The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1877-02-14

man, and Bayard-three Republicans and two
Democrats; and for the House, Payne, Hun
ton, Abbot, Garfield and Hoar-three Demo-
Gratis and two Republicans. The Judges
named in the bill are Clifford, Field, Miller
and Strong-two Democrats it is supposed,
and two Republicans. They on Jan. slst
elected Justice Bradley as the fifth member.
Justice Bradley is from New Jersey, and was
an appointee of President Grant. His district
includes several Of the cotton States. He has
always been known as a Republican in poll
tics. He was the author of the decision
rendered some time ago, declaring certain
features of the Force bill unconstitutional,
somewhat from States rights point of view.
States rights, in special form, lie at the
bottom of the present inquiry.
These preliminaries arranged, the two
Houses will meet in Joint Convention in the
House of the Representatives to-day. The
President of the Senate will preside. Two
tellers will be appointed by each House. The
President Of the Senate will open the Certif-
Gates of the votes from the States in all ha-
betical order and hand them to the tellers, who
will report the numbers. Objection may be
made to the vote of any State which has but
one certificate, if Senator and Representatives
concur. The objection entered on the journals,
the two Houses are to retire to their separate
Chambers and consider it. If they agree in
sustaining the objection, the vote of the State
is not to be counted. Following the alphabet,
it is not likely that any objection will be
raised until Florida is reached. There are
two certificates from that State, and they will
have to go to the Joint Commission for which
provision is made. No further counting can
be done till decision is rendered in this case.
When it is reported to the two houses again
assembled in joint convention, objection may
be made to its ratification by five members of
both Houses-ten in all-agreeing so to act.
The Houses will then have to separate to con-
slider the objection. In this case also the con-
currence of both Houses is necessary to over
ride the decision of the Commissioners. The
Commissioners, however, are to decide by
majority.
Florida having been disposed of, the count
ing will probably progress smoothly till
Louisiana is reached The Florida decision,
whatever it may be, will render more easy of
solution the Louisiana case. After this is
settled, Oregon will come up for review, and
after that South Carolina. There may be
sputtering of objections in the case of some
States which have only one certificate, but no
inkling of what it is likely to be has leaked
out No debate is to be allowed in the joint
convention. In the two Houses when they
separate, each member is to be allowed ten
minutes speech, bnt the debate is not to last
longer than two hours, so that all cannot avail
themselves of the privilege. At the expira-
ton of the two hours, it is made the duty of
the presiding officer in each House to put the
main question.
In view of what has already been accom-
plished and what is about to take place, this
is most eventful week There is no danger
that there will be other than peaceful ter
of the question which has agitated
the country for months. The passage of the
Electoral Bill was in obedience to public senti-
ment, which had already found such strong
expression that it had practically become the
law of the land. While the official count
actually begins to-day, it may be several days
before the result is known. In fact, as much
time may be taken as is necessary, even if the
should be prolonged up to the
day of the Inauguration. One or the other of
the great parties is to be disappointed; but
the temper of the country now insures peace
full acquiescenoe in result which will have
been secured with every reasonable precaution
for just conclusion. It is hardly more than
a mouth before the next President is to be in
augurated. We may know before the expira-
ton of the week who is the coming rulers.
F. Bulletin, Feb. l.
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.