The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-03-07
The Presidential Tribunal.

seth was quite exciting. The House INDUCED
in long and animated debate upon the
question Of the alleged ineligible Pennsylva
MIA elector, during which Hewitt OF New York
again denounced Hoar of Massachusetts, for
acting in bad faith, but urging in the strong
est terms acquiescence in the decision OF the
electoral commission. As he finished Mr.
Cate, of Wisconsin,, made his way through
the circle and addre ssirg Mr.. Hewitt, in an
excited manner said: "You have pronounced
the action OF the commission to be infamous
a gross betrayal OF confidence reposed in it; a
perversion OF right and justice. Do you now
declare it to be the duty OF the Democrats to
assist in the speedy consummation OF what
you pronounce an outrage?"
Mr.. Hewitt say that will yield to it, be-
cause see no other course left but anarchy.
MIR. Cate deny it, and assert that it is
the duty OF the Democrats to oppose it by
every means in their power. It would be
cowardice to do otherwise. Great excite
ment and confusion.
MIR. Yeates, of North Carolina, forced his
way through the circle and with flushed face
himself to Mr.. Cate: "The Democrats who
are opposing acquiescence-those who de-
nOunce US now as cOWards-When the pinch
came fifteen years az" turned against us.''
Mr.. Hoar replied to Mr.. Hewitt with much
bitterness after which it was voted by 1856 to
l1S, uot " COUNT tne lneltSlDle electOr. Inc
Senate was then notified and the joint con-
vention resumed. Only one house having
voted against receiving the vote OF Pennsyi-
MIA, the whole vote was recorded for Hayes.
Rhode Island was the next State called and
here objection was raised that VIM. Slater
was not properly appointed to fill the vacancy
| occasional by the resignation Of Corliss, who
houses then separated and both promptly
| agreed to count Slater's vote. The joint con.
vention again assembled and Rhode Island
was recorded tor Hayes.
The next certificate opened was that from
South Carolina. authenticated by Governor
| Chamberlain, showing seven votes for Hayes
and Wheeler. It was followed by another
certificate showing seven votes tor Tilden
and Hendricks, with a statement by the cleo.
tors expla ming the absence OF the Governors
| Authorization. The objection to the Repub-
lican certificate was presented by Representa-
tive lochrane, Of Pennsylvania, and the ot,-
lection to the Democratic one was presented
Democratic objections were that no legal
election was held in South Carolina; that
from Jan. LIST. 1876, to Dec. 10th, 1876, there
was not Republican form OF government in
the Sta.e, and the so-called government dur.
ing that period was illegal and in violation
OF the constitution that the army and U. s.
Marshals interfered with the free action Of
voters on election day
The Republicans objected to the Demo-
| cratic electors, that they were not duly
| chosen !; that they are not certified by the Gov
| ernor, and that the Republican electors re.
ceived higher number of votes than the
Democratic.
The two houses then separated, and the
disputed State, at $50 p. M, was referred tt
| the Commission. After brief session the
Commission adjourned until 10 a. m. on the
! 9th.
The Electoral Commission on the
9Th heard argument IN the South Carolins
case. Messrs. Hurd, Cochrane, Blair anG
Black spoke tor the Democrats and Mr.. Law.
| renee, alone spoke for the Republicans, the ar.
gument being omitted on that side in orde1
to save time.
After the argument, at 6 p. M, MIR. Morton
offered the following:
That it is not con- potent tor the two hous
assembled tor the purpose Of counting the votes
for President and Vice President to enquire BY
evidence whether State regularly represent
ed in the two houses OF Congress, and recof
nized a. State OF the United States by til
publican to- m ofgovernment.
Resolved, That while the existence of pub
lie disturbance and anarchy in any State t
such an extent as to make it impossible To-
the State to exercise lis rights toappoint elect
ors of President and Vice Presidelt,an to ex
press its will in that behalf, is sufficient caus'
Tor rejecting any electoral votes purporting t
re the votes OF elections appointed thereby
yet that when State regularly represented
as State in the Congress VI the United States
and is recognized SO State by the other de
partments of the government, and has gov
eminent republican in torn, and does appoin
electors in the manner prescribed by the Leg
islature thereof, evidence cannot be receive,
by the TWO houses Of Congrt So assembled t
count the votes tor President and Vice Presi
dept as aforesaid, to show that the disturb
anoes existed at the time of the election whic
may have intertered 10 greater or less exten
with the freedom, Of election at the polls il
said State.
..