Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-02-27

der, aud the action of each house having been
! read, he announced that the two houses not hav.
ing concurred otherwise, the vote Of Pennsylvania
| would be counted
Senator Allison, one of the tellers, thcreupou
announced that the state of Pennsyvanis had
| given twenty nine votes for HAYES and Wheeler.
/ Inc certificates from Rhode Island we're read
showing -four vote, for Have. and Wheeler
The presiding officer having asked whether
| there was any objection to the vote OF Rhode Is
| land beng counted, Mr. o Btien of MARYLAND on
| behalf OF himself, Senators Kelley and Gordon
| and Representatives jerks, Mackey Rice, Vance
| of Ohio, Hurd, Finley Waing and Porpleton,
presented the following objection to the vote OF
WIN. s. Slater.
First, That the said William S. Slater was not
duly appointed an elector by the State of Rho lie
lslerd at the election in said state Nov. 9TH,
1876
the decision of the Electoral Commission, If said
ciion be law iendered in the count Of the vote
of j. W. Watts as elector of the State of Oregon,
was duly appointed elector by the 5 ate of Rhode
Islan and the substitution for him of said Slater
wa, illegal and unconstitutional.
Third, II in any event it was competent to CON-
plecte the electoral college of Rhode Island by al
ding another elector thereto it would only have
been done under the law announced by said
electoral commission, if said decision be the law
aud pursuant to the laws of said state nv an act
of the majority of the members Of said college,
aud not by the Legislature of said state
No oher objection being made, presiding officer
announced at halt-past three that the Senate
would now return to its chamber, so that both
Houses might separately consider and decide up.
on the objection.
In HOUSE.
As soon as order was restored Mr.. Poppleton of
Ohio, moved that the House take a recess till 10
O'Clock to morrow morning. Rejected, yeas SO,
nays IFS.
Mr. Wood of New York moved to reconsider
ha atp hv ,phs oh tha II a., Il
cess, and to lay that motion on the table, stating
that made the motion for the purpose of prevent
ing any delay in the counting of the electoral
votes.
Mcssrs. oBrien of Md. and walling of Ohio.
called for the yeas and nays which were ordered,
and resulted, yeas 1872 nays 81.
Mr.. O'Brien of Nd, offered a resolution de-
claring that the vote of William Slater should
not be counted.
Mr. Evans of r. l., offered as a substitute
resolution declaring that the vote of Slater should
be counted.
MIR. jerks of Pennsylvania opened the debate,
aud 6esired to know by what authority the cleo
toral commission had made the two houses o con-
gre,s "A mere adlenda to a conspiracy between a
corrupt governor aud feloniols returning board.
He ha listened to the commissioner who had
spoken to day (lloar) hoping he would give some
information GU the subject but he had evaded the
true issue by simply saying that the country had
conferred upon the CON mission great and extra
ordinary power, with authority to exclude or adj
NIT evidence as to them seemed fit. The gentle
man had voted to exclude evidence who in 1872
bad voted 20 throw out the votes of G,oryia be
cause the constitution gave the power to congress
to go behind the returns-but circumstances alter
cases-those were dem )cratic votes which were to
be thrown out, nov they were on the republican
side.
Mr.. Eames of Rhode Island argued in favor of
the right of Mr.. Slater to cast his vote, whether
Corliss was a centennial commissioner or not at
the time of his election.
After further discussion the house voted to
count the Rhode Island vote.
Mr.. Wilson of Iowa at $40 offered resolu ton
to notify the senate, which was adopted.
In CONVENTION,
The senate at six o'clock re-entered the all and
the vote of Rhode Island was, after the observ-
ance of the usual formaities, announced as four
for Hayes and Wheeler
The next certificate opened was that from South
Carolina authenticated by Gov. Chamberlain,
showing seven votes for Hayes and Wheeler. 1t
was followed by another certificate showing votes
for Tden and Hendricks with statement by the
electors explaining the absence of the governors
authorization.
The objection to the republican certificates was
presented by representative Cochran of Pa, and
the objection to the democratic one WAS presented
by senator Patterson of South Carolina.
The objections having been read the presiding
officer announced that they would be submitted to
the electoral com mission for its judgment aud de-
cision, and that the senate would now retire to its
own chamber.
The house then at half past six took a recess to
ten o'clock tomorrow morning.