The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-02-08
couNTINs THE ELECTORAL VOTE.
Proceedings Of Congress- and the
Arbitration Commission.
FIRST DAY.
TIE JOINT CONVENTION.

nain aisle and took seats in the nrst four rova on
.he Democratic aide of the chamber. The Prseident
of the Senate took o chair, having the Speaker on
bis right. When senator's and members were seateA
he President of the Senate said: " The JOINT Con-
vention Of the two houses Of Congress for counting
sotes for President and yice-pres;dent win now
come to order" Perfect silence followed and the
President of the Senate continued: I'm obedience
to the constitution, the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatves have met to be present at the opening Of
certificates and counting and decl ring Of the re-
suits of the electoral votes for the ooe Of Presi
dent and president of tie United states for the
term OF four years, commencing on the fourth
day of March next. In eompfanos with
now proceed in the presence of the two
houses to open all certificates of the several states.
and in ,nsif sphsSstieai 0r'e Desnnns With
box in which the certificates were placed
as carriet IN by Mr.. Baseett, assistant
Of the Senate. and placed on the desk
before the President of the Senate. who opened It.
and took from 1t q certificate from the state of
Alabama which show that samuel j. Tilden and
Thomas A. Hendricks had received ten elector al
votes. Then followed: Arkansas, six votes for
rilden and Hendricks; California, ak ties for
Hayes and Wheeler; Colorado, three votes for
Hayes and VII. eler; Connecticut, six votes for il
len and Hendricks; d, laware, three votes for Til
len and Hendricks. When Florida was reached,
'ertlfi cate was read showing our votes for nsyes
md Wheeler. Also another certificate shoatng four
'otes for Tilden and Hendricks. Then the plcsid-
ng officer handed down to the teller still another
II January and corresponding 10 the one received by
nail the 18th Of January This third s an autbenh-
att N of the act Of the electors ~ho voted for Tden
M hendricks, aud is made by Gov rnor Drew.
Objections to the first certificate were fled by SEN
'tors Jones' of Florida Casper. Mcdonald, of Indi-
'ua, and by Representatives Field. Tucker, Jenks,
Pierce. Humphreys. Ao,den and Young, assuming
o act rs eeidential electors, never we're du, ep-
pointed by the state of Florida OF in any manner
,hatever; but the other four persons had been
hnI Il. Ah.
hat tue certificate of election of the first four per
ons was uutruly and corrurtly procured, and
made III pursuance of a conspiracy between them
nd NJ. L. Stearns. late governor; that they were
.surpers, and their act~ we're illegal, nun and
old. Further objections being called for, Senator
areent sent up to the clerks deck, on be-
af of himself and Senators Conover, Sher-
nan and Teller, and of Representatives Wood
urn, Dunnell, Kassou aud McCrary, three
cts of objections to the votes cast by Gail,
linten, Cullock and Young, Democratic cleo
cated a. required by the Constitution and laws,
enator Jones, of Florida, made objec IN specially
0 Humphreys, to holding an Office of trust aud
roft under the United States. Mr.. Rasson made
dditional objection to the third set of certificates
ecause they were not authenticated by the person
ho held the Office of Governor at the time the
Dnctlons of electors were exercised. The presid-
lg officer then asked whether there were any fur
her objections to counting tie vote of Florida.
fter pause, there being Done the certihcates and
apers, together with other papers accompanying
1e same, DIS wen as ODJeCt1OuS presented Wero
'ansmitted to the electoral commissioners for
alignment and decision. The Senate then witLd
, its chamber, so that the house could separately
etermine object ms.
lHE COMMISSION.
The tripartite COMMISSION, appointed under the
of he electoral act to hear and decide
II matters in dispute affecting the vote for Presf-
ent and Vice President, met at three O'Clock to-
ay, in the room of the supreme court at the
apitol communication from the two houses
congress, in joint session, was presented by Mr..
iorham, secretary of the senate, and read, show
ng that more than one return or paper purporling
6e a return certificate of electoral votes of the
tate of Florida having been received aid this day
peped in presence of the two houses of congress,
nd objections thereto having been made, said
eturns, with all accompanying paper, and also OBJ
ectlons thereto are herewith submitted to the judg
nent and decision OF the Commissioners, ~ pro-
ided by law. debate was then mad as to the
feasibility OF pri' ting all the papers the case In
rider to economlze time, which ended without any
etinite conclusion being reached. The presiding
ustce stated that but two directors in each cert-
ate could represent their to the tribunal and
equested that this fact be made known to the
oint convention IN order that such persons might
e designated The presiding judge then called for
he names of council who would appear in the case.
