The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-02-15
BULL-DOZED.
The People Defrauded.
THE GREAT FIR AUD TRlUMPRs

W snS COtut q WIN
ago last Friday, and after being dis
cussed before that body till the fol-
lowing Wednesday evening, when the
rules were voted upon and
passed by a strictly party vote:
On motion of Justice Miller, it was
ordered that no evidence will be re-
ceived or considered by the Commis
sion which was not submitted 10 the
joint convention of the two Houses by
the President of the Senate, with the
different certificates, except such as re-
lates to the eligibility of Humphrey as
an Elector. The vote stood: Yeas
Edmunds, Frelinghuysen,
Garfield, Hoar, Miller, Morton, and
Strone-S. Nays-Abbott, Dayard,
Clifford, Field, HINTON, Payne and
Thurman.
On motion of Mr.. Abbott it was re-
solved that in the case OF Florida this
Commission will receive evidence re-
lating to the eligibility of Frederick
Humphrey, one of the persons named
in certificate No. l. as an Elector
Yeas-Abbott, Bradley, Bayard, Cliff
ford, Field, Hunton, Payne, and Thur
mans. Nays-Edmunds, Freling-
mysen, Garfield, Hoar, Miller, Nor
ton and Strong.
The debate on the case ended on
Friday last, when the following reso-
luton was adopted by purely party
vote:
"Resolrcd. That the four persons
to.wit: Frederick T.. Humphreys,
Charles w. Pearce, William IL. HOl-
den aud Thomas w. Long-were duly
appointed Electors of President and
ice-President for the State of Flori-
da and that the votes cast for the
aforesaid four persons are votes pro-
vided for by the Constitution of the
United States"
The vote in detail on the adoption
of the resolution was as follows =
Yeas-Bradley, Edmunds, Freling-
huysen, Garfield, Hoar. WILDER, Nor
ton and Strong-S. Nays-Abbott.
Bayard. Clifford, Field, Hunton, Payne
and Thurman-7.
On motion of Mr.. Garfield, Messrs.
Edmumds, Bradley and Miller were
appointed q Committee to draft the
report of the decision of the Commits
sion. The points of the report are
given as follows:
l. The Commission, exercising the
powers of both Houses under the law,
and haying examined all the certifi.
cafes and papers referred TO them, find
that they have no authority to hear
evidence diiundi, or, in other words,
to hear evidence outside of the certifi
cate of the Governor of the State Of
Florida, founded upon the determine
lion OF the Can vassing Board of the
State as to its vote,
2. The Commission could not con-
slider as evidence any act of the Leg
islature or Courts i'm determining
whom the Stale had appointed az
Electors, after the day said Electors
gave their vote.
). In regard to the alleged ineligi-
bility of +. G.. Humphreys, there vas
not sufficient proof that he held office
on the 7th of November.
And that il the manner in which the
high dignitaries of the Supreme Cour,
rise above mere partisan prejudices
and come up to the great work of de-
Gliding the questions confded to them
upon their merits alone. 1t must be
pretty evident TO everybody now that
they are made of the same quslity oi
mud as other people, and that it is the
merest folly 10 expect them to decide
any question relating to politics with
any less prejudice, or any more fairly
than other people. by the very terms
Of their oaths and of the submission
they we're authorized and required to
investigate, ascertain and determine
for whom the people of Florida had
cast their votes for Electors of Presi
dent and Vice President. Notorious
ly this duty they did not rerform
The testimony of every department O
the State Government of Florids
showed that the Tilden Electors had
been fairly elected at the polls. The
evidence of the Attorney General, the
action Of the Supreme and Circus
Courts, of the Legislature and of The
Governor of the State showed conclu
sively that the action of the Returning
Board was false and fraudulent, an6
yet these were not at all considered
bot utterly disregarded by this grand
Tribunal, which decided, by a strictly
partisan vote, of eight to seven tha
they could not hear and consider an,
evidence outside of the lying ceriifi
cate of Stearns, the carpet-bag usurp
er, when the very object or the crea
ton of the Commission was that they
should ascertain and determine from
the evidence what was the fairly ex
pressed will of the people of thai
State. Their whole effort apparently
has been TO lend themselves to tn,
covering up Of the iniquitous doing,
of the conspirators. The Democrat
had fairly won the Presidency. The,
had the game in theis own hands ant
threw it away by giving the power Il
count them out into the hands of /,
Radical Judge who they foolishly sup
posed was capable of rising abOv,
mere partisan prejudice. The idea O
getting at the settlement OF such
question by such means, is most ri
diculous farce.
The money now held by the life in
surance companies of this countr,