The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-02-01
not mention names, and this remark was

At twenty-five minutes past five this
afternoon S speaker Randall said: "rhe
vote stands l9l yeas and 86 nays, and the
bill has therefore passed" There was a
round of applause from House and galle-
ry, and thus ended the great struggle
over the Electoral bill
Before the calling of the roll was COM
pleted Mr.. Randall rose and claimed the
privilege of also voting. The Clerk,
amid general silence. called "Mr Speak
err" and Mr. Speaker answered "Aye,"
and thus the tally list was completed.
An analysis of the vote shows that
1853 Democrats and 33 Republicans voted
for the bill and 1S Democrats and 6S Re
pubicans voted against it. Fourteen
members were absent; none lodged.
in the House.
Of the Southern Republicans only two
Wells, of Mississippi, and Darrall, of
Louisiana-voted for the bill, the remain.
lug 13 voted against the bill. Substract-
ing them from 6S Republicans who op-
posed it, there remain So real votes of
that side against the bill to 33 for it. A
number of Republicans who would have
voted for the bill ten days ago went
against it to-day under the threats and
urgent entreaties of office-holders at
home. This class have everywhere made
a dead set at the bill, and, as the civil
service is now managed, Congressman
depended so generally on the influence of
postmasters and other federal officers in
their districts for their own political pre-
dominance and for denomination, that
these petty place holders are very power
full when they combine their efforts. In
the present case they have done their
utmost to defeat the bill, and have sue
ceeded in diminishing the number of its
Republican supporters.
The day was given to short speeches,
many of which were read from manu-
script, and were rather opinions than
speeches. Mr.. Charles Foster, of Ohio.
made the most striking remark of the
day. He is the only Ohio Republican
who supported the bill; but as he is one
of the ablest and strongest men in the
delegation he could we'll afford to stand
alone. He said in the course of his
speech, addressing himself directly to
Mr.. Randall in the chair, "Who doubts,
Mr.. Speaker, that if you occupied Presi-
dent Ferry's place the opinion of many
of my republican colleagues who now
affirm the right of the President of the
Senate to count would be greatly modi-
fed. The President OF the Senate holds
his place at the pleasure of the Senate;
have sometimes thought l would like
to know how. Ny own judgment on this
question Of the right of the President of
the Senate to count would be Influenced
it.the Senate should to-day elect strong
Democratic partisan in place of Presi-
dent Ferry. l fear my doubt as to the
right of the officer to count would be in
creased, and that should at once become
greatly in favor of standing by the time
honored precedents made by my party.
1 would point to the bill passed by the
Senate at its last session, affirming the
right of the houses to supervise and con-
troll the count, for which nearly all my
party friends voted, including President
Ferry"
Mr.. Gibson, of Louisiana, made very
brief, but impressive speech. saying that
the people of his State were in an espe-
cial manner the friends of a peaceable
and lawful settlement, because they had
learned, as he hoped the people Of no
other State would ever learn, by simi.
lar experience, the calamities brought on
a community by iawless and unconstitu-
tional misrule. Governor Walkers rep
utation as stump speaker did not en-
courage him to extemporize on this occa-
sion. He read his speech, as did Judge
Lawrence, from manuscript. Mr.. Black
burn, of Kuntucky, assaulted the bill in
vehement stump speech of considerable
rhetorical power which held the house
and gave zest to discussion which had
by that time become threadbare.
The sensation Of the hour, though, was
the appearance in the debate of David
Dudley Field. His tall form and COM
manding attitude signalled hush before.
he began his brief delivery. He made no
argument, but contented himself, and the
House, by paying stately compliment
to the joint committee, and closed by
saying: "When on Wednesday night
the Senate, which then had this bill in
charge, sat, deliberating upon it, I
watched with an anxiety that cannot
express the flag that foated over their
chamber. The lights CLEANED from the
windows, the lantern glowed from the
dome, until daylight quenched them,
and, Mr.. Speaker, when the sun rose
over the snow and the outlines of the
Capitol were revealed against wintry
sky, saw that the flag was furled, and
| knew that the day was won"
Mr.. Payne closed the debate with an
appeal which only lacked the help of q
strong voice to make it as effective with
the whole chamber as it was with his i'm
mediate audience.
One of the Southern Senators, who
called on the President to-day relative to
an appointment in his State, found him
thoroughly informed on all the minor de-
tails and general principles of the Elec-
toral bill. President Grant first made
allusion to the discussion which its pass
age in the Senate had provoked, and said
that he not only gave his approval to the
bill, but was perfectly satisfied that in the
absence of provision in the constitution
for counting the vote, the present emer-
| SClICJ1 ublu lCo uuuSudl SudlaCLCA, oC
manded some satisfactory method of
settling the doubts and disputes about
the election. This was absolutely neccs-
sary, he said, and unless it was done,
whoever might be inaugurated could not
enter upon the discharge of his duties
with that efficiency and ability which the
interests of the country would require
during the next four years. To do
that needed the acquiescence of all par
ties in the rig ghtfulness of his title. 1t
was necessary that the people should feel
perfectly convinced that he held the po.
sition justly in order to set at rest all
discomfort and opposition. President
Grant went on to speak of certain Rep
resentatives who would oppose it in the
House, but said the Republican opposi-
ton would make no difference, as the
bill would be passed by large majority.
The understanding now is that the bill
| .,,:U ,a ~ ,>,,oo to ho DrosiIopt for ,,,o,