Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-02-19
WASHINGTON.
CongrqssionaI prsoecdIngs.

Congressional Proceedings.
WASHINGTON, February l9.-HoUsE-
at ten o'clock the house met and took
recess until 1850, the time being occu-
pied in preparing for the reception Of the
senate. The galleries were crowded as
usual on the days when the count is to
proceed. Precisely at eleven the senate
arrived and the presiding officer said:
The joint meeting Of congress resumes
its session. The objections presented 10
the certificates from the State of Louisi.
ana having been submitted tc the com
mission the two houses have r%econvened
to receive aud consider the decision of
that tribunal, in writing, by a majority
Of the commission, and signed by a ma
jority Of the commissioners agreeing
thereto" It is 10 language the same as
the decision given in the case Of Florida,
with the difference that where the latter
recites " the commission has decided"
the words Of the present decision are,
the commission has BY a majority OF
votes decided" The official communi.
cation costumes: The brief ground
Of this decision is that it appeaE upon
such evidence as by the constitution and
Law named in said act Of congress the
electoral law is competent and pertinent
to the consideration of the subject, that
the before mentioned electors appear TO.
have been lawfully appointed as such
electors OF President and Vice President
OF the United States for the term begin
ming March 4. 1877, of the State of Lou
%isiana, and that they voted as such at
the time and in the manner provided for
By the constitution of the United
States and the law, and the commits
sion has, By a majority Of votes,
decided that 1t is not competent under
the constitution and law as it existed OF
the date Of the passage Of said act to
20 into evidence alieunde. The papers
opened By the president of the senate in
the presence Of the two houses to prove
that other persons than those regularly
certified to BY the governor of the state
on and according to the determination
Of their appointment BY the returning
officers for elections in said state prior
to the time required for a performance
Of their duties had been appointed
electors, or By counter proof to show
that they bad not, or that tSe determine.
ton Of said returning officers was not in
accordance with truth aud fact. The
commission by a majority Of votes, are
Of the opinion that it ia not within the
jurisdiction Of the congress assembled
to count the votes for President and
Vice President, and to enter upon the
trial Of such question. The commission,
By a majority Of votes, ia also Of opinion
that it is not competent to prove that
any Of TIE said persons so appointed
electors as aforesaid, held an Office OF
Jnit or proGt under the United States a.
the time vhen they we're appolated, or
thst they we're ineligible under the laws
Of the State, or any other matter offered
to be proved alieunde Of said cert
Ge ates aud papers. The commission Is
also of opinion by q majority Of votes,
that tie returning officers Of elections
Who canYassed the votes at the election
for electors in Louisiana we're a lawfully
constituted BODY, by virtue Of coustitu.
tional law, and that the vacancy 10 said
board did not yitiste its proceedings
The commits ion has also decided and
does hereby decide by a majority Of
votes, and report as a consequence Of
the foregoing, aud upon the ground be.
fore stated, that the paper purportiRg to
be a certificate Of the electoral votes oil
said State Of Louisiana, objected to by
T. o. Howe and others, marked No. :
by the commission, and herewith re.
turned, is not the certificate Of votes
provided for by the Constitution of the
United States, and that they ought nol
to be counted as such. The signatures
are Samuel f. Miller, W. Strong, Joseph
P. Bradley, George F. Edmunds, o. P.
Morton, Frederick l.. Frelinghuysen.
James A. Garfield, George F. Hoar."
The decision having been read the
presiding officer asked whether there
were any objections to the decision.
Mr.. Gibson presented objections to the
decision on the ground that the commits
sion had refused TO receive evidence thai
had been offered and had decided tbatthC
votes mentioned in certi6c Ites one and