Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1877-02-08
4 DECISION WHICH DECIDES THE
ELECTION.


By . vote Of eight to ssven-a strict
party vote - decided that u was not
within its province a. q tribunal to con-
alder any evidence in the Florida case.
except the various electoral certificates.
and such o. tended to throw light on
the question Of the eligibility Of Hum
pArsys. the Hayes Eisctor. against
whom objection has been made. The
vote vas - follows: In favor Of the
dscidon = Justices Strong. Miller and
Bradley. Senators Edmunds. Morton
and frsliaghuyssn. and Representatives
GARFIELD and Hoar. all pronounced Re-
publicans against the decision-Jus-
tees Clifford and Field. Senators Thur
nan and Bayard. and Representatives
Payne. Hunton and Abbott. all strong
Democrats.
This decision 10 In many respects the
most important one svsr rendered by
any tribunal In this country. It Is the
pivot upon which the judgment Of the
two Houses Of Congress On the great
Presidential question will turn. Among
the principles and facts established by
Il are these:
1.-The right Of q State to control its
swn election, n guaranteed BY the oon-
stitution and laws. Is too sacred . right
70 Be msddlsd with in the intsrcst ven
Of 70 conspicuous character as Samuel
J. Tilden.
H.-when q state has ones held an
election. and The result Of that election
has been duly certified to BY the proper
officers. Congress has no right to 60 be-
hind the face Of the certificates and
change that result ; II may claim such a
right. as the Democratic House Of Rep
rsssptativss IL now doing. but this
tribunal, with which ID has clothed IL,
putaiivs authority refuses to- recognize
Il, and the claim. therefore. &C far as
the late election Is concerned. amounts
10 nothing.
MI.-In the case Of Florida there are
three returns. all claiming to be anthem
tic. The different certificates only car
Be placed in evidence before the CON-
mission. and that body will decide on
the face Of the papers themselves. with
cut any reference to the charges Of
fraud and corruption in the election.
which 10 the return properly certified to
according to the laws Of Florida and OF
the United States.
N.-Thst return Is the n deposited
with the President Of the Senate by the
Hayes Electors. being the only n Ger.
tiled to by Gov. Stearn. the only per-
son authorized by tho law Of Florida to
issue certificates Of appointment to
Electors.
v.-Ths principles thus laid down
with regard to thu State Of Florida will
b sustained as equally applicable to the
emily ether two contested States. Louis
lana. and Oregon. II the Commission
cannot 60 behind the properly certified
returns from Florida. and hear evidence
In regard to the conduct Of the election.
Il cannot do so in passing judgment on
Louisiana and Oregon. The rule is
clearly and plainly laid down by the
tribunal itself. and il cannot rstracs its
steps without stultifying and rendering
itself ridiculous in the eyes Of the en-
tire world.
vI.-This being the case. tho ques-
ton Of how tho electoral vote OF Louis
lana shall DO counted. Is practically set
tied. before IL comes before the CON-
mission for adjudication. There IL no
doubt in this case a. to the regularity
Of the certificates Of the Hayes electors.
The only ground Of objection urged by
the Democrats to counting the State for
Hayes and Wheeler. is the cha,ge that
the State count was dishonest-and on
this point the tribunal has declared that
Il will neither hear evidence nor pass
judgment.
vu.-Ths Oregon case Ia somewhat
more complicated. but this, too. under
yss,erdsy's ruling. will be decided in ia.
vor Of the Republicans. The decision Is
to the effect that the tribunal has the
right to inquire into tie eligibility
Of electors. This clearly carries with II
the right to decide what is the proper
course to pursue in the event OF the
election by the people Of IN ineligible
candidate. The entire Cronin infamy
will thus be opened up. and the dscis-
ion will DO lie accordance with law and
justice, TO the effect that Cronin has no
claim whatever to the certificate given
him by Grover. and that Watts. having
been legally elected to Oil the vacancy
In the electoral college created by his
own ineligibility on the 7th Of Novem-
Der. the will Of the people Of that State
must stand. and his vote must be count
sd with those Of his colleagues.
vIII.-The grand and all'important
result which will How from this decision
Of the electoral commission. will be the
declaration that Hayes and Wheeler are
President and Vice President OF
the United States for = term Of four
years beginning ON the 9th OF March
nett. And thus the pill which the DEM
In their determination to count
In al all events. forced down the
Of Republicans. proves to have