The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-28
From Our Regular Correspondents

From Our Regular Correspondent 49,.
THE COMMISSION HELD IN THE BREECHEs.
POCKETS OF THE REPUBLICANS.
WASHINGTON, February 27.-As they hold
the Commission in their breeches-p pockets,
the Republican counsel selected to argue
the South Carolina case did not think il
worth while to waste time in pretending to
persuade the Tribunal to give the disputed
vote to Hayes. Stanley Mathews and Shell
labarger were present, and were content to
smile at the impotent efforts OF the Demo
cratic counsel, Montgomery Blair and Jerry
Black.
uurd, OF Ohio, and Cochrane, of Penn
sylvania, succinctly put the objections to
counting the vote Of South Carolina for
either candidate, to sustain which they had
to take ground quite inconsistent with that
of the Democrats in the House an hour
later, when vigorous efforts were made to
pass resolutions recognizing the Hampton
and Nichols governments. Hurd held that
South Carolina had ...
NOT REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT
at the time OF the election; that the Lcgis-
lature had defed the State Constitution by
neglecting to enact 4 general registration
law, and by dividing the State into 492 pre-
cincts, and arording dishonest men an ep-
pcrtunity to vote at every precinct in any
county in which they might happen to re-
side, which was one of the very things
registration is intended to prevent; that the
election was not fair and free, as voters
were coGrced and intiunidated by lawless-
ness and by the unlawful use OF Federal
troops.
Coclranc made no attempt to argue the
case, but submitted written memoranda
OF facts he offered to prove, and gravely
remarked that il the Commission should
decide to admit evidence liewollld he ready
to produce it without delay. Lawrence, OF
Ohio, the sole
SPOKESMAN FOR THE REPUBLICANS.
made a speech Che always maEes speech
if he has an opportunity obieeting to the
certificates OF the Tilden electors. Judge
Miller reminded him that the other side
did not assert those certificates had any
validity, and it would be awaste OF time to
discuss that question. Lawrence gave that
ND and read a written reply Hard.
He said the Constitution OF the United
States gives the State Legislature the sole
power of regulating by law the appointment
Of electors, and that power cannot be limited
or controlled by State constitution; that
the fact that South Carolina had Tepresen-
tatives and senators in Congress at the time
of the election is conclusive evidence that
Congress recognized that she had then
government republican in form, and such
a recognition could not be questioned even
in court Of law; that the statutes give the
President ..
TIE POWER AND DUTY OF DIsPosING9F TROOPS
as will best conserve the public interests,
and it must be presumed that he has done
his duty, and the Commission has not the
power to inquire about it.
There was nothing very striking in
Blair's speech, except that it sounded very
like mild sort OF stump-speech and cau-
tious arraignment of the Commission.
Black said he had not heard OF the obiec-
tons until few moments before; and as he
could not assist the Tribunal 80 conclll-
sion, since they knew rs much about the
case as he, it would scarcely be worth while
to discuss the case. But he proceeded to
make remarkably bold and severe attack
upon the Republican party, and especially
upon the Commission, in regard to their
action in respect TO
COUNTING IN HAYES IN SPITE OF THE WILL OF
MAJORITY
of million Of white voters. Recent euentS,
he said, had left behind an oppression OF
conscience with some Hooking at the Re-
publican iudgesl, and with others a burn
ing sense of oppression and injustice. For
one. he felt he was more than conscious
that he had lost the dignity OF an American
citizen. lie would be willing to lead for
lorn hone to save lis country; he might be
willing to give his life for her. Why, then,
should he not do what little he could
to redeem her from the infamy with
which she is now clothed from head to
foot? He felt degraded and belittled
When American citizens come to ask for 8
recognition of their rights he felt the!
might as well send up their prayers to Ju
Diter or Mars, or any Of the heather gods
"Whv,o said he, "there's not god Ii
OLYMPUS that would not listen with more
favor to our appeal than ''-here he hes
itatcd an instant, looking at Miller ant
Strong, then glancing at Bradley, ne tr1rnet
to the Republican counsel and added
"than the gentlemen on the other side
Turning to the Commission, he remarked
sarcastically, " You Qhe commissioners arr
cool and wise, and have settled rs law
WHAT WAS NOT LAW BEFORE THIS TRIBUNAL
WAS ENACTED.
You think to sanctifY that which all tn
world knows is glarlng fraud. We dom
| ask. you to go behind the return, for tina
you say shall not be done; but we do asl
that you 60 to it--not an inch beyond"
This is an imperfect sketch OF the style 0
Judge Blacks remarks, which often savore(
so strongly OF direct insult to the Tribuna
4 it was expected every moment the presid
ing officer would check him; but they al
sat silent, vainly endeayoring to concea
their anger at the bold charges and sever
sarcasm of the speaker. Morton relieved
himself by pretending to write, but no
ticed he did not. pen dozen lines. Hoa