The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-28
Proceedings OF the Electoral Com
mission.

Proceedings OF the Electoral Com
mission.
WASHINGTON, February 27.-The Elec
torsl Commission met at 10 o'clock.
Mr.. Hurd said no counsel would sp
pear Tor the objectors to certificate No
l, the Republican certificates, and ther
submitted reasons why the Commis
sion should reject that certificate, hold
ing that republican form of govern
ment must exist in State to give valid
ity to the vote Of that State. he insisted
that if legal disabilities were imposed
or if intimidation was practiced the re
publican form Of government was moi
maintained, and he proposed to show
By the testimony taken by the House
Committee, tnst both conditions existed
Mr.. Hurd held that as the Constitution
of South Carolina required the registrs
tlon of electors, and that requirement wa
utterly ignored, the election was void
He next alluded to the presence OF
United States troops in the State, and
said they overawed and prevented free
expression of the will Of the people BE
read proclamation of the President o.
Oct. II, 1876, declaring that insurrectior
existed in the State. and contended thai
the clause of the Constitution authorizing
the interference Of the federsl govern.
ment contemplated an insurrectior
against or resistance TO State authority
and not q disturbance between citi.
zens of the State. The rifle club:
riding up and down, numbering
some pescesble citizens, as stated in the
Presidents proclamation, he argued
did not amount TO such an 10.
sarrection against the United States or
State authorities rs warranted al inter.
vention in the affairs OF the State. The
presence of troops was not to keep the
peace, but TO influence the election.
When Mr.. Hurd had finished, MI
Cochrsne stated that Judge Black and
Mr.. Blair would appear as counsel for
the objectors TO certificate number one
They had been uncertain whether
they could attend but were now here
Mr.. Cochran then submitted certain
proffers of proof which he proposed T.
make good if admitted by the CommiS
sion as follows:
First-Thst there has been failure OF
registration as provided by the State Con
stitution, and through such failure over
10000 fraudulent votes for Hayes and
Wheeler had been cast.
Second-Thst in August 1876, large
number of soldiers had been sent into
the State under General 9uger
who telegrsphed that all was quiet, and
40 more troops needed, and that if more
we're needed be would call for them;
that notwithstanding this on the next
day, October 18th, the President issued q
proclamation, and q large lumber OF
additional United States troops were sent
into the State; that during the year 1876
there was no time when the State au'
thorities could not preserve peace.
Third-Thst the troops were sent into
the State without the request Of the Leg
islsture, which could have readily been
convened.
Fourth-That troops were sent. not
TO quell insurrection and preserve the
peace, but 10 overswe the voters and in
fiuence the election, and that they Were
present at the polls and did in,inIidat'
voters.
F!nh-rhst the presence Of troops
emboldened the more desperate of the
egroes, and that in Beaufort End
Charleston they insugursted n system Of
riot and violence IN which they were
protected by the State officers; that the
police of Charleston, composed
mainly of negroes, employed their
time in shooting down in Jfenslys
white citizens; that negroes at the poll'
were armed and prevented colored men
who would have voted the Democratic
ticket from doing so; that the State mil
itis consisted of q worse class of negroes
than were at the polls. and ss'isted IN
preventing colored men from voting the
Democratic ticket; that one OF the elec
tors, who was sheriff of Charleston coun-
,y, appointed hundreds OF deputies, who
went about arresting citizens at their
pleasure and unwsrrsntably interfered
with the election, ana that United States
marshsls in large nun bers were al the
polls, interfering with the free vote Oi
the people Of the State.
Mr.. Lawrence begun the argument for
the Hayes objectors showing that the want
Of registration did not effect the election
The Constitution OF the United States
gave power 10 the Legislature OF the
State and the Constitution Of the State
could put no restriction upon this Consti-
tutioDsl grant 10 the Legislature. he
went into brief argument 70 show that
the form OF government IN South Caro-.
lima WAS Republican.
In reply 70 the ffth objection, that
there had been no republican form OF
govern ment from January ], 1876, 10
December 10, 1873. he cited authorities
to show that the history Of the State
must be accepted a. evidence Of m e,tsb
lished republican form Of government
Mr.. Lawrence closed at l:45 o'clock and
Senator Christisncy waived the right 10
be heard a an objector.
Mr.. Blair for the Democrats said they
would offer 70 prove that owing 70 viO-
lence and the presence OF United
States troops on the day Of election
there wss no full and fsir
election by the people. The Hr,i poin,
on which he laid stress was the absence
Of any registration Of voters. He charged
that this was an open palpsble violation
Of the Constitution VIGOROUSLY done 70
perpetrste fraud. He next passed 70 the
military in the ST ,te, which, be said, wa
q Just and smcien. ground 70 throw out
the vote Of the State. This, he said, wa
done BY proclamation, and Wal
known 10 oil mso that troop.
were used 10 control the election. Ht
maintained that Congress had taken no
tice Of the condition Of the states in the
south, and that as representatives O
Coneruss this eommis ion must take 10
iice Of Sbs. had been done 10 South Car
olinA in connection With the election.
A, the conclusion Of Mr.. Blair. Mr.
Lawrence said tie counsel On the 0tbei
side in view Of breyity oftime had con
cluded 10 submit the case without sr2u
ment.
Judge Black then addressed the Com.
,,is.ion He sxid he had no time 20 COZ