1r. Charles OfConnor of New York, Judge Black,
f Pennsylvania Judge Trumbull, of Illinois, Mr.
ferrick, of Washington, and Mr.. Grier, of New
ersey, were enumerated as counsel on the Demo-
ratio side, and Mr.. stoughtoD, Stanley Mat
hews and Wm. NJ. kvarts in beh alf OF the Repubr-
ans. The judge then stated that counsel, not ex-
eedng two in number on each side, are allow ed to
anticipate in argum' MT, In reply to the question
the commission as to which of objectors weuld
resent the aside from counsel, on ennfer-
nee 1t was determined that Mr.. M'Crary and Mr..
.asson would appear. After some further debate
nn1 IC:3U to-fnUrrow. rncroonr rnr' Tss -'seA
leared the Commissi N remained for consuta'
on. and after some time spent in deliberation ad-
burned until to morrow morning at 1O O'Clock.
SECOND DAY.
WASHINGTON, February 2.-.The elec-
,ral commissioners met at 1880 O'Clock. The pre-
ding officer said the question had been asked
esterday, " What is the case 2" to which he re
lied, at consists of three certificates, with the
papers, and the objection to the
ame Ae would now state that the two ob1ectors
n each side would be allowed TO speak on tue
pening of the case. Those representing objection
lumber one, which was presented by Field, would
peak ST. and unde- the tour tn rule would be al
wed two hours to state the ease and arsHe in eu-
ort Of the objection Field asked whether after the
bj-ctors had spoken, and the opeulpg alignment
,as made any reply woald be allowed. Judge
hfford stated that the ules made no provision TOR
reply Field then op ned the argument as an OBJ
tor in the case of Florida, and argued IL favor
f going behind the face of the returns, on the
round that If this could not be done, the Anne l.
an people weuld be in q position OF standing pow
rless in the face of gigantic fraud.
,e was followe by Representative Tucker, another
4 the objectors the came side OF the case.
t the con lusion of Mr.. fuckers areument, Mr..
Lasson addressed the Commission, He argued at
reat length against the power OF the Con mission
O 90 behind the returns. Mr.. NcCreary followed
With an argument in the same line. The pr.sid1ng
ustice INQUIRED whether counsel proposed to offer
vide lice before proceeding to argument MIR.
p oper r, pit that he eXoected to offer evidence,
nd Mr. E. arts said he had evidenceto to offer IN
ess evidence was admitted against his side, which
{ would have to mert The presiding Justice ask
d MIR Eyarts whether if the Commission decided
O receive evidence, he would require to meet 1t,
.ua Mr. Evarts answered in the affirmative. Mr..
Thurman suggested that there must be a great
raRy facts as to which c. nnsei upon ootn soes
,oud agree, not xs to whether proof Of tUtm is ad-
nj ss be but as to the existence Of the facts. II
counsel could agree as far as they uld in respect
% facts Of which there was no possible doubt, eav.
pg the question of their admissabillty as matter
If law TO the deci of the tribunal it would save
much time. Adj jJurned.
THIRD DAY.
WASHINGTON, February 3,-Tbe COM
mission met at 1875. Judge Clifford sid under
he third rule, counsel should present ne evidence
tbey propos. to offer in the case in condensed
and classified form, of course, based upon the con
dition that the evidence would be received The
@ ace e
dence would be admitted until the coinmisslsn de-
cided. After some discussion to the mode OF
procedure, O'Conor addrt seed the Commission
urging that evidence should be admitted subject to
questions of lrrelevsncy and the eff ct to be con-
sidered with the whole case de then submitted bis
Bayes electors met on the Sta of December and
cast their votes, and forwarded The same to the seal
of government, with the exception that he Hay es
electors were certihed by the governor, and the
Tilden electors by the attorney general second.
the d oceedings under the writ OF quo to1TraHte.
Third, show tie commission, the law Of Florida,
and the construction of the statutes, assn own by
the ousting of Stearns. Fourth the legislature Of
Floriaa, since Dec, b, ordering new canvass, and
the result of that CANVASS. Fifth, that the Hayes
electors rejected certain returns from united
named, and that Humphreys was an officer urder
the commission, but soon stopped on the GROUND
that he was arguing on the admissoiiity oi
evidence before it offered and discussion a
to the mode of procedure took pace. Justice Mil
Ter submitted motion, that counsel on either sid
BY Evarts as to whether any other matter should b
considered other than what wss lai before the tive
b ,uses by the President Thurman proposed tn
discussion should include what evidence might bs
admitted and also what evidence now before the
commission. Miller modified bis motion as sug
eested, and it was adopted. At the request o
Eyaris an additional hour given to each side II
order to permit the counsel TO arrange for their 81
pumepts he commission then took recess. Ol
r. "a ssem bling IL arranged that one counsel o
each side heard to-day, and one On each sid
Monday II was further agreed that three counse
on each side be heard, but not extend the time
MIR Merrick made the opening address as to tn
question of the power Of the commission as to tn
regularity of the evidence now before the commits
SION. He opposed the proposition that the dutie
of the commission purely ministerial and tha
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