Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-03-07
the offers TO prove that South c.roin. did no.

the Offers to prove that South Carolina did NOT
have . republican form Of government and to
show that the presence OF troops tended to pre-
vent lai and far election. were not competent
should be counted. Mr.. Field offered q aubsti.
tute, in substance. that the presence Of United
States troops and United States Marshals did de-
prive the people OF the right Of suffrage and that
therefore the Republican Electoral vote should
to sand Mr.; Morton's resolution. adopted-s to
z: MI Frellnghuysen offered q resolution de-
claring that the prisons named in the Dem.
cratic certlncate were not the lawful Elec-
tors and their votes should not be counted
This was adopted unanimously. Mr. Morton
offered resolution declaring that the persons
named In the Republican certificate were the
iawfnl Electors OF the State Of South Carolina,
prevailed--S to 2. Mr. Morton offered resolution
conveying the thanks of the Commission TO Com
missioner Clifford for the ability, imp.rliaty aud
nrbanity with which he bad presided over its de-
Hberations. This was adopted unanimously. A
report was drawn up to be presented to
the two houses, giving the grounds OF its
decision as follows. That il appears upon
such evidence ~, by the Constitution and
law creating this Commission, is competent and
pertinent 10 the consideration of the subject
that the Republican Electors appear to have been
lawfully appointed such Electors of President
and VICE President OF the United States for the
term beginning March A. 1877, OF the State of
South Carolina, and that they voted such at the
time and in the manner provided by the Consti-
tuition OF the United States and the law and the
Commission has, by majority Of votes, decided
that IL Is not competent, under the Con. titution
and law, TO go into evidence dtiuHde papers opened
by the President of the Senate In the presence of
the two houses 10 prove that other persons than
those regularly certified to by the Governor Of the
State on and according to the determination of
the appoin ment by the returning officers for the
elections in said State prior TO the time re-
ouired for the performance OF their duties had
been appointed Electors, or by counterproof TO
show that they had not, or that the determination
OF said returning officers was not in accordance
with the truth and fact, the Comm ssion by ma
jority 81 votes being of opinion that it is not
within the jurisdiction of the two houses Of Con-
gress assembled to count the votes for President
and Vice President to enter upon the trial OF such
question The report also sets forth the fact that
the votes OF the Democratic Electors of South
Carolina were rejected by the unanimous vote OF
the Commits sion.
At 10 10 on the 2Sth ult., the Senate and
House met in Joint Convention to proceed with
the count The decision OF the Commission In
the South Carolina case was read. Two SEES of
objections to counting the vote were presented,
one by Mr.. Phillips, OF Missouri and one by Mr..
Southland, OF Ohio. The Senate withdrew that
the two houses might separately consider them.
The Senate promptly overrued the objections,
and the House; after an exciting debate, and an
At $50 p. m. the Senate joined the House, and the
action OF each house having been read the Pre-
siding Officer announced that, the two houses not
concurring, the vote of South Carolina would be
counted for Hayes and Wheeler, and 1t was so
counted and announced The votes OF Tennessee
and Texas were then announced for Tilden and
Hendricks without objection and without full
reading OF the certificates. The certificate from
Vermont having been read, Mr.. Poppleton rose TO
present objections to 1t, but first asked the Pre-
siding Officer whether any other certificate had
been received from Vermont than that which had
been read. The Presiding Officer replied in the
negative. Mr.. Hewitt stated that he held in his
hand a package purporting to contain the Elect
oral votes Of Vermont, which package had been
delivered to him by express about the middle OF
December, and that with it came a letter stating
that similar package had been forwarded to the
President of the Senate by mali On learning
been received By the nSs'ss oeef
he had rendered to him this package (holdng it
up), the seals OF which were still unbroken, and
the Presiding Officer declined to receive them
he now tentered the package to the Presiding
Vee5 IF as pmpraE to eGnan the Electoral lee
received but one certificate from Vermont. The
Chair also stated that the law prohibits, him from
Iece,ving any after the first Thursday in February
HIS duty was TO receive open, and have read that
had been received on that day. Mr.. Springer Of
fercd TO submit a resolution which the Chair de-
chned to entertain unless offered an objection
10 the certifcate from Vermont. Finally objec-
tons were offered to the count of the vote Of
Henry n. Solace, one Of the Electors, on the
ground that he was Postmaster when elected, and
that the law OF Vermont did not aut horize an APP
pointment by the College of Elcctor. to fill the
vacancy caused by the absence of an Elector At
tins point Mr.. Springer demanded that the
be read and that the case be remanded to the
Electoral Commission. The Chair stated that he
had not received the alleged duplicate return as
provided by law, and ignored the demand and said
that the Senate would retire in order that the two
houses might separately consider the objections.
AS the Senators V ere Withdrawing, Mr.. Springer
called out that he now made point Of order that
there being duplicate returns he had now gone
to the Electoral Commission, and could not be
considered by the two houses. Noattenton, how
ever, was paid To il, to the proposition made
Inv Mr. hat
House proceed to elect a President the Speaker
declaring, under the terms OF the compromise
agreement, that the House should take recess
until ten O'Clock on the morning Of the ist
The Senate, on the LIST, overruled the
objections filed to the count OF Elector Soace
OF Vermont The House, after debate lasting
twelve hours. sustained them. The two houses
came together at eleven p, M, and the action of
each house on the objections having been read
the Presdn ny Officer announced that The two
houses not eoncurring otherwise, the Electoral
vote of Vermont would be counted, and ii was an
nounced as counted for Hayes and Wheeler. The
ceruncate OF Virginia was read aud an
nounced for Tilden and Hendricks, as
was also the certificate and vote Of
West Virginia Then came Wisconsin.
the last State Mr.. Lynde presented objections to
counting the vote OF d. ". Downs, one OF the
Electors, ON he ground that he held the Office Of
Pension Surgeon, prior to and on Nov Z, an Office
Of honor and profit aud that he was in conse-
quence Ineligible 10 act Eector. At II rs the
Heualc ittIeu that taCR mouse might separate
~ consider the objections. At 1880 the
serate overrued the objection without de-
bate and directed the Clerk to notify the House
of Representatives. In the House. Nr. Lynde
moved that the vote Of Downs be not counted A
substitute offered that the House proceed 10
ell CT n Fgesia eut The substitute was suisse
quently withdrawn, and the House, at $40 a. m
decided not to count Wisconsin. At 4O4
on the morning OF the I'd. the two houses met in
Joint Convention, the Presiding Officer announced
the &C ion Of each house, and directed the vote of
Wisconsin and w. tpCl nd
counted for Hayes and Wheeler Al 4:l5a m,
thu Alrs- Prs ileAt Of The Sauate decLarad ul-ns