New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-28
SCENES IN THE TRIRJyNAI..

SCENES IN THE TRIBUNAL.
MR.. BLACK VERY FIERCE-THf PUBLIC PROCEEDINGS
HURRIED-TuE DEMOCRATS WASTE TIME IN ST.
CRET SESSION.
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-The Electoral Commission
held to-day what was probably ITS last public sit
ting. The proceedings 80 unimportant and in
significant as to suggest the Down East comparison
of the last run of shad." Commissioners and cOun-
sci seemed to realize that there nothing in the
South Carolina worthy of attention or effort.
and were in evident haste to get through the for
maties preliminary to decision.
At ten o'clock, when the session began, two-thirds
of the chairs reserved for the lawyers were vacant,
and the spectators benches were scanty filled.
Representatives Hurd Of Ohio and COchrane Of Penn
sylvania two ambitious Young members, appeared
as the Democratic directors. They were unac-
companied by counsel, and did not appear to expect
any assistance, for Mr.. Hurd informed the Com
mission that he believed counsel had been en-
gagged. 1t looked if the shrewd and able lawyers
who had been laboring in Mr.. Tildens behalf since
the trial began had thrown up the case as likely to
be proitess in both pay and honor
Mr.. Hurd spoke for an hour in a pleasing and
sensible manner, taking the ground that owing to
Democratic rifle clubs negro militia, United States
marshals, deputy sherls and Federal troops, there
was SO much intimidation on both sides that free
and fair election was out of the question state
of anarchy existed in South Carolina, ne maintained,
and there was no government republican in form; ;
besides the constitutional requirement for regis
try law had been disregarded and the election was
VOID on that account He did not pre-
tend that the Tilden electors were chosen and
the logical consequence of his argument was that
Wade Hampton had claim to be considered
elected Governor. Mr.. COchrane the other obJector
declined to speak but read offer of evidence COW
ering dozen pages. While he was reading, Mont
gomery Blair and jeremiah S. Black came in. They
had been suddenly and unexpectedly to themselves
retained as counsel but for what purpose was as
much mystery after they had spoken as before, for
they had made no preparation and did not help the
Democratic side particle
REPRESENTATIVE Lawrence of Ohio spoke a Re-
publican objector. Last night he said he Should
leave the argument TO the COUNSEL but he is a man
who has never in his life been able to resist the
temptation Of an opportunity to make "A speech. He
read pile of manuscript for about an hour. Then
he Republican counsel, Shellabarger and Matthews,
were told that they had the floor Judge Shea
barger said they did not desire to the case,
and were willing it should be decided the papers
submitted.
Montgomery Blair talked for half an hour In
rambling way, and with evident effort and embar-
rassmcut from total lack of preparation. lie eab-
GRATED a little more fully some portions OF Mr..
Uurd,s speeci He made the additional point that
the HAYES certificate was irregular because 1t did
not state that the electors had voted by ballot
Tic duty of closing the case thus shit
lessly and feeby opened devolved upon the
ycpcr,blc and eccentric Judge Black He began
nv frankly avowing that he knew nothing
,bont the matter and had not even heard
objections read. He then launched INTO a
trade against the result of the Presidential contro
versy IN general and the Commission In particular
His speech was grossly disrespectful TO the Tribunal
and in some features positively abusive; Dut us
bitterness was relieved now and then by CLEANS OF
tI,e yood-natured humor which is much part of
Judge Blacks nature that he could not wholly sup
nrcss if. He talked about fraud being sceptered
and crowped. and of the nation being
clothed in iniCuity from head to foot by
the action of fine Commission, and said there was no
more use of pleading for Justice than of praying to
Jupiter or any of the Olympian gods II he could
avert the horrible calamity by leading forlorn
hone or giving up his life he would gladly do so.
After half An hour of nveciye, he closed Oy saying
that the Democracy would wait and blde Its time.
The mills Of God grind slowly but they grlud cX-
coeding fine he said, looking iiercely Ak Gen Oar-
field and Mr. Hoar. if they especially were TO De
mt into the hopper. Then III sgnlilcaht tone nc
added. and we shall turn on the water pretty
soon.p and. turning his back on the Commission, he
strobe ont of the courtroom.
momcut of silence ensued. Afterward the pub
Inc session was declared closed, and Judge Clifford
motioncd with his ivory paper knife for the specta
tors to leave the room.
II was about o'clock when the Commission went
into secret session. A deugc of Democratic talk
WAS poured out for the evident purpose oil consuming
time until the House adjourned, so that the report
coud not be made to-day. First, Mr.. Hunton spoke
an hour. Then Mr. Abbott spoke for nearly
a. long time. Then Mr.. Bayard spoke
for an hour and finally Mr.. Herman used
M all the time remaining except 10 minutes until
q o'clock. when it had been agreed that the vote
should be- taken. The first argument OF the Demo
crafts WAS that the Hayes certificate should be
thrown out because it did not state that the electors
had voted by ballot After an hour and laii spent
on this miserable pettfOgging technlcallty, Geh'
Garfield and Mr. loar read the statute OF lI92,
which prescribes the form OF certificate ana when
does not require that 1t should lDclude a sIate-
,ncnt that the voting was by DaHo''
After this the Democrats shifted their
ground and declared that the election was Invalid
because troops were sent into the state without
fin. Legislature calling for them, and were stationed
near the polling places. The Republicans inter
rupted this argument to read the constitutional
provision requiring the President to furnish troops
on application of Governor, and the clause III the
Reconstruction act which empowers him to employ
the army to keep the peace at the polls. The last
argument resorted to by the Democrats concerned
the failure to enact a registry law, the employment
of United States marshas. and the general iawless
ness prevailing in the State
When it came to voting they showed how insin'