The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-09-28
1 Democratic Delivery aH SAM
dusky, OhiO-H. II. Payne Dis
cusses the Electoral Commits
sion and Other Dead Issues,

uuhRy, On1O-AA. II, Payne Dis
eusses the Electoral Commits
sion and Other Dead Issues.
.sANDusKY, o., September 27.--Hon.
II. B. Payne, ot Cleveland, delivered his
first speech In this campaign, this CITY, 10.
night at Biemiller's Opera House. He
was 10 complimentary terms introduced
by H, Wildman.
He spoke substantially as follow
Shall the resumption act Be executed or
repealed? is the over.shadowing issue OF
the campaign. The Republican party,
through Mr.. Sherman, iis platform and
It's candidate, says that Il shall be
executed. The Democratic party de-
mandS It's repeal and II the Republicans
are victorious, the President will claim
that the people approve Of bis financial
policy as set forth by Sherman. The yer-
dict rendered In October will determine
the fate Of The gseenback resumption uta-
der the act Of 1876.
The speaker argued, under the sesulnp.
ton act the legal tender notes, that one
called in could not be reissued. He de.
lined his own position as follows / am
no enemy 10 resumption. Learnestly de.
sire it as soon as II can be accom-.
plished without contraction and aserious
shock to trade and business. The green.
backs outstanding may within u
reasonable time, ,land by gradual PRO.
gress, by the operation of sound economic
laws without increasing the interest
bearing debt Of the nation and without
shock or alarm be appreciated to the par
value Of gold and It's ConverLibility 10
coin atthe will Of the holder guaranteed
and assured by the pledged credit and
resources Of the government may be
maintained perpetually Us the circulating
or one circulating medium without harm
or embarrassment to the banks, people
or the government, and with great and
incalculRble advantage to each and all.
Mr.. Payne then appealed TO the green.
hackers and the members Of the working.
mems party TO stand together with the
Democratic party in the defense OF the
legal tender notes. Mr.. Payne then gave
a history OF the creation Of the Electoral
Commission, and said as certain members
Of the Electoral Commission and certain
Of the distinguished council who appeared
before it have freely criticized it's action
and discussed its merits and its decisions,
it is not inappropriate for me, on this,
the first appearance Cf mine before the
the people Of Ohio since my return from
Washington, to relate my experience and
publish my views respecting that NEST
remarkable drama. learn, too, that
among the Democrats there exists some
misapprehensions as to the motives and
considerations which were included in the
creation Of the Commission, and the hope
ia indulged in that brief narrative from
one who was present as n witness and
actor from the conception 10 the final
contamination, and who has no cause CT
inclination 10 conceal or withhold any
fact or occurrence, will dispel all doubts
and suspicion as to the fidelity and Cour-
age Of the Democratic members and
Senators. Let me recall the situation.
The excitement Of the election had been
prolonged, and was intense; the House
was Democratic, the Senate Republican;
each claimed that its candidate had been
elected; each thoroughly understood lis
own position-ita strong and its weak
points; never did it underestimate The
tact and resources Of its opponents. The
returns, single and duplicate, were in the
actual custody Of the President Of the
Senate, and he was ready to count or
dispose Of them at such time and
in such way as HIS party friends
in caucus might direct. The DEM
ocratic members Of the two committees
assented TO this measure with the full be-
lief and expectation that Judge Davis
would be appointed the fifteenth member.
He was the senior OF the remaining AS
sociates, and was the only one qualified
by freedom from partisan bias, which,
together with his learning and unsullied
integrity, eminently fitted him fof the
place. and when, in addition 10 all this,
Two VI the four Associates were Demo-
crats, il was not strange that We were all
confident that no one else than Judge
DAVIS would in any event be placed on
the Commission, and l feel fully war
ranted in affirming that had it been
thought probable or possible that Judge
Bradley or either Of the other Judges
would have been appointed to a seat on
that tribunal that electoral bill would
never have heen reported TO the two
Houses or enacted into law. The Sc
lection OF Judge Davis was anticipated
and expected by both parties in Congress
and by the country at large. II is but
Justice to Messrs. Clifford and Field TO
make public the fact that at the fist
meeting Of the four Justices they
voted for Judge Davis and per-
sisted in so doing though Judge Strong
assured them that Davis would
not accept. Itwas only at the meeting
on the following day, when Mr.. Strong
presented a written communication from
Davis declining the position, that they
reluctantly voted for Judge Bradley.
Various reasons have been assigned for
Judge Davis declining this great public
duty. Senator Matthews attributes it to
the interference Of Providence in causing
him in the meantime 10 be elected to the
United States Senate, and it is hard 10
perceive how his election to an office, the
term Of which would not begin until the
labors OF the Commission were closed,
could possibly conflict with his discharg.
ing his duties as Commissioner. Posi-.
bly, the persistent opposition Of the Sen.
ate, implying distrust or fear OF his i'm.
partinlity, may have influenced his
decision. However that may be, his re-
fusal to serve was the occasion Of pro.
found disappointment and deep and bitter
regret, While no man, 80 far as know, Is
authorized to say what his final opinion
would have been after hearing the cases,
yet the Democratic party and the whole
country would have accepted his decision
as that Of an upright, learned and fear.
less man and would have respected il ac.
cordingly.
The speaker then gave n history Of the
Florida case, characterizing the action Of
the Republican members OF the Commits
sion as fraud. He spoke in the same
plain terms Of their action in the Lou.
isiAna case.
While he was speaking Hon. Is. NJ.
Bishop and Mr.. Hurd appeared and we're
received with applause. Mr.. Hurds
speech was loudly applSuded.
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