Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-02-20
FDRTY.FOURrH CONGRESS-.
Second Session.
In CONVENTION.


WASHINGTON, February 10.
The galleries are crowded. Precisely at ii
o'clock the Senate was ANNOUNCED. The Senators
entered the hall, members Of the House standing.
The presiding officer then said
The joint meeting OF Congress resumes its SEES,
sion. The objections presented to the certificates
from the State OF Louisiana having been submit
ted to the commission, the two Houses have re-
convened TO receive and consider their decision.
The decision having been read, the presiding
officer asked whether there were any objections
to the decision.
Mr.. Gibson, Ua.) thereupon rose and presented
objections to the decision on the ground that the
comm sson had refused to receive the evidence
which had been offered, and has decided that the
votes mentioned in certificates Nos. and should
be counted for Hayes and Wheeler, such evidence
to the contrary outstanding.
The paper rectes at length the proceedings of
the commission. but the point of 1t is the rejection
of the evidence. 1t is signed by most of the dem
ocrats in both Houses.
The reading of the paper occupied just an hour.
1t was the driest Of legal documents. Converse
ton prevailed on the floor and in the galleries to
ch an extent that the presiding officer had sew
al times to appeal for order and silence
At II 45 the joint convention was again called
to order, and the presiding officer asked whether
there were any further objections to the decision.
Senator Wallace rose and presented objections,
which were read. They are:
First, That the decision is in violation Of the
electoral act in this That by act the commission
is required to decide whether and what votes from
such state are the votes proyided for by the con-
sttution and what persons were duly appointed
electors, yet the commission refused to examine
and ascertain who were duly appointed electors
in and by the state of Louisiana, and what votes
from that state are within the provisions of the
constitution of the United States.
Second, Because the act creating the commits
sion was passed to the end that the commission
would hear and examine evidence, and honestly
decide what electors in any disputed state were
fairly and legally chosen, whereas the commission
refused to hear and consider the evidence offered
to show that electors whose votes the commission
had decided should be counted were not duly cho-
sen, but that they had falsely and fraudulently
acted as such electors, and also refused offers to
show that the pretended certificates of election
were procured by corruption and were wholly
untrue.
The presiding officer having called for other OBJ
jections to the decision, Mr. Cochrane of Perm
syvania presented a protest signed by himself
and several senator's and representatives, for the
following reasons;
First 1t not denied before the commission
that the TiIden electors in Louisiana had received
large majority of the votes cast.
Second, 1t was not denied before the commits
sion that Wells and his associates, styling them
selves returning board, were guilty of gross
fraud, that their certificates given to Hayes cleo
tors were false and fraudulent or that their ac-
ton in canvassng the vote was in violation of
the constitution and laws of the state of Louisi-
ana.
Third, Because the decision is In disregard of
truth, justice and law, and establishes the demon
alizing and ominous doctrine that fraud, forgery,
bribery and perjury, can lawfully be used as a
means to make president of the United States,
against tina well known or easily sscertaned will
of the people and of states. This paper is signed
by Senators Wallace of Pa. Johnston of Va,
bailey of Tenn, Herman of n. Y, Kelley of Ore
gon Salisbury of Del, and other senators and
members.
Fourth, The action Of the members of the com.