The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1877-02-08
FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, February 9 Il

eminent there has not been such a
distinguished array of counsel en-
gagged iniqny one cause as that gath
cred in u Supreme Court Room to-
day to argument pro and con
on the Florida contest before the
Grand Presidential Commission, The
venerable Charles O'Conor and Jore
Black sat side by side-the former an
earnest listener and the latter stu,
diously making notes. To the right,
and facing them, sat Lyman Trum-
bull and Matt Carpenter. Not a
point escaped them. On an outer
row of seats, in the rear of the Dem
ocratic counsel, sat Vim. NJ. Evarts-
keen, attentive and anxious, con-
stantly dOtting down the authorities
cited. Next to him, Stoughton, with
his conspicuous stock of white hair,
gravely revolving in his mind the
grcat.problem. Sandwichcd between
Stoughton and Stanley Matthews was
the brazen Chandler-not Zach, but
his tool-who was sent to Florida to
prevent fair count. On row of
seats outside the bar, reserycdusually
for spectators, lounged number of
distinguished men in public and
private life.
In the argument before the Elec-
toral Commission to-day the Repub-
licans, through kasson and McCrary,
developed some argument which is
left them In brief, it is the simple
assertion that whatever may have
been the vote, however fraudulent
may have been the count, however
false the certificate of The Returning
Board, there is no power in Congress
togo behind that certificate, ascertain
the truth and affirm the real appoint
ment of Electors by the people. 1t
was notiGAsbla to-day that neither
Kasson nor McCrary once suggested,
even, that the Hayes Electors had
received a majority of the votes Of
the people of Florida,
The Democratic counsel are conf
dent that they can prove the con-
trary to the satisfaction of the Com
mission. For, while the decision Of
the Florida Supreme Court was linn
tied to the vote for State officers, the
same principle of law was involved
as in the Electoral count Further,
more, although the decision of Cir
cult Court in the quo uaranto case in
favor of the Tilden Electors had been
appealed tothe Supreme Court,which
has not yet passed upon it, the de-
cisin, Of the lower Court must stand
until reye,.c0, and as their decision
is virtually the same as that preyi,
ously rendered by the Supreme
Court, the presumption is strong,
almost to a certainty, that the ,Su-
preme Court will not reverse it. In
the decision of this legal point will
rest very largely the result in the
Florida case; and the Democratic
counsel are very confident of the
strength of their case. Chairman
Thompson of the Florida Committee,
said tonight; ~ am sure we uave
them on the facts: think we have
them on the law and he voiced the
sentiment among the Demo
Gratis.
The next act of the High Commits
sion will be to decide upon the pre-
liminary question whether they will
go behind the certificates. Discussion
on this will begin in the morning
and is liable to last all day. The
prevailing impression is that they
will decide to go behind the cortif-
Gates Miller, Morton, Ferlighuysen,
and Garfield are the only members of
the Commission known to be opposed
to such action
The Democratic counsel met to.
night Mt Colonel Pelton's rooms, and
are exceedingly sanguine of the ulti-
mate success of Tilden's cause. Hoar
and Garfield both congratulated
Tucker on his argument.
Zach Chandler stated to n Repub.
lican friend last night that he had
the Commission all right, and would
be able to prevent decision Of any
of the principal questions before it
prior to the 4th Of March, by delays
and procrastination.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb 4, 1876.
The indications tonight are that
the Electoral Tribunal will, by a vote
all the way from eleven to
four, or nine to six, decide to 60 be-
hind the certificate of the state of
Florida. Not that they will decide
to 60 into the taking IF testimony,
but will 90 to the records olthe State
to ascertain whether the certificates
given TO the Hayes Electors are in
accordance with the actual canvass
of the vote pollod, The Republican
counsel have endeavorcd in their ar