Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1877-02-22
LOUISIANA, TOOL
Stolen by the Radicals, StO7!
The lllHmberGl VillainiGS Of the over.
turning Board Sustained!
WASHINGTON. Feb. I6. 1877.

Louisiana Ter Rutherford Is. Hayes.
The decision will stand in history
as q monument of shame to the
Republican party. 1t is even
more fragrant in its righteousness
than the record on the Florida case.
1t was vOuchsated then to allow
the Democratic counsel to prove
the ineligiblity Of one of the
Electors. To day, by vote OF
leigh: to seven, with party lines
closely drown, even this poor
apology of right was denied
The reason is apparent. The
case was weak in Florida, and
the ineligihility was a matter of
grave doubt. There was no doubt
in the Louisiana case, and hence
the Tribunal refuses the Demo
Gratis the opportunity to prove
that four Electors, at least, were
debarred from performing their
duty under the Magma Charta of
American liberty.
The Tribunal met promptly at
100 clock, and for six mortal
hours eight men went through
the hollow mockery of coDsulta.
ton. The world was barred
without the doors. None will
ever know, except what filter
through the individual members,
what record Of shame was made
within. At halt past 2 O clock a
recess was taken. At 5:l5 O.
clock the public were invited to
hear tue verdict. The curtain
was rung down not a whit toe
sooh. No evidence was to be al
lowed, and the Democratic case
was lost. Again the massive doors
shut In the foresworn jurors, and
at Z O clock, by the partisan vote
Of eight to seven, Louisiana, with
its upheaval Of wickedness, was
recorded for Hayes.
The denunciations heaped upon
Justice Bradley will tend very
materially to destroy bis useful.
ness on the Bench hereafter.
There is unanimity in the senti,
nent, that the Tribunal is a ma
tional shame. 1t has violated
every principle of decency. The
liveliest passage at arms in the
ICommission occurred after the sew.
eral votes on the exclusion of ev.
idence had leen taken, ard the
Comm; ssion had gone into secret
session again to pass finally on
the vote. Morton had moved
that the vote Of Louisiana be
counted for Hayes. Hunton NOV.
to amend by inserting the word
mot" and Payne got the floor.
He had been aching to free his
mind all day, had chafed under
the gag law Of the majority, and
was thoroughly angry at the final
decision of the Commission. His
first words were not altogether
amicable, ard Morton undertook
to get him ru'ed off the floor.
Clifford ruled that Payne was en-
titled to the floor. Then be let
loose the walls of his wrath with
Il flush on his pale face, and his
slight form aishtened to its full
height. He told Morton and the
infamous eight TO their teeth that
their gag could work no longer ;
that partisapship had done its
worst, and now he proposed to
have his say. Thereupon be pro-
ceeded TO declare that the decis-
ion of the Commission was an
outrage on justice, and that while
the decision might possibly b..
acquiesced in, it would never sat
| isfy the people and would return
to plague the inventors. Then,
turning full toward Brady, who
sat covering across the table,
Payne went on in reproachful
voice to say that neither he
(Payne) nor the country expected
anything but partisanship from the
rest but that from Bradley he
had expected something else and
the country had expected some.
thing else. Bradley pleaded that
Payne ought not to hold him
more responsible than the other
seven, but Payne told him be
knew the responsibility when he
accepted the position, and init
mvted that be had proved recreant
to his great trust.
Bradley, the modern Warwick,
rose to close the debate. A strong
effort was made to get more time,
other Democratic members of the
Commission desiring to speak, tut
the prejudged Eight refused to
change the Gag Law made yester.
day to close the debate at 4 o'clock
to day. There was a look of as
constituent upon the faces of the
Democratic members of the Com,
mission as Bradley rose with a roll