The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-02-21
HOUSE.
Disc ssfon over the Decision Of the
Commission I'm the Florida Case--They
won't stand the Racket and Vote
Against IL.

Against Ii.
The session was resumed at 10 O'Clock a. IN.
Mr.. HcCrary rose to open the discussion
upon the objection to the decision Of the cleo
toral commission when Mr.. Ciymer raised the
point that there was no quorum present. II
was then agreed that the debate SnOuid not De-
gin until half past 40 O'Clock.
At that hour Mr.. Field offered the following:
Ordered that the counting of the electoral
vote from Florida shall not proceed in con-
formity with the decision of the electoral CON-
mission, but that the votes OF Call, YOnge,
Hilton and Bullock be counted as the votes
from the state OF Florida for president and
vice president of the United States
Mr.. Hale offered the following: Ordered
that the counting of the electoral votes from
the state OF Florida shall proceed in conformi-
ty with the decision Of the electoral commits
SION.
Mr. Knett offered as a substitute an order
reciting the language of the electoral act, that
the commission might inquire into such petit
the constitution and now existing law be COM
petent, recIting also the fact that in the
Florida case the commission had decided
and determined that no evidence would be
received or considered which hal not been
submitted to the two houses IL joint cOnven-
tisn by the president OF the tie. That GER
ti1cate No 1, that OF the Hayes electors, con-
tanned no evidence whatever, while certin-
Gates Nos. 2 and 8, OF the Til zen electors, did
contain evidence fully and spe ifically show
ing that the latter had been duly elected and
appointed rs electors and therefore ordering
that the decision of the commission and
grounds thereof be remanded and recon-
mitted to the commission with request that
the same be so corrected or explained, and
that the commission be further requested TO
furnish in detail the true reasons of its decis-
son, so that the house may be enlightened as
TO the course II ought to pursue in the dis
charge of its duties, and that in the meantime
the votes OF the Hayes electors shall be not
counted.
the electoral commission law, il was the i'm
perative duty of the house at the end of two
hOurs' debate to vete on the main question:,
which was whether the votes should be count
ed In conformity with the decision, and that
nothing I'm the shape of delay, in whatever
form presented, could now arrest the wheels
of its decision.
Mr.. Wilson, Of Iowa, added to Mr.. Hales
point Of order that this house could refer
Quire at least concurrent action.
Mr.. Wood, of New York, declared that any
ocratic side OF the house to interpose any fac
titus opposition 10 any decision OF the cleo
toral commission was entirely gratuitOus and
place.
MIR. Hale-Has anything been said this
morning to indicate sny charge of that kind7
Mr.. WUod-rhe gentleman has just spoken
Of the de ay and has intimated that there is
Intentional disposition on the part of the
tleman that there is no such intention. While
we are ready In good faith 10 carry out in all
respects the electoral commission law and the
result that may be reached In the pursuance
of IL, still at the same time we demand the
right OF free expression OF opinion.
Mr.. Knott contested the point OF order and
thought here was nothing in the law which
prevented the house, with the concurrence OF
the senate, from remain ing back TO the electo
raj commission for their further consideration
the decision which IL had made in the Florida
case, In order that II might have an opportu-
nifty TO explain the caring inconsistencies
which existed In that decision.
Mr.. Banks said that under the provisions of
give an Affirmative or negative vote upon the
decision OF the commission. IL would not be
respectful to the commission to remand the
The speaker overruled the point of order
made by Mr.. Hale, but sustained that made by
Mr.. Wilson, holding that there was nothing in
the electoral comm SstOn law that authorized
The recommittal OF a question back to the COM
mission, and also ruling that IT was not COM
matter TO outside commission, and the sub
stitqte offered by Mr.. Knott was therefore not
In the house. y.
The house thereupon proceeded to the dis
cussion of the objection to the decision of the
electoral commission.
Mr.. n'cRARY IN FAVOR OF THE DECISION.
Mr.. McCrary addressed the house in support
OF the report OF the commission He held that
the ruling Of the commission was abundantly
supported by the most cogent reasons. and
that TO have ruled otherwise would have
been 70 assert the jurisdiction to inquire into
appointment Of their electors and to institute
proceedings In the nature of the action
title ey |ra One and d e he try the
appointed as such. The bill of 1900, drafted re-
ported and advocated by John Marshall, after
bod led She views OF that great constitutional
lawyer upon this question. After providiDg
for this grand committee.. 1t defined their fur
sons thus chosen shall form Joint
committee, and shall have the power to
examine Into all disputes relative to the cleo
ton OF president and vice pr sident of the
United States, other than such as might re-
late TO the number Of votes by which the cleo
tors may have been disappointed.p |
II Judgment in an inferior
ferior court In Florida, rendered on the |
18th OF January, In the action Of QUO |
tDGrrdnt0, could annul the vote OF that s. ate |
cast on the 9Th of December n followed that |
similar judgments In any or all the other |
states might be certified to the president Of the
senate, And must govern the count. He want
ed TO baow II BY an ca pod (aco Judgment In |
one cate one party should secure an advan- |
ta8es Why by similar move
sdvsr,sa. m,shf 49, SPenaApg