The New York herald., 1877-02-28

o,.hs s-lsus which existed IN tn: county chss.oa
aSS .S1s so;s. "s ss'a'"e-A ''''' Of A''''
In tha. cqpnecton the speaker called attention 10
volume l., section l, oi Blacks stone, page IFS
REPUBLICAN ARGUMENT.
Mr. Lawrence commenced the argument for tho
with effort to show that the want of registration
did affect the election. He contcnGed that the
constitution OF the United States gave he power to
the Legislature OF the State that the constitution
o the state could put no restrictions upon his cons
tutionai grant TO the Legislature of the State.
IIe went INTO brief argument next TO show that tho
form OF government in South Carolina republ
The thira objection that troops had been stationcd
In the state without authority OF law, was untrue in
OF the government Understood and executed laws.
In relation TO the presence OF United States marshas
at the polls he SAID the constitution gave 70 Congress
the power TO enforce It's provisions, ana II the
dencc TO be admitted there would be abundance OF
proof 70 show the presence OF these men was neces
sary. II must be presumed, in the absence OF proof
the contrary, that the officers had done heir duty
In reply to the Gh objection. that there bad been
1875, 70 Decembsr TO- 1876 he cited authorizes to
that the history the State must DO accepted
evidence OF an established republican form Of govern
Mr. Lawrence closed at quarter TO twelve, and Sen
ator Christnncy waived his rigat TO be heard as an
SPEECH or MONTGOMERY BIAIx
Mr. Blair said they would offer to that, owing
to violence and intimidation and the presence 0!
United States troops the day OF election there
no iu and tar election BY the people The drst point
on which he proposed lay the absence or
any registration OF The voters The constitution OF tho
State was imperative and said there ''sha be
provisions made u registration OF quail.
fled voters over twentyonc years OF age
He contended that there was nothing In tho cor
stitution Of the United states that made tho
Legislature OF State paramount 10 the constitution
OF the state II was true that the Legislature OF
State was agent OF the United States but II could
not exercise its power III violation OF the authority
that created the Legislature He charged that this
VIGOROUSLY done to pcrpctuate fraud II was u his
torica fact TO which the commission could no. shu. us
eyes Would tins tribunal now that IT has the power
| to crush II, let fraud triumph!
He next passedto the use OF the military in the
throw aside The vote the State. This. said,
done ny proclamation and known TO all men that the
uSsmens Sss tho President Of the United States
as he publicly declared as the representative OF
| party 10 10 taken inalY He cOniendcd that the
illegal and should be looked into IN that light
| = rHE REcoysTRrcTox ACTS
Mr. Blair went back TO the Reconstruction acts,
charging that tho republican party had avowcdly vo
lated constitution and the law and he insisted that
the present was but continuation OF \ long line OF
acts by that party encroachng upon the rights and
liberties OF tho people He maintained that Congress
had taken notice OF the condition oi tho States the
South, and that the representatives oil Congress this
commission must take notice oi what had been done
In South Carolina with the election. In
minor contested election wherever there
violence or fraud the votes tho polls where such
occurred thrown out and why should
the rule apply IN great national contest, Tho rebels
were not allowed To VOTE and why should
these Votes east under military durcss DO counted
| He contended that ever since tho Congress had
exercised the right 10 look INTO he condition Of the
been excluded and Louisiana had not been permitted
vote tho war until the other day. Under tho
most rigid construction the commission could not g-
more proclamation the President that nsurrcC-
existed In the State OF South Carolina when con-
dition OF affairs existed that required deputy
marshal to every ten negroes TO take them up between
soldiers and swear them 70 vote the whole ticket
and then march them TO the polls and soc that they
vote tho presence OF tho troops. When all this was
necessary carry the State by less than 100 majority
It not condition OF things that Congress could
| Mr. Blair occupied forty-6ve minutes, leaving IN
hour and quarter Tor Judge Black
Mr. Lawrence ana counsel OH the other side, in view
OF the brovity Vi the time, had concluded TO submit the
without argument
Mr.. Bayard said the offers OF proof mad not been
printed. and moved that they be printed for the con-
vcnience Of the commission. Hc understood they
could DO printed in hour. Tho order made.
SPEECH OF Mr.. BLACK.
Mr. Black said he had time consider the case
The Court knew much about 1t as be did. 1t his
idea that counsel should speak only 10 assist tho
Court in coming a CONCLUSION, and when he could
not do that ne should take his seat With much ieel
OF tho dignity OF an American citizen, and that
this great nation had got It's foot In crack
from which IL could not be exricated. II iorlorn hope
could 20 great he would gladly
load IT, Ho did not know how he would feel II called
upon TO Law down his life but If hc could with his o
covered 70 give hts lie AZ freely as he would
go to his bed Objections had been presented here
| which him appeared insuporabe, but
| 1t might be he in common with millions
Of others had been wrought up to u state
|
appear them different than they did to calncr per-
Hc won't into an examination OF tho details
South Carolina branching oil ut intervals into similar
strains complaint against the action OF tho commits
He argued that the certincate of tho electors
no-as Dy misuse OF language II had come to DO
| designated-a return but mere certificate which
could be inquired INTO They refused to 70 back OF the
would 80 back to it they would find that the certificates
we're not what was required He SAID that less than
year of tho Senators now on this tribunal had
attacked Mr.. Jefferson because OF an alleged although
untrue) informally in the electoral vote OF Georgia. aud
he asked II the name OF Thomas Jefferson 10 down
TO posterity with infamy what would bo done with
those who count this return which has tormality
about it, which leaves out all that ought TO be certi-
fed million OF white people wore crying out, and
more tnan quarter OF u million of all classes and
sexes, regardless Of race, color previous condition
tudc it has, bo said been written tuat the
fowler did not set his net In the presence
the but s DID
complain. They were now told, and he hoped the
promise would be kep-hc saw no false precnces IN
it--that now to have government that would
regard the rights of the States IL was said that tho
States would have their autonomy Tho same
things were promised by Turkey. That government
natural iudres-that Christian commun,ies should
pie Mohammcdan judges. II was promised
that inferior officers should not bc excused
from crimes under plea OF orders lrom their superors
and that II military officer sent into the provinces
| was guilty OF murder he could not shield himself
he said, everything but one. There is one thing they
will not speak about There Is ono thing they will not
promise us. They will not promise not to cheat
hereafter II they would do that could feel pretty
well satisfied
Judge Black said he never expected to see another
election. He cared not to ask how tho people had ex-
pressed their viii AT the polls. He only wanted TO
know what kind oil rascas they had got for Returning
| Boards
At ten minutes past ?. N. the commission went
into secret session, but at took til quar-
| ter to two L. n.
|
The Electoral Commission remained In secret session
from quarter to two I'LL T. ". Alter the dis
cussion had continued three and half hours MIR.
Edmunds submitted "A motion that voting should com.
mence at six O'Clock THIS motion agreed to-
yeas S, nays T. Alter T. NJ propositions were
offered and voted follows:--
| Mr. MOTIONS RESOLUTIONS
| Mr. Morton then submitted the iolIow,ng:-
Resolved That il is not for houses
scnbled for the purpose Of President
and Wee President inquire by evidence whether