Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-02-08
TIE FIRST MovE OF THE ELECTORAL
COMMISSION.


cisiye act of the electoral commits
sion that would indicate the course
likely to be pursued hereafter, and
the final result. The Florida case
was referred by the joint convention
ofcongreis to the commission on the
first instant and the questions aris-
ing as to the admissibility of evil
dence have been argued by the
ablest lawyers of the country on
both sides. During the secret SEES
sion yesterday the following pro-
ceedings were had;
On motion Of Justice Miller it was
ordered that no evidence will be received
or considered by the commission which
was not submitted to the JOINT conven-
ton Of the two houses by the President
OF the senate with the different certl6.
Gates, except such as relate to the eligi
bility of Humphreys, one of the electors.
The vote is as follows; Yeas Bradley,
Eimunds, FreliDghuysen, Garfield, Hear,
Miller, Morton and Strong. Nsys-Ab-
bott, Blyard, Clifford, Field, Hunton,
Payne and Thurman.
This is u strict party vote and
has the effect to dispel the beaSti-
full idea of non-partisanship. After
all man is but man, and the differ
ence between the ward politician
and the statesman is not SO great
as we generally suppose. 1t is
unfortunate that the very first de-
cision of so high a tribunal upon
a solemn occasion when our sys-
TEN of government is under such
a terrible strain should he
in accordance with a party vote.
The decision may be right we will
not say it should have been other
wise, but we could have wished
that party lines had been di:regard-
ed, and that both Democrats and
Republicans had voted on each side
together. Then the world would
have said this is an impartial tribu-
nal, uninfuenced by political con.
siderations or motives. When eight
Republicans vote on one side and
seven Democrats on the other, we
conclude at once that the commits
sion is as liable to political bias as
congress or any other body of pub
lie men. We may expect, then, 10
see Florida counted for Hayes upon
grounds quite as plausible as the
exclusion Of evidence. The Loui-
siana case may be presented in a
different shape, but we expect to
see eight Republicans stick together
on one side, all the way through,
and seven Democrats on the other.
The question decided is only as to
the admissability of evidence. 1t
does not decide as a fact that the
votes cast for Hayes are the ones TO
be counted, but it points hal way
and will be so regarded by the ma
jority of people. As indicated by
the dispatches the Republicans are
jubilant. Still this does not settle
everything. The Republicans must
sweep the board Of everything to
win. Some Of the decisions made
in the Florida and Louisiana
cases may have to be taken as pre-
cedentS when the Oregon