The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-03-01

they had got tor returning board.
IN SECRET SESSION.
Az l:lO pm. the commission wen
into secret session, but at once took re
cess until l:45.
The electoral commission remained II
score. session from 1:45 to- pm.
After discussion had continued thre
and half hours Mr.. Edmunds sub
mitted a motion that voting should com
mence at G o'clock. This motion wa
agreed to; yeas 8, nays7.
After pm. propositions were Offered
and voted on as follows:
Mr.. Morton submitted the following
That 1t is not competent for the two
houses assembled for the purpose O
ounting the votes for president and
vice-president to inquire by evidence
whether state regularly represented in
the two houses OF congress, and recos.
nized as state by the other department.
of the government, has a government
Republican in form.
Resoiped, That while the existence o.
public disturbance and anarchy i'm any
state to such an extent as to make it i'm
possible for the state to exercise its righ
to appoint electors OF president and vice
president, and to express its will in tha
behalf, is sufficient cause for rejecting any
electoral votes purporting 10 be the vote,
OF electors appointed thereby, yet thai
| when state is regularly represented
as state In the congress of the United
States and ia racoOuizod n q n cfo fo he fh,
other departments of the government
Republican in form, and does not ap.
point electors in the manner prescribed
by the legislature thereof evidence can
not be received by the two houses Of
congress assembled to count the votes
for president and yice-president as aforc-
SAID to show that disturbances existed at
the time Of the election which may have
interfered to greater or less extent with
the freedom OF election at the polls in
said state.
Resolced, That it is not competent for
the two houses of congress when assem-
bled to count the votes for president and
vice-president, by taking evidence to in.
quire into the regularity of the action of
the president of the United States in
sending a military force into any state
for the preservation Of order or the sup
preston of instruction and domestic vio-
lence, in order by such proof to lay
ground for rejecting the electoral vote OF
said state.
Re.osred, That in view of the PROPOSE.
tons contained in the three foregoing
resolutions the evidence offered to Show
that the State of South Carolina at the
late election did not have a republican
form Of government, and the evidence
offered on the subject Of disorder and vio-
lence and the presence Of troops in said
state during said election, is not compe.
tent; but that notwithstanding the offer
Of such evidence, the electoral vote of
South Carolina ought to be received and
counted, If not Objectionable on other
grounds.
Resolved, That the other objections TO
certificate No. ! show no valid cause tor
the rejection of the same.
Justice Field offered the following SUBJ
stitute:
Resolved, That evidence is admissible
to show that prior to and during the
election on \the 9TH day of November,
1876. in the state OF South Carolina there
were unlawfulIy stationed in various
parts of the state. at or near polling
places, detachments OF troops of the army
OF the United States, by whose presence
and interference the qualified voters of
the state were deprived OF the right of
suffrage, and tree choice by the people
OF presidential electors was prevented;
and the following
Resoloed, That evidence is admissible
to show that at the election on the 9TH of
November, 1876, in South CAROLINA there
were stationed at the several polling
places in the state deputy marshals OF the
United States, exceeding one thousand in
number, by whose unlawful action and
interference under orders from the de
partment of justice, the qualified voters
Of the state were deprived of the right of
suffrage. and free choice by the people
OF presidential electors was prevented.
These substitutes were rejected, yeas
Abbott, Bayard, Clifford, Field, Hunton,
Herman and Payne.
Nays-Bradley, Edmunds, Frelinghuy
sen, Garfield, Hoar, Miller, Morton and
Strong-s.
The question recurring on the adoption
OF Morton's resolution, they were
adopted yeas, s; nays, z; the above
vote being reversed.
MIR. Frelinghuysen offered the follow.
ing.
Resolved, That rheo. Il. Barker. :.
MCGOWAN. John w. Harrington, Jpo.
Isaac Ingraham, William Wallace, John
d. Erwin, and Robert Aldrich, the per.
sons named as electors for the state of
South Carolina, and their votes are not
the votes provided for by the constitu-
ton OF the United States, and should not
be counted.
Adopted unanimously.
Mr.. Morton offered the following:
Resolred, That G. c. Bowen, j. Win.
smith, Thomas q. Johnston, Timothy
Harley. w. r. Nash. Wilson Cook and
w. Il. Myers, the persons named as cleo
tors in certificate No. l.. were the Lawful,
electors for the state OF South Carolina.
and that their votes are the votes pro-
vided for by the constitution of the
United States and should be counted for
president and yice-president of the
United States.
Adopted-ycas, s; nays, z; same as
vote on Morton's previous resolutions.
A report was drawn up to be pre-.
sented TO the two houses, giving the
grounds on which the commission
reached its decision.
Mr. Morton offered the following:
Resolred. That The thanks of this com.
mission are due Commissioner Clifford
ior the ability, impartiality and urbanity
with which he has presided over its de-
alterations. ~ Nv
Adopted unanimously.