The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-02-10
ana Prasidenor.

The all-absorbing topic Of the hour Is
that Of the Presidency. "Who's to be the
PresidentGn "Whats the prospect nOwg"
aWhat progress has been made in the
countr' These and similar questions are
asked daily by everybody. The country
is standing on tiptoe awaiting the decision
Of the Presidential contest by the tripartite
commission, which has been in session
since the LIST instant. The first thing
which occupied its attention, after organ
ization, was whether the commission was
authorized to lake testimony in the inves
tigation Of conflicting certificates from the
contested States, This question was dis
cussed BY counsel before the commission,
after which it went into secret session to
determine the matter, and on Wednesday
last rendered decision by party vote of
eight to seven, which seems not to be I'M
derstood alike by any two persons outside
Ofthe commission. To illustrate this want
Of understanding Of the scope and effect
of the decision, we subjoin few extracts
from prominent journals coming to almost
Numerically opposite conclusions:
Ne,c York Tribune says, the Electoral
Commission has decided by vote of s to
not to admit evidence as to the vote Of Flori-
da other than the certificates and papers pre-
sented by the President Of the Senate, except
as to the eligibility of HUMPHREYS, Repub-
lican eleetor. 1t was a party vote, except
that on the first point Judge Bradley voted
with the seven Republicans and on the second
point with the seven Democrats. The deci.
sion is a great victory for Hayes, masked
however in such a way that Democrats ieigna
to regard it as not quite crushing defeat OF
Tilden. Louisiana and Oregon, in the opln-
ion of the same JOURNAL afford the Democrats
no better prospect of success.
On the contrary, the Washington Union
says, it is needless to say that this is a sub
stantial and important victory for the Demo
cratic side-for the side of truth and justice.
1t is true the decision only disposes of the
preliminary question which had been raised
as to the admissibility of Misunderstanding
the main question, the case upon its merits,
vet to be decided. But the earnest conten-
ton and whole argument of the Radicals had
been that no evidence should be received.
The decision overrules the two principal
points made by Mr.. Evarts in his argument
first, that the two houses have nothing to
do with the electoral certificate but to count
it--have no power to go behind the Cover
nor's certificate for any purpose; and, second
liz, that no extraneous proof whatever can be
received in reference to the qualification or
disqualification Of electors. In direct oppo
sition to Mr.. Evarts's views, the Commission
decide that they Will receive evidence in re-
gard to the ineligibility of an elector, and
they will receive other evidence than the Gov
ernor' 5 certificate in regard to the appoint.
ment of electors. They simply limit the evil
dence which they will consider under this
last head to that which accompanied the diff
ferent certificates opened by the President OF
the Senate.
The Philadelphia Times says, the Elector-
al Commission decided by party vote of s
to I, not to go behind the returns OF the dis
puted States presented to Congress through
the President OF the Senate and Immediately
thereafter the seven Democrats of the tribu.
nal and Judge Bradley voted to hear and
consider the eligibility Of electors, the re-
IuNtllIik eGNFu iAtDuuHC1iS NoAAAk dEhliisN H.
This first skirmish of the cnntending forces
on the commission was evidently made as in
decisive as possible, and it denotes nothing
touching the vital issues which must decide
the dispute between Tilden and Hayes for the
crown Of the Republic. The decision of the
tribunal purposely eonceals from even the
most intelligent Judgment all indications OF
the bent of the arbiters as to their probable
finding.
The country awaits the further and final
action of the commission with intense so.
licitude. The division of the commission
upon party lines, has shaken our own con-
fidence in the final result. Not that equity
would not award the decision to Mr.. Til
den, but that the Judicial members of the
commission are incapable of merging the
politician into the impartial umpire. Upon
this hope of the friends of the commission
we fear the country is to be disappointed.
The discussion of the Florida case was
continued Thursday before the Electoral
Commission in open session. The main
point under consideration was the protest
against the counting of the vote east by
+. c. Humphreys, one of the Hayes
Electors, on account of his alleged disa-
bility, but the argument took a wide range
and the merits of the whole case were
fully discussed.