradley )wiu
70 down to after ages a;sgracti. Ills na1nc will
be associated with Marlborough aud Jcl1rcys,
aud it never will be pronounced without 4 hiss
from all good men In this country
Mr. Window asked unanimous consent to pro-
coed with the consideration Of one ApproprIa-
ton bill to-day, but the Chair ruled that leris-
lativc business could not bc transacted pending
the action by tile two Houses ON the decision Of
the Electoral Commission.
Mr. Cooper denied that frauds were commit
ted III Florida by the Democrats, and charged
that frauds We're committed by the Repub-
lieans.
The credentials of senators-clect Coke and
Hill were filed.
Mr. Morton said he had heard with regret the
remarks made bv tic Senator from Missouri in
regard to Justice Bradley. II that Senator
could have heard the discussions Of the Electoral
Commission az he {Morton) heard them, be
would come when tile oplnious Of nculbers OF
the Commission would be published, and he
YVES sure the Senator would then see be had done
an act OF injustice to an able ana conscientious
Judge.
Discussion as to Florila and the testimony
taken By the Committee which visited that
State was continued By Messrs, Sargent.
Cooper, and Jones (Florida) until recess.
House.
Inc session WIS resumed At 10 O'Clock, and
Immediately the recess was continued unt{j
noon, When the journal OF yesterday was read.
During the reading the Secretary OF the Senhtc
arrived with message from the Senate but ,yas
not recognized By the Speaker. At the end nf
the reading, tho Speaker laid before the House
communication from Justice Clifford. Prus,-
Dent ot the Electoral Commission. Informing
the House that the Commission had arrived at
adeeision Of the Louisiana case, and had trans.
mltted its decision to the President of the Scn.
ate, to be opened and read in the preseucc Of |
the two Houses -
Mt Lamar offered resolution directing th, !
Slefh OF TIC House to inform the Senate Il |
would be ready to receive that body at Il o'clrE
Monday next for the purpose OF proceedinnr
With the counting Of the Electoral votes.
Mr. hasson-1 raise point of order. The-e
is message ION the Senate
The Speakcr--Thc Chair is aware of +be fart
ana Goes not desire u interrupt the message (
~, aae Ghair. on the contrary, has submitted TO
Lne House the TACT as communicated from the
PRESIDENT OF the Commission.
AZ. hasson-Does the Chair permit me tn
maze the point Of order! lShouts Of Is So!n |
on the Democratic side.}
r Il