New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-05
STANLEY MATTHEWS REPLIES.
CONUrsIYENESs OF CERTIFICATE


Mr.. Stanley Matthews then presented to the
Commission the Republican side Of the support OF
the validity certificate No. ]. He said that he was
unus ID 70 appearing before august and unprecedented
a tribunal and spoke with dndencc. His first aci wa5
10 say that tine other side Lad Misrepresentation OF the
Republican position regard to The concidsiycne's Of
certificates and he would correct II in the course OF his
remarks. He confined:
Itis aIr President ana gentlemen foriunai" feature
Of your Legal constitution that yoN can maze 40 l"thc
PapaI Councils whore n was treating Of 'he doc,ri@e
ta tncy were enlightened ny Ia presence % 90 roy
Ghost that he had generally found thar the SrHt d~CIt
III ,It 90 n,i' il,i.,,nI II Iu,y be- dcyovsd
by Congress ui'on This Commission IN no count
y T Io made g.t tIic defeat OF te trau.ac,iou by r.
ftj u, ~ maj result tie ccc;Dn OF "a President and
Nicc-Prrsiient of the CHitci States. In What does
that consist IT. Il not sinSt ac'i - l., u 5el,S
not popular election either according 10 tdC spirit OF
tue Constitution, tHC meaning OF rs II"tiN lc 'CI-
probation Of the generation wbca adopted IT, or me iac-
tce under IT, 1ncrc j. select body OF men ~ each STATE
Who constitute the constitutional body 10 make
that election, and need not remind Tins Tribunal that
they have right t9nmke selection ~ wen rs an "ltc-
ton II j. altogether, IL my judgment. mistake to
suppose that the electoral boGe' are delegates repre-
seitug thc State OF The people u stat" as agents to a-
cOmpsh jlrr VIII. Ihoy not only have thc mower III
tie ne %. In-ht bIi thcy nave a4ihoi!N III W. sr'e
OF rg - vote upon tc day named for Tho person who,
iu TER G ncut, Oagt to DE-, &i things considered tho
Chief LsccItl5' % the nation.
VIII neither deny Lor affirm, but an willing to adj
MT anything and everything that ~ be claimed on tic
other ode W To- She State authority 10 ia IC
INTO auu accj ri record until the time when c eject
conf rlDd thrr by casting thcir votes Then
and ID b~' ONES Federal actun" OF th15" things Wcn
The iur-,ilD ion Of Federal power the votes lad
brug deposited ia irIlDJ-'oN Oi the nation, tho
taE.- charge Of It's blOtbpXci what yer power
CXcrrd after that II eAcr;rd undc the power con-
icIlci by the Constitution upon any cDiatutd national
Authority which invested with power over ihc sub
cct The acu question now before the Commission Is
not winch ret OF electors ~ Florida received u Mj-
lOHty ~ popular woes, which HCi apcaiH iUm t1c
returns OF YOt made at the primary polling places u
have had majority. nut when hc;, by the actual deca-
ration Oh hc official authority 81 tine state charged with
that duty has he come clothed by the forms oil law vita
actual InCdbbFECy aud possession Oi the Office.
luCr: certifying aCt Is not conclusive. Congress,
which provides u and made part 81 iOn
may disregard III they need not tic theubIye, 20 a. bat
Commission goes b.iIGg the certificate, u Wi hat
are tncy limited by The necessity % The case
They are lIn!trd 10 al inquiry "a 10 what
are the facts to which tLe Governor ia Eis
certificate should nave certified. The facts 10 hr
certified by the pubic facts and facts
of which beng Governor ~ tie time, hc h's official
knoWI-dgeat the lime wncn, Il ev,r tho title 10 the
,,s.essou and iuCuuIDrHCy OF tis junction required
for lie pulpOscs OF this Tribunal become complete
Guy -;earug was the lawful Governor OF Florida
aCd tLe fact De certified WIS, that ~ tho Judgment
and finding OF tnc anal aJtOiIty OF the stale, as de
,drd Nv 1e election those whom he certified 10 ID" the
electors had fact, according - law bccn appointed
rae fact hat subsequent Governor came in. and that
A cyU rcu tered judgment upon MS Status, could rot
change tre dc (aclD status of GOV. SeHI5. ihc quo
rDJ1,f1 ,gresdng could not be alleged againot tne
facts red III Gov. StcarnBs certificate, because Iacts
are NOT matters Of legal construction.