Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1877-02-19

w " ~ $50
q recess until the arrival Of the Senate
at II o'clock, when the joint meeting
Of Congress was resumed. 10 receive the
report OF the Electoral Commission on
the question Of the Louisiana electoral
vote. which report was submitted In
writing and signed BY q majority Of the
commissioners.
THE DECISION
Was then read. II ~recitss that the Com
mission has by a majority Of votes dc.
cided that the Republican votes shall DO
counted. Tho official communication
continues: 1.-THE brief ground Of this
decision is, that 1t appears upon such
evidence as, by the Constitution and law
named in said act Of Congress. is CON-
pstent aud pertinent to the consideration
OF the subject. that the aforementioned
electors have been lawfully appointed
such electors Of President and Vice
President Of the United States for the
term beginning March 4, 1877, Ct the
state Of Louisiana, and that they
voted ~ such at the iims and In such
manner as provided for by the Constitu
ton Of the United States and the law ;
and the commission has by a majority
Of votes decided that 1t Is not competent
under the Constitution and law, s II
existed at the date OF the passage Of said
Act, to go into evidence aliendi the pa
pers opened by the President OF the
Senate in presence Of tho two Houses.
10 prove that other persons than those
regularly certified to by tho Governor
Of the State. ON md according to the de-
termination Of their appointment by the
returning officers for the elections In
said State. prior to the time required
for the performance OF their duties. had
been appointed electors ; or by counter
proof to show that they had not. or that
tho determination Of said returning OF.
ilccrs was not In accordance with tho
truth and fact. The commission, by a
majority Of votes. IL Of the opinion that
II il not within the jurisdiction OF the
two Houses Of Congress In counting the
votes for President and Vice President
to enter upon the trial Of such a qucs.
ton. The commission, by q majority
OF votes. Is Of tho opinion that II IL not
competent to prove that any OF said per.
sons appointed electors rs afosssaid. held
an Office OF trust or profit under the
United States at the time whsn they
we're appointed. or that they were ill.,
eligible under the laws Of tho State. or
any other matter offered to be proved
aiiapdi said certificates and papers. The
commission is also OF the opinion. by n
majority OF votes. that the returning Of
fcers Of election who cavassed the votes
for electors in Louisiana, were q lawful.
ly constituted body by virtue Of Con.
stitutional law, and that the vacancy in
said body did not vitiats its proceedings.
The commission has also decided, and
does hereby decide, by n majority Of
votes, and report as n consequences
Of the foregoing and upon the ground
before stated. that tho paper pur-
puorting to be the certificate Of
the electoral votes OF said State Of Lou.
isiana objected TO by Howe and Others,
marked N. c.. No. 2. by the Commits.
sion. and herewith returned. Is not the
certificate OF votes provided for by the
Constitution Of the United States, and
that they ought not to DO counted as
SUCH" The signatures are Samuel Y.
Miller, W. Strong. Joseph p. Bradley,
George +. Edmunds, o. p. Morton,
Frederick T. Frclinshuyson, James A.
Garfield and George +. Hoar.
OBJECTIONS.
The decision having been read. the
presiding officer asked whether there
were any objections to the decision.
Gibson presented an objection to the
decision on the ground that the Com.
mission had refused 10 receive evidence
which had been offered. and had de-
cided that the votes mentioned in certif-
Gates Nos. l and 3 should be counted
for Hayes and Wheeler. such evidence
to the contrary Notwithstanding. The
paper rsci,ss at great length the pro-
ceedings Of the Commission, but the
point Of IL is the rejection Of evidence.
It ia signed by most Of the Democrats
in both Houses.
The reading Of the paper occupied
Just ono hour. It was the drysst Of
legal documents, full OF repetitions Of
the various forms In which evidence had
been offered to and refused by the Com
mission. No ono after tho hrst fifteen
minutes made the slightest p%retsnss Of
listening to or attempting to understand
IL. The hum Of conversation prevailed
on the floor and in the crowded CALLER
les to such all extent that the presiding
officer several times appealed for order
aud silence. Finally when the reading
was ended an opportunity was given
members who had not yet signed the
paper to step to the Clerks desk and
afix their names. This used up o
time and added to the uproar.
At 1916 the Joint Convention wa
again called to order. and the presiding
officer asked u there were any further
objections to the decision.
Senator Wallace presented objections
which were read. They are : First. that
the decision is in violation Of the Elso.