The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-02-22
HIGH FRAUD COMMISSION.
The Returning Boards OutdOne,
LOUISIANA RETURNED FOR HAYES
AND WHEELER.
A STRICT PARTY VOTE.
Supreme Court a Political Machine,


large crowd in front of the Supreme Court
doors, the number gradually increasing
to more than 500.
The following are theresolutions acted
upon by the Commission in their secret
session, and afterward reported to the
counsel:
Mr.. Hoar submitted the following: Or
dered that evidence be not received.
Mr.. Abbott offered the following as
substitutes
ReSolued, That evidence be received to
show how much of the act of Louisiana
establishing Returning Board for that
State is unconstitutional, and the acts Of
said Returning Board are void.
This was rejected by the following
vote:
Yeas-Abbott, Bayard, Clifford, Field,
Hunton, Payne and Thurman. Nays
Bradley, Edmunds, Frelinghuysen;
Garfield, Hoar, Miller, Morton and Strong
s.
Mr.. Abbott offered another substitute
as follows:
ReSoIred That evidence will be receiv-
ed to show that the Returning Board Of
Louisiana at the time Of Canvassing and
compiling the vote of that State at the
last election in that State, was not legally
constituted under the law establishing it,
in this that it was composed of four per-
sons of one political party instead Of five
persons Of different parties.
Rejected by the same vote.
Mr.. Abbott then offered another sub
stitute
Resolved, That the Commission will re-
ceive testimony on the subject Of frauds
alleged in the specification of counsel for
the objectors to certificates l and 8. Re-
jeCted by the same vote.
Mr.. A bbott then offered fourth SUBJ
stitute
ReSolued, That testimony tending to
show that the so-called Returning Board
of Louisiana had no jurisdiction to can
vass the vote for electors for President
and Vice President is admissible. Re-
iected by the same vote.
Mr.. Abbott offered a fifth substitute,
which was rejected by the same vote,
which was as follows:
ReSoIUed That evidence is admissible
that statements and atfidavits, purporting
to have been made and forwarded to said
Returning Board in pursuance of the
provisions of section 26 of the election
law of 1872, alleging riot, tumult, intimi-
dation and violence at or near certain
polls and in certain parishes were false
and fabricated, and forged by certain
disreputable persons under the direction
and knowledge of said Returning Board.
That said board knowing said statements
and affidavits were made in the manner
or form, or within the time required by
law, that they did knowingly, wilfully
and fra udulently fail and refuse to can
vass or compile more than 10000 votes
cast, as is shown by the commissioners of
election.
Mr.. Hunton offered sixth substitute
as follows
ResolUed, That evidence be received to
prove that the votes cast and given at
said election on the 9TH of November last
as shown by the return made by the
commissioners of election for said polls
and voting places in said State, have
never been compiled nor canvassed and
that said Returning Board never even
pretended to compile or canvass the re-
returns by said commissioners of election
but that said Returning Board only pre-
tended to canvass the returns made by the
state supervisors of registration. Reject
ed by the same vote.
A seventh substitute was offered by
Mr. Bayard as follows:
ReS0Lred, That no person holding an Of
fee of trust or profit under the United
States is eligible to be an eleCtor, and that
this commission will receive evidence
tending to prove said ineligibility as of
fered by counsel for the directors to Cer-
tifcates No. and 8.
Rejected by the same vote
Justice Field offered the eighth and last
substitute as follows
ResoIUed That in the opinion of this
Commission evidence is admissible upon
several matters which the counsel for the
obiectors to Nos. l and 8 offered to
prove.
This was also rejected by the same vote
and the question on the original order
submitted by Mr.. Hoar came up, viz:
That evidence offered be not received.
Mr. Payne moved to strike out the
word mot" Rejected by the same vote.
The vote on the original order was then
taken and it was adopted by the follow
ing vote: =.
Yeas-Bradley, Edmunds, Frelinghuy-
sen, Garfield, Hoar, Miller, Morton and
Strong-8.
Nays-Abbott, Bayard, Clifford, Field,
Hunton, Payne and Thurman-7.
After a conclusion had been reached
by the Commission counsel were admit
ted, and the above resolutions were read
by the Secretary.
Immediately after the doors were clos
ed Senator Morton offered the following
resolution:
ReSolUed, That the persons named as
electors in certificate No. l were the law
full electors of the State of Louisiana, and
that their votes are the votes provided
bv the constitution of the United States,
and should be counted for President and
Vice President.
This resolution was adopted by a vote
of eight to seven, as follows:
Yeas-Bradley, Edmunds, Frelinghuy--
sen, Garfield, Hoar, Miller, Morton and
Strong-8. ~,
Nays-Abbott, Bayard, Clifford, Field,
Hunton, Payne and Thurman.
The Commission remained in session
until nine O'Clock, when adjournment to
four p. m. tomorrow was ordered Wnlle
the Commission were in secret session
remarks were made by Messrs. Morton,
Thurman, Garfield, Bayard, Edmunds,
Hunton, Hoar and Bradley, the last nam
ed closing the discussion.