The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-02-09
From the Maine State Press Of Feb. 8, 1871.
History Of Seven Days.
The News for the week ending "Wednesday
Might, Feb. =.
NATIONAL CAPITOL.


NATIONAL CAPITOL.
The New York Herald has rather doubtful
story to the effect that that the President has
instructed the Secretary of War to state in
communication to Congress that the quartering
of troops in Washington was entirely without
political significance, but solely in consequence
of q threatened raid on the treasury by negroes
who were represented as desperate by reason of
great restitution.
Secretary Morrill, is still very sick, but no
particulars concerning his condition are known
at the department.
A Washington special says majority of the
Silver Commission, Messrs. Jones, Bogy, Will
lard, Bland and Gresbeck, will report in favor
of double standard. They will recommend
making silver full legal tender for all debts pub
lie and private, except duties on imports
Messrs. Bowen, Boutwell, and Gibson will pre-
sent a minority report
The Herald's Washington special says Chas
O'Conor asked Secretary Fish to accompany
him on visit to the President, and apolcgized
for the Incorporate and unjustifiable language
in a letter written by him (O'Conor) concern
ing the President some time ago. The Presi-
dent received the apology in the proper spirit
and the two conversed for some time.
The statement of The Comptroller of the
Currency shows that there are outstanding
1926, 900, 600 of greenbacks. Under the act of
Jan. IA, 1875, $17,0O0,0OO have been retired,
while $46, 1000, 900 of National bank votes have
been retired, and $21, 10000 issued.
The President has sent to Congress message
recommending resumption at as early date as
is practicable He advises the redemption of
$150,OO0,O0O Of greenbacks by per cent. bonds
having forty years to run; the repeal of the
limitation on issue of silver coin; and the con-
dition that the banks be required to retain a
certain amount of the coin interest received by
them.
THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION.
The electoral commission began its sessions
Thursday on the disagreement of the two
houses on the Florida vote. That days pro-
ceedings were merely formal Friday the dis
cussion began. This is the case: The formal
objections to the Hayes and Wheeler electors
are: That they were not appointed by the
State of Florida in such manner as its legisla-
ture had directed, or in any legal manner
whatever; that the Tilden and Hendricks elect
ors were appointed in such manner as the Leg
islature had directed; that the pretended GER
tifcate of Gov. Stearns was and is untrue; that
if said certificate of Gov. Stearns ever had any
validity, it has been annulled by subsequent
lawful certificate of the executive of Florida,
declaring the Tilden and Hendricks electors
duly chosen; and also by an act Of the legisla
ture, in which the title of said ilden and Hen
bricks electors is declared to be good and valid;
also by the judgment of the Circuit Court of
Florida. The objections to the certificates Of
the Tilden and Hendricks electors are: That
said certificates are not authenticated accord
ing to the requirements of the constitution and
laws of the United States; that the said certiti
Gates do not include and are not accompanied
by the certificates of the executive authority of
Florida; that the said certificates are not &C
companied by any valid or lawful certifcation
ofthe appointment of said electors; that it ap-
pears by certificate in all respects valid,
regular and sufficient, that the Hayes and
Wheeler electors were lawfully appointed.
Objection was made to the counting of the vote
of f. f. Humphreys, one of the Hayes and
Wheeler electors, on the ground that said
Humphreys, as a shipping commissioner, held
such an Office of trust and profit under the
United States that he was ineligible as an
elector. The objections, it will be seen, re-
quire the decision by the Commission as to
what is in the first place, certificate, regular
in form, meeting the requirements Of the law
of the State of Florida; whether the Commits
sion will or will not 60 behind return techni-
cally, and upon the face of it correct in law;
. mill Ha1 ind c,,ch ho
the executive authority in Florida certifying
the lawful return.
These points were presented by Messrs. Field
and Tucker on the Democratic and Messrs.
Kasson and McCrary on the Republican side.
On Saturday, Messrs Merrick and Black made
the Democratic and Messrs Matthews and
Stoughton the Republican argument. On Mon
day the closing arguments in review of the
whole case weressmade BY Charles O'Connor for
the Democrats and W. M. Eyarts for the Re-
publieaps. Mr.. O'Connor argued that each
House of Congress has full power to investigate
the facts as to what was the actual vote of
Florida; it may institute any inquiry necessary
to ascertain what the result of the election was,
the House of Representatives is the sole judge
of whether President has been elected, and
the Senate of whether Vce-President has
been chosen; the Commission is possessed OF
all the power in the matter invested in Con-
gress, and may 60 as far in its inquiries as it
thinks proper to get at the truth; TO say that it
is precuded from hearing evidence by lack OF
time is to set up the argument of convenience
to screen fraud, an argument which, il valid
here, would be equally valid to prevent courts
of justice from acting in gao acarranto cases;
the Commission can fix the limits to the in
quiry, extending them only far enough to secure
the ends of justice; there is no legal or constr
tutional barrier to its powers in this direction
1t is proposed to prove by evidence that the
Florida Cahvassing Board did not act within
its authority; that unless Presidential electors
be held to be State officers the board had no
right to deal with the returns at all, and the
only evidence Of their election is the county
canvassers' returns; that If it be admitted that
they are State officers, then under the Florida
law the boards action is subject to correction
by the courts of the State, and the quo aoarranto
proceedings annulled its authority; therefore
the time arrived when the action of the Florida
electors could take effect; their lack of title
was ascertained and their unlawful perform
dnCo cOulu uoI De Catrleu lorWaIu ailoi iUo III
validity is established.
Mr.. Evarts argued that the only evidence for
the Commission to consider is that which goes
to the basis of fact and record on which the
Governors certificate is founded, the decision
of the State canvassers. Beyond this it cannot
CO. for if this boundary of final determnative
State action be passed, there Is no limit to the
investigation until it is ascertained how every
man voted; if the Governors certificate is a
forgery, or if it certifes to falsehood the
Commission can 60 back of it to the fact to be
certified that fact is the finding of the lawful
canvassing authority; the States own record OF