The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-13

unauthorized and unknown, and uniyer-
yersally condemned and regretted.
FRANCIS II. NICHOLS.
CONGRESS--SecondS Session.
WASHINGTON, February Il, 1877.
SENATE.
Mr.. Ferry decided that no Legislative
business was in order pending the decision
of the Electoral Commission.
At I23 o'clock the Senate repaired to the
House. Returned at a O'Clock, and re-
sumed legislative business.
A resolution was offered for an attach
ment against Conrad &. Jourdan, cashier.
Laid over under objection. Executive seS-
sion.
Adjourned. o..
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE.
After 4 spirited and earnest debate this
morning upon the decision Of the Electoral
Commission with respect to the vote Of
Florida. the House decided by strict party
vote that the finding Of the Commission was
not correct, and that the Tilden electors
had been elected in that State. The clerk
OF the House was directed to inform the
Senate OF the action of the House, and that
it was ready to receive that body for the
purpose Of proceeding with the count.
The Senate having appeared, Vice-Prcsi-
dent Ferry caused the secretary of the Sen-
ate and clerk Of the House to declare what
action the respective houses had taken in
regard to the decision OF the Commission.
This having been done the president OF the
Senate declared that both houses not having
concurred in setting aside the decision Of
the Commission. the vote OF Florida would
l. Co, Nvloolo-
The votes Of Georgia, Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Kansas, and Kentucky were also
counted for the respective candidates.
When Louisiana was reached the prcsi-
dent OF the Senate LANDED to the telrrs
three certificates, two OF which we're in
favor OF the Hayes electors, and one, signed
by McEnery as Governor, IN favor Of the
Tilden electors. There was also ccrtiti-
Gate which the Vice-President said he had
received by mail, purporting to cast eight
votes OF Louisiana for Cooper and Cary.
The reading OF this certificate created much
amusement. The electors, all being named
John Smith, were distinguished from each
other BY the Nos. /, =, 3, 4, ), and 6, and by
letter \, letter 3, and "Let-her rip"
The Vice-President asked and obtained
the unanimous consent to suppress this GER
tificate, which was manisestIy bogus and q
burlesquc. Objections having been made to
the other three certificates, the objections
were referred to the Commission.
The Senate withdrew and the House took
4 recess till 10 o'clock tomorrow.
Mr.. Carr, from Mr.. Kerr's old district, in
the course Of bis speech, said: Florida
should have been returned for Tilden and
Hendricks; but, sir, at the same time
hold that the Democratic majority OF this
House has no moral right to complain that
this Commission has rendered Il partisan
decision in reporting the four electoral
votes OF Florida for Hayes and Wheeler.
While assert that this decision is contrary
to the facts and contrary to the will OF a
large majority OF the people OF the United
States, yet l as boldly assert that the
wrong is chargeable to cause fur
Their back than the Commission. The
wrong rests upon the shoulders OF those
who established this partisan Tribunal.
When the Democratic majority OF this House
adopted this law, with the full knowledge
that majority of the Commission would
he Republican, governed by Republican in
stincts, controlled by Republican interests,
warped by Republican biases, and moved
by Republican motives, they deliberately
abandoned every claim which the Demo.
cratic masses asserted to control OF our ma.
tional affairs. The commissioners have done
no more or less than what could or should
have been expected or required OF them.
You erected political tribunal, invested
it with political attributes, and gave them
political questions to determine which they
have settled from q political standpoint.
Being Republicans, they believed that the
Republican candidate for the presidency
was and ought to be elected. In making
their declaration they have been faithful
to their political sentiments, education, and
associations. No legal wrong can attach to
them for this, but when you, as Democrats,
deliberately put such power over such ques.
lions in the hands OF tribunal so consti.
tuted, you committed bold and daring
wrong to your pretended political convic.
tlons, and assuredly to your political asso.
ciates, whose political sentiments and
rights YOU betrayed and abandoned to your
political adversaries.
I arise to remind the Democratic majority
that in common decency your votes on this
measure have estopped YOU from lndulglne
in even one word OF criticism against the
decision OF that tribunal. He concluded
| denounce the majority OF this House as
being responsible for the wrong, and re-
creant, ignorantly or corruptly, to the con-
tidence which has been imposed in them,
and iaithless to the trusts con6ded in them
[Applause.]
Representative Springer had prepared
objections to counting the vote Of George
D. Chatter. Mr.. Springer says he had com.
plete evidence that Chatter held office when
Inc cast his vote; but was informed that
case equally as clear from Louisiana would
be presented to the Commission, and would
thus obtain decision by the Commission
and afterwards by the two houses. It was
feared the Senate might refuse to sustain
the objection, and thus influence the Com
mission hence Mr.. Springer, by the advice
and appreciation Of his friends, withheld
the objection.