Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-02-28
The Electoral Commission.

lima c:lSe before the Electoral COmlulSSI0D yes
tcrily, Mr. Montgomery Blair. 81 counsel Tor
the democratic side, said they would propose
to prove the various points set forth 10 the
democratic objections. II regard to the regis.
tration of voters he showed that the coDstitu-
ton Of the State was imperative, and said there
"shall'' be provision made tor registration,
ard conended that there was nothing IN the
constitution Of the United States that made the
| Legislature OF State paramount to the State
| 1t was true that the State Legislature was 40
agent of the United States, but it could not ex
ere!se it power in violation Of The authority
that created the Legislature. Registration was
failure Of the registration was palpablc viola
ton OF the constitution, nGoElausly done, to
pcrpctrate fraud.
La regard TO the use Of the military in the
State he said it was itself lust and Sufficient
ground 10 throw aside the vote of the State. 1t
was done by proclamation, and It was known TO
all men that the troops were used to control the
election. Was the judgment OF the President
Of the United States. acting Is he publicly de-
! carcd as the representative OF 4 party, to DC
taken as final ? lie couteu!cd that the act
was Illegal and should be looked into in that
light by the Commission.
Mr.. Blair went back to The reconstruction
acts, charging that the republican party had
avow5dly violated the constitution and the law,
and he insisted that the present was but con-
tlnuaion Of long line OF acts by that party
cucroaching upon the rights and liberties Of the
people. lie maintained that Congress had
taken notice of the condition OF the States IN
the South, aud that as the representatives Of
Congress this Commission must lake notice OF
what had been done in South Carolina 10 con-
urclion With the election. q mlnor contested
election cases, wherever there Was violence or
fraud The votes at the polls where such occlr'
red were thr1wn ont, and why should not the
same rule apply 10 4 great nal00al contest
The rebels were not allowed to vote, and WHY
should these votes cast under military durcss
lie counted?
Mr.. Blair coucnGru that ever since the war
Congress hal exercised the right To look into
the condition Of the States. and in the exercise
Of this power States had been excluded and
Louisiana had Got been p@rnltthd to vote sIcc2
the war until The other day. Under the most
rigii construction the Commission could Tot
:snorc tie proclamation .! The President that
iGsurrcci!ou existed in lie State OF South Caro-
Ina When cOndllinn IT affairs existed that
rsuuirtd deputy marshal to every tea negroes
TO t.kA them up between Tic soldiers and swear
item 10 vote the Whole ticket, and licn match
them 10 The polls and scr that they voted III
Tie prrs.nr, af The troop-; when all lhis was
necessary t. carry the Stale tY .@; t:iun |, 100
majority, was it not a condition. Ct; things TINT
Compress could inquire into
) The crnGa,l on Inc republican side submitted
their case without argument
, Judge Jeremiah s. Black thea closed for the
democratic side He hcwai'el the great Ca
| 1. L.. | l..Ii IL, H.,
inl:,nly with which the nation had been GOV
cred lie reflected with great severity upon
(hn :Giivn Of the Commission 10 the preceding
+ cases, and said lie expected no more favorable
decision 10 this cas-. lie said lie felt that he
hal l,st inuch OF The dignity Of an American
citizen, anI that this great nation had got It's
foot 10 . crack from which It could mol be OK
iriailc,l IF lGYloru hope could 90 out TO
avert this great calamity lie would gladly lead
. it, lie did not know low h. would feel If
called upon TO lay d0Wn his life, but If he could
with his life redeem the nation from the mia
. Inv with which ii is covered he ought 10 give
his life as freely as he would 60 TO lis bed. Di.-
irctions had been prtened which TO him ap-
! pcared insupcrahlc bu. it might be- that he iii
cannon with millions # Others lad bcnn
wrought ilp 10 slate Of feeling shat mad. hi;
vision less clear and things appear to seem dit.
crcnt thar they Iii Ia ramcr persons. tie
W.nl iuto an examination at the Giec!lan III
, South CaroIil3, hrAuehimE off 1t Intervals into
similar strain, OF canpaul against the acIlOn
81 the E1lan!i,siOa. He argued hat the Ger
ilicat u TIE electors W!S not a. i'y 4 mlSi>G ol
language ii had cotun 10 be designated re
, turu, iut 4 mere certificate which r0uld b. in
= CURED iulo. They refused to 20 lack of the
! certificate, and 10 Tact did nat 90 back TO il. II
| ,h,,, mil hoo IA iI,., int h,f
> the certificates wcrc uo what vas required.
lie sliI that less lhao year ago one Of tic
, Senators now Oh this tribunal had attacked Mr..
|, jefferson bGclus: Of IN alleged Though untrue)
informally 10 the electoral vote OF Georgia.
lie asked it the name 81 fhoa. Jefferson is to
, 20 down 10 r0stcrty with lniany what would he
r done with those who count this return which
has 40 Gjrmaly about it-mh;cil leaves out all
that ought to be certified? y million OF white
people were crying out, aud more than quar-
ter Of million Of all classes and sexes, regard
less OF race, color or previous condition Of scrrI-
iuIc were cryiDg against another scrvitudc. 1t
has. he said been written that the fowler did not
set his net ia the presence Ct the birds, but this
5 net had been spread in The prcscnce Of all the
birds. He did not complain, they we're now
told, and he hoped the promise would be kept.
| lie saw no false prrtCnscS IN II; that wc were
now to have government that would regard
+ Che rights of the States. II Was said that the
States would have their autonomy the
, same was promised BY Turkey. That govern.
! cnI promised that the people should nave their
, natural Judges that Christian communities
should have Christian judges, and Mohamcdan
people Mohamcdau judges. 1t was promised
that inferior officers should not be excused for
crimes under plea Of orders from their supc
riorl. and that II military officer sent into the