, 1877-02-06
And Has His Version Of the Brfb-
cry Story to Tell.
He Was Offered 100000 to
Give the State to Tilden.
C0rso md Dam Cameron Central Figures
In the Oregon Fraud.
The Former Authorizes an Unlimited
Draft upon His Legions.
TEE BIG ARGUMENTS,
EyARTs AND o'CoHon.


6peeta, Dsuatea 10 TIE 1r1snna.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. 5.-Tllc proceedings
OF tho Electoral Commission attracted moro In
te1cst than either of tho previous sessions. A.
feeling as abroad In tho city TINT the crisis Of tho
Presidential dispute was reached, that the tnnl
settlement hung upon tho dcctslon Of tic qrcs-
tton as to tho admtssblty Of evidence, md that
tho determination Of this question would be
largely Influenced by tho relative force of tho
opposing arguments submitted by the two great
New York lawyers. Never since the Senate
abandoned tho chamber to the usys Of tho
Supreme Court hos tho simple and dgulEcd old
room contained as distinguished MI assembly us
tliat which gathered this morning. Tho Com
mission met at II o'clock, and sat until nearly
U, nil Tho timo being occupied by tho speeches
OF william, N. Eyarts aud Charles O'Conor. Must
Of the audience was no doubt disappointed In
10th thcso efforts, for they wetc
INNo sENBE POPULAR oRATloNs
designed to capttvato q 1argo assembly, but
hard, logical arguments appropriate 10 bo a,l-
drcsscd to q bench OF Judges. Eyarta' style was
severe, technical, uninrasstonc, and deliberate,
He spoke 10 slowly that ho might huyo becl,
supposed to bo thluking oui his argu-
mcnt rs llc went along {l,c used no
notes), lad 1t not been for thu solIdity aud CO.
1tcrenco Of Ills logic. AL his effort WIS given,
It seemed, TO making tho fabric Of Its speech 10
strong md ilrmly woven that 1t couhl not bo
pulled to pieces by 1r's opponent, aud hc 1nads
no attcmpt to c1nbrotder 1t with tlowets Of
rhetoric Stated In tho smallest possible co.u-
pasa,
THE SUBSTANCE or Ills ARGUMENT
was ~ follows: Tho only evidence for tho Com.
mission to consider IL that which 4oes
to tho basis of facs and record on
which tho Governors certificate Is founded,
tito decision of tho State Cauyosscra.
beyond this It cannot 20; for, II this boundary
OF hnal detesntnattve State action bo passed.,
there ts no liuit to tho investigation until Il Ia
asccrtalncd how every 1uan voted. II thu Gov.
crnot's certificate ID forgcry, or II It gcrtlfes
to falschood, tho Commission cau go back Of
It to the fact to bo certified. That fact ID tho
finding OF tho lawful canynssing authority. TIC
ssate'a own record Of tito result OF Its election
IL conclusive. There could exist no
adequate power to 20 beyond It
taas would OF necessity 10 judi
cia1 III Its nature, and 10
plenary judicial powers have t,ccn conferred by
Law upon atly tribunal except those Inferior to
tho Supreme Court.
THE COMMISSION Is NOT COURT,
and bas 10 power 10 adopt methods Of trlal for
determining thu Rights of individuals. A auo
Warrnnto proceeding Involves u trial BY fury.
anu the common law interpo4cs hasrirr TO tho
CoUnataalon assuming 10 20 to sucl, au Issue.
As to tha alleged incliEthillty Of Humphreys,
ono Of the Flordn Electors, that has been look.
cd Into by thu State CanyassIug Board, which
examined him under oath, and found
him to DO qualified; there is
no act Of Congrcss for asecrtalnIne wiothet a,.
Eiector IL qualified or not. Congress canl,ot
entertain questions Of proof. II a disqualified
Elector passes the o6scrvation OF tbs voters
aud the guards Of tho state law, his vots must
stand upelaallcngeable. II tho certificate should
show that tho Electors were Senators or RepEc-
sentattvcs iu Congress, their To,cs could bo r.
lected, because no element Ut extrantous proof
would hs Involved, but the disqualification
would hs matter OF ocular autI personal
knowledge. Tho instituttng OF quo wpr1anto
proceedings In State Court whtlc duly appoInt-
I'd ELECTORS are performing their duties cannot
affect tie legality Ut their action. NO power
can touch, arrest, or reverse thez vote utter it
Il sealed up ind sent forward.
iho bottom Of tho system Of electing Pres.
tdent u that tho whole busIncss shall 10 forward
without delay and tho niilce bu Oiled et the ar,-
pointed time II every step In tho pso:ess can
bc hlnt1eFed BY judicial proceedings, The soy-
erciSntY Of the people will be supersed ID BY q
government OF Judges, and thera will b. no re-
sort but that which the children Of Israel had
to pray for King. |
After citing number OF authorities In tho
rows OF law books on his table, Ar, Eya.ts sat |
down and
CuARLrs o'coxoR,
who had been an attentive liatcurr to hls speech.
chair close beside blsu, arose, Hi !
ha2gard, pallld fucc, ftnged with band Of
white beard and crowned With snowy hair, aud
hts large blua eyes Of ulnost proternatusal brill