Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-03-09
THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION.

| ID. u.
| The Electoral Commission met pursuant to
adjournment and Mr. Hurd, for the Demo-
Gratis, submitted reasons why the commission
| should reject the Republican certificate. He
WAS followed on the same side by Mr. Coch-
| rane, who submitted protfers of proof which
| he proposed to make good IL admitted by the
commission. Mr.. Lawrence, for the Repub-
licans, made an argument against the recep-
| tion of the certificates of the Tildcn electors
and replied at length to the Democratic coun-
| sell Senator Christiancy waived his right to
be heard as an obiector and Montgomery
Blair and Jere 8. Black then addressed the
commission for the Democrats. At the con-
clusion of their arguments it was announced
| that counsel on the Republican side had con-
/ cluded to submit the case without argu-
ment. The commission then went into Sc
cret session, the proceedings in which were
as follows:
Discussion continued for four hours, when
! Mr.. Merton submitted the following:
ResolUed, That II is not competent for the two
houses assembled for the purpose Of counting the
! vote for President and Nice-Presdent to inquire,
by evidence, whether State, regularly represent
| ed in the two houses Of Congress and recognized
as State Of the United States by the other de-
partments OF the Government, has government
republican in form.
ReS0toed That while the existence Of public
disturbance and anarchy in any State TO such an
extent ~ to make II impossible for State to exer
else its right to appoint electors OF President and
Vice.President and to express its will In that be-
vote or votes purpOrting to be the votes OF the
electors appointed thereby, yet that when State
H. regularly represented State In the Congress
OF the United states and is recognized as a State
by the other departments of the Government, and
I has 4 government republican in fOrm, and does
appoint electors In the manner prescribed by the
| Legislature thereof evidence cHnnot be received
by the two houses OF Congress assembled TO oonnt
the votes for President and Vice-President as
aforesaid to show that disturbances existed at the
TIME of the election which may have interfered TO
greater or less extent with the freedom Of the
election at the polls in said State
Resoired, That It is not competent for the two
houses OF Congress, when assembled to count the
votes for President and Vice President by taking
evidence, 10 inquire into the regularity OF the
ton OF the President OF the United States in send
ing military force into any State for the preser
Yaton OF order or the suppression OF instruction
and domestic violence, in order by such proof TO
lay q ground for rejecting the electoral vote OF
said State. ..Frt...
RssolVed That, in view OF the propositions con.
tnlned in the foregoing resolutions, the evidence
offered TO show that the State OF South Carolina,
at the late election, did not have republican form
OF government, and the evidence offered on the
subject of disorder and violence and the presence
OF troops In said State during said election, IL not
competent; but that. Notwithstanding the offer OF
such evidence, the electoral votes Of the State OF
South Carolina ought to be received aud counted
II not objectionable on other grounds.
R6sOiUed, That the other objections 70 certificate
No show no valid cause for rejecting the same
Judge Field offered the following subsu-
tute: ..ra I.Eg
ResOIUsd, That the evidence is admissible TO
show that prior 10 and during the election on the
7th OF November, 1876, in the State OF South Caro-
Ina, there were unlawfully stationed In various
parts OF the State at or near the polling places, de-
tachments 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 free choice by the people
OF Presidential electors was prevented. i ~ y
y And the following; .-.u = -ri
\ RfsoiBed. That evidence is admissible to show
that al the election on the 7th Of November, 1875
In South Carolina there were stationed at several
polling places in the State Deputy Marshals Of the
United States, exceeding 1000 in number. by
whose unlawful action and Interference under
orders from the Department OF Justice. the quail
ned voters Of the State were deprived OF the right
Of suffrage and "A free choice by the people OF
Presidential electors was prevented
These substitutes were rejected by the fol-
lowing vote:
Yeas-Abbott, Bayard, Clifford, Field, Hunton,
Herman and Payne-7.
Ndys-Bradley Edmunds. Frellnghuysen, Gar
field, lionr, Miller, Morton aud strong-s
The question recurring ON the adoption OF
Mr.. MOrton's resolutions, they were adopt
ed-yeas 3, nays THE above vote being
reversed.
Mr.. Frclingauysen offered resolution that
the persons named In certificate No. 2 (the
pilden electors) were not the lawful electors
for the State Of South Caroline and that their