The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-02-12
WHAT ARE THEY DOING ?
The Two Houses In Separate
Session To-day.
The House, Under Lead of Mr.
Field, Resolves to Reject the
Florida Decision.
SENATE,

SENATE
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-The Senate
assembled at 10 O'clock, with nine Sen.
ators present. The Chair on Saturday
ruled that no business whatever could
be transacted this morning, and this
morning he rules that it Is not in order
even to take another recess. The Senate
availed itself OF it's only privilege to do
that on Saturday when it took recess
till this morning, The only business in
order is to go into joint session for count
ing the Electoral votes.
HOUSE.
The House met at 10 O'Clock. The reg
ular order was the discussion of the re-
port of the Tribunal, but as there was
no quorum present it was agreed to
commence the debate at 10:30, no 9th or
business being done in the meantime.
The regular two-hour debate COM
menced at a quarter of II o'clock, after
various motions, amendments and SUBJ
stitutes, including long preamble and
resolution by Mr.. Field, that the count
of the vote OF Florida should not pro-
ceed in conformity with the decision of
the Tribunal, but tina. the votes Of the
Tilden Electors should be counted as
the true votes.
Asubstitute was offered by Mr.. Knott
resolving that in order that the Commits
sion may have an opportunity to cor
rect the manifest stinoonsistencies of their
decision and to explain in detail In
what manner they arrived at
such decision, that the decision and
grounds thereof be recommitted to the
Commission, and that the Commission
present in detail the reasons Tor their
decision.
Points of order were made that this
would be in violation OF the Electoral
law, and it is not competent Tor the
House to recommit to the Commission,
which is not committee OF the House.
The former was oVerruled ana the
latter sustained by the Chair. Mr.. Nc
Crary, of Iowa, then rose to open the
two hours debate.
MIR. McCrary argued that the decision
of the Commission Was not to go'behind
The returns, was In strict accordance
with Tue law, and in view OF the law and
the facts the Commission could not de-
eide otherwise than they did.
Mr., Tucker, of Virginia. said the
Board OF Canvassers acted under the
law and not above the. law, and their
action was subject to the revision of the
Courts, and the highest judicial tribunal
of Florida had decided the acts OF the
Hayes Electors all null and void and
that they were mere usurpers.
Mr.. Banks, OF Massachusetts, denied
that the will Of the people could be de.
teated because thoy had voted for an
officer who was ineligible. That had
been decided many times. The office
of Elector was a mere temporary
and ministerial office. Alter an ElectoI
| has cast his vote it is not in the power
of any Court or Commissio to rev
| it. After an officer has affixed his off.
cial signature to result, it has beer
held that he can not withdraw it him.
self even.
MIR. Springer, of Illinois, opposed the
decision because it was carrying out a
fraud, and because the Commission has
excluded evidence which would have
shown the Hayes Electors not elected
II is q decision that there is no power
any where to correct fraud.
Mr.. Frye, Of Maine, and Mr.. Hurd, oil
Ohio, followed. .,,,.....,,..-
Mr.. Cason, OF Indiana, said the Dem
ocrats had no right TO find fault. wher
the Democratic majority of the House
es, s,aUlished the TripunaI, knowing thai
a majority Of the body would be Repuh