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

makes IL m exception 10 the principle tnaC
fraud yitiates the acts Of even the meanest
tribunal. This Judgment Of the Commission
will not be accepted MS Just by the Ameri-
can people, and lie who dares to take the
presidency under such ruling Will be re-
garded by oil honest men as q usurper.
Mr.. Hurd spoke rapidly and smoothly,
and sat down In the midst of applause and
congratulations on The Democratic side.
Mr.. Carr Dem said the Democrats bad
no RIGHT TO COMPLAIN OF PARTY DECISION.
| They had committed bold and daring
wrong to their political convictions, II they
had any, by creating political tribunal
with decided political convictions, and it
had given such decision as might have
been expected Of it. Outraged constituents
will visit upon the treacherous hosds of the
Democratic representatives condemnation
for the loss Of the presidency. He denounced
the Democrats as faithless, either ignorantly
or corruptly, to the trust reposed In them,
and insisted that they should not now COM
plain OF the consequences.
Carr Is q Democrat elected as sue
ccssor of the late Speaker Kerr, OF In
diana. His remarks caused good deal Of
merriment; and his alternate denunciation
OF the Commission and the Democrats, and
adulation of those who dared to oppose the
electoral bill, received timd applause from
few on the Republican side.
Mr.. Thompson (Democrat), who was chair
man OF the Florida investigating committee,
criticised the ruling and findings OF the
Commission, md discussed the facts Of the
Florida case.
Mr. Dunnell (Repubican) devoted his
time entirely to condemnation OF bis Demo
cratic associates on the Florida committee.
Mr.. Walker, OF Virginia, said the action
Of the Democrats in establishing the Com
mission was a grand evidence OF Demo-
cratic faith in the virtue Of man. If the
Commission had not risen to the height eX-
pectcd of it and defeated the object Of its
creation by mere legal' fiction, and il the
Senate approve OF the fiction, the decision
must be accepted: but the country will
place its stigma upon the party that avalls
itself of the decisions.
Mr.. Robbins (Democrat said he was
proud OF the moral attitude OF his party.
The world will take notice that one party
demands the presidency on mere techni-
calty, while the other asks that the truth
be brought to light by thorough inquiry !;
and the party that takes the reins of gov
eminent upon mere technically and by
excluding the determination Of the truth
will be damned forever in the eyes of lovers
OF liberty everywhere.
Mr.. Hopkins (Dem.), n member OF the
Florida committee, caused a paper to be
read which showed the inaccuracy and in
Justice OF Mr.. Dunnel's structures upon his
associates Of the committee.
Mr.. Kasson (Rep.) supported the action
OF the Commission.
A RINGING SPEECH By DAVID DUDLEY FIELD.
Here debate was closed oil behalf of the
directors in ringing speech by Mr.. David
Dudley Field. lie began by quoting the
words in which the President had requested
certain eminent gentlemen to go to Florida
and Louisiana and to see that the votes east
were legally and fairly canrassed, and
wherein he said that "no man could afford
to accept the presidency if the result is
tainted with fraud" In the same spirit
both houses OF Congress sent investigating
committees to the South to ascertain the
facts as to the vote of the disputed States.
Was it now to be said, as the Commission
proposes. that the Presidents fears were
groundless, that his words meant
nothing, and that all this inquiry
is to go for naught, because Con-
gress had no right to prove notorious
frauds? Did these gentlemen go to the
\ South on FOOLS errand? Is falsehood to
be installed into the presidency? Will the
Republican party, with glorious traditions
and proud claims, stand before the world
to-day and eXclaim, CIVIL, be thou my
good!" Yet this is what will be done ii
this decision is ratified by Congress. JUS
tice and honesty arc Knocked by the declara'
ton that fraud may pass unquestioneo
unless 1t is corrected by the State before the
electors meet. In the Florida case the can.
vassers concluded their labors at 8 O'Clock
in the morning, and the Electoral Col
lege met at noon. And We are told
that the fraud could not be corrected
unless within the brief period Of
nine hours that interviewed. Under this
> decision military commander might have
sent file of soldiers and secured return
OF his liking at the point Of the bayonet
Yet
no POWER on EARTH COULD REVERSE THAT
VERDICT.
He called attention to some important points
OF evidence that were excluded by the de.
cision that the Returning Board was infalli.
Bile. Charles Fl. Pierce, minister Of the
gospel, one of the Hayes electors in Florida,
was convicted and pardoned felon, having
been guilty Of Offering bride Of $500 to 9
fellow-member of the Legislature. Ruther.
ford B. Hayes would be given the presl.
dency, If at all, by the votes OF this felon'
In conclusion, be said the decision fol
which approval is sought is unfounded in
morals and unsound in law, and Pre-.
sident seated thereby would in accepting
it disgrace the country more than oil
J the corruption and pecuIation in all our
} history.
Mr.. Fields speech was received with ap-
plause, and the declaration as to Pierce, the
) felon elector, created marked sensation on
} the floor and in the galleries.
OPERATION OF THE TEN-MINCTE RULE.