The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-03-02

TWO hours eacn, ana sui tie question OF ule |
admissibility of evidence was before the COM |
mission. He thought il should be received now,
subject 10 the Judgment of the commission as
to its effect. The proposition was adopted
Mr.. MerIick then offered as evidence certified
copy of the commission of John w. Watts as
Postmaster dated Feb. 10, 1873, and the com
mission Of Henry NJ. Hill as his successor, dated
Jan. 3, 1877 in which il was recited that he
(HilD was appointed Nov. 8, 1876 Postmaster
General ISner was called by MIR. Evarts. A
telegram from Watts resigning his Post
mastership was produced and admitted.
This was received Nov. a. and the answer ac
cepting the resignation was sent on the same
day. John w. Watts was called, and testified
10 the same facts relative to his resignation
After listening to arguments by Messrs. Evarts
(for the Republicans) and Merrick' (for the
Democrats) the commission wen into secret
session.
FRIDAY, Feb. 23.-The Electoral Commission
was in secret consultation on the Oregon case
from 1890 to o'clock, at which hour the arbi-
traitors repaired 10 Senator Humans resi-
dence, that gentleman being confined TO his
bed. where he remained during the proceedings
of the commission. A vote was then taken on
the following propositions, which had been in
formally submitted and discussed. but not voted
upon during the days session. BY Senator Ed
munds 'Resolced, That the certificate
signed by T.. A. Cronin, j. n. I. Mil
cast the electoral vote of the State of
Oregon, does not contain or certify the consti
tutional votes to which said State is entitled"
Justice Field offered the following az a substi-
tute "WHEREAs, j. w. Watts, designated III
certificate No. as an elector of the State of
Oregon for President and Vice President, on
the day of the election, viz. the 9TH day of
November, 1876, held an Office of trust
and profit under the United States therefore,
Resoired, That said j. w. Watts was then in
eligible TO the Office of elector within the eX-
press terms of the constitution Rejected
yeas, nays, s, as follows feds-Abbott,
Bayard, Clifford, Field, Hunton, Payne, Thur
| man.. Ndys-Bradley, Edmunds, Freling-
huysen, Garfield, Hoar, Miller Norton Strong
S. Justice Field then submitted resolution TO
the effect that Odelland Cartwright were the only
persons chosen electors in Oregon. This was
rejected by the same VOTE TO 8. Justice
Field offered still another resolution, that the
attempted reelection of third elector by the
two persons chosen was imperative and void"
Rejected to 8, as above Mr.. Bayard offered
a proposition to the effect @ that the votes of
Odell and Cartwright were the only votes pro-
vided for by the constitution, there having
been failure TO appoint a third elector in ac-
cordance with the constitution and laws of the
United States and laws of the State Of
Oregon, and that these two votes should
be counted, and none others from the State of
Oregon. Rejected-yeas, NAYS, 8, as be-
fore. A vote was then taken on Mr.. Edmunds
original proposition, and it was adopted-yeas.
Is +; nays, none. Mr.. Morton then offered the
following Resolped, That w. Ii. Odell, j.
G. Cartwright, and ]. w. Watts, the persons
named as electors in certificate No. !,
are the lawful electors of the State of
Oregon, and that their votes are the votes
provided for by the constitution of the United
States, and should be counted for President
and Vice President of the United States" Mr.,
Hunton moved to strike out the name of ]. w
/ Watt oa1 10 z MI.
Morton's resolution was then adopted-yeas
8; nays. 7, as follows feds-Bradley, Ed
/ munds, Frelinghuysen, Garfield, Hoar, Miller
Morton, Strong-S Nays-Abbott, Bayard
Clifford, Field, Hunton, Payne, Thurman
; The decision of the commission was then drawn
up and signed by the eight members voting il
the affirmative. On motion of Mr.. Morton, the
injunction of secrecy upon the acts and pro
ceedings of the commission, except as regards
their report to the joint session of Congress
was removed, and the commission adjourned.
MONDAY. Feb 26.-The Electoral Commission
, reassembled at half-past 6, Immediately after
the two houses separated, all the members
present. Mr.. Herman, successor to Senator
Thurman. taking his seat for the first time
The papers referred TO the commission by the
two houses in joint session were read by the
Secretary. In response to inquiry as TO who
appeared as the directors, Mr. Hurd announced
that Mr.. COchrane and himself would APP
pear as directors to certificate No. /.
Mr.. Lawrence said Senator Christiancy and
himself would appear for directors TO certiti-
cate No g Senator Christiancy said he APP
peared for the directors, but they did not pro-
pose to occupy the whole time allowed them.
In response TO another inquiry az to who would
appear as counsel, Mr.. Hurd said he was not
prepared to state at this time, but would an
nounce counsel to the commission tomorrow
morning. Mr.. Matthews stated that Mr.. Shell
labarger and himself would appear in favor of
certificate No. l.. Adjourned.
TUESDAY, Feb. 27.-The commission met at
10 o'clock a. M, and the South Carolina case
was at once taken up. Mr.. Hurd stated that no
counsel would appear for the directors to GER
tificate No. (the Republican certificate). and
then submitted his reasons why the commission
should reject that certificate. When Mr.. Hurd
had finished, Mr.. Cochrane stated that Judge
Black and Mr.. Blair would appear as counsel
for the directors to certificate No !. They
had been uncertain whether they could attend,
but were now present. Mr.. Cochrane then
submitted certain proffers of proof, which
he proposed to make good. Mr.. Lawrence
followed in an argument for the Hayes OBJ
jectors. Senator Christiancy waived his right
to be heard as an objector, and Mr.. Blair, for
the Democrats, addressed the court. He
said they would offer TO prove that, owing TO
violence and intimidation and the presence of
United States troops on the day of election,
there was no full and fair election by the
people that there was no registration of
voters in the State, which was a papable vio-
lation of the constitution and that the
use of the military in the State was
alone sufficient ground for throwing
aside the vote of South Carolina. Judge Black
closed the argument on behalf of the Democrats.
and the commission went into secret session.
Mr.. Morton submitted the following
That il is not competent for the two houses as
sembled for the purpose of counting the votes for
President and Vice President to inquire by evidence
whether a State regularly represented in the two
houses of Congress, and recognized State of the
United States by the other departments Of the Gov
ernment has government republican in form.
Resoired, That, while the existence of public dis
turbance and anarchy in any State to such extent
TO make il impossible for the State TO exercise Its
right to appoint electors of President and Vice Presi-
dent and TO express its will in that behalf is suf-
cent cause for rejecting any electoral votes purpor-
ing TO be the votes of electors appointed thereby yet
that when State is regularly represented a State
in the Congress of the United States, and is recog-
nized State by the other departments of the
Government, and has government republican in
form, and does appoint electors in the manner pre-
scribed by the Legislature thereof evidence cannot
be received by the two houses of Congress assembled
To count the votes for President and Vice President
aforesaid to show that disturbances existed at the
time of the election which may have interfered to
greater less extent with the freedom of election
at the polls in said State.
Resolved, That IL is not competent for the two
| hotteo Of hon qeaof In or,pt