Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-03-10
UNITED STATES CONGRESS-.
Senate.

The Senate having returned to its chamber
Mr.. Sherman [Rep. ], of Ohio, submitted a
resolution that the decision of the commission
upon the electoral vote of Louisiana stand as
the Judgment of the Senate, the objections
made thereto to the contrary notwithstanding.
Mr.. Herman [Dem. ], of New York, presented a
substitute providing that the Hayes electors
votes for Louisiana be not counted, the de
clsion of the commission notwithstanding.
Mr.. Maxey Dem. |, of Texas, favored the
substitute, declaring that the commission was
directed to ascertain the true vote of the State,
but instead of that they had brought forth a
Certificate reeking with fraud, and offensive in
the nostrils of all honest people.
Mr.. Herman [Dem. j of New York, comment
ed on the declaration of the commission that
it could not receive testimony which was offered
to prove that fraud existed and that certain
electors were ineligible, and declared that such
decision was to the effect that there was nc
power IN Congress to obtain the truth and
smite down fraud.
Mr.. Thurman [Dem.l, of Ohio, argued that
the votes of the returning board of Louisiana
were unconstitutional and destructive of our
republican form of government. Even if its
acts were not unconstitutional they were not
legal In canVassing the vote of the seventh OF
November last, because the statute required
that the board should be composed of five per.
sons of different political parties but in fact il
was composed of but four persons, all of the
same party and they steadily refused to fill the
vacancy.
Mr.. sherman (Rep.), of Ohio, declared that
the decision was right, and as q question OF
law no man would have held two months age
that Congress had the right to overhaul the re-
turns by which electors wcro chosen. If there
was any right of n State, it was the right tc
choose its own electors. This right was care
fully guardel by the Constitution.
Mr. Morton (Rep.), of Indiana, thought that
if any provision of constitutional law was plain
it was tho fact that Congress had no right tt
go behind the declaration Of the proper State
officers as to whom had been chosen electors
The action of the State officers concerns th,
State only, and not Congress.
NJ: Bayard (Dem.) }, of Delaware. who served
on the commission, mourned the failure of hi
efforts in behalf of justice, for it seemed to hin
not only did this decision of the eight member
of the commission level in the dust all the es
sontial safeguards thrown around the election
OF Chief Magistrate, but it announced to tn,
people of this land that truth and Justice, hon
esty and morality were no longer the centra
basis of therpolitical power.
MIR. Wallace (Dem.), Of Pennsylvania said
The senator from Ohio (Nr Sherman) say
that no lawyer asserted the right to go behinC
the returns, but the record shows that he him
self said that this bill gave that right when h,
resisted its passage, and two Of the commission
MesSrs. Morton and Garfield, in the debat
opposed the bill because it gave that right
The rejection of the proof Of fraud by tin
commission admitted its truth.
Mr.. Sargent (Rep.), of California, ARGUED
that the decision of the commission only sus
tanned the right of the State in selecting it
electors.
Mr.. Withers (Dem.) of Virginia, said thi
decision demonstrated the fact that the mem
bers of the highest tribunal in the land coul
not go above party. This decision that Con
gress could not inquire into fraud in the cleo
toral vote of the State was asserting a doctrin
of State sovereignty never advocated by it
widest adherent3.
MIR. Kernans substitute was then voted dow
by astrlct party vote, and Mr. Sherman's reso
luton was agreed to.
The Senate having concluded its action o.
the vote of Louisiana, the secretary was in
structed to inform the House of the Senate
readiness to go on with the count
The bill granting subsidy of $500, 900 to til
Pacific Mail Company for transporting tn
m lis to Japan and China, passed the Senat
BIZ vote of twenty-seven yeas to eightee
nays.
Mr.. Window. Minnesota. called mp the Legs
latiye Judicial and Executive Appropriatiol
bill, and in explain tion, said the bill as it cam
from the House of Representative appropri
ated $14, 1879, 345. 50, and as amended BY tn
committee on appropriations an1 reported t
the Senlte, it appropriated ZIG, 1877. 895. 65. n
increase Of 81, 75S, 520.45, All the amendment
reported by the committee on appropriation
were agreed to.
Mr.. Hitchcock, Nebraska, submitted d
amendment increashy the appropriation 70
the prlraha OF garden and fell seed for dis
tribution Ia those States which we're rayhge
by gr shoppers In 1875, from q 70, 600 70 ESQ,
poo' Agreed t0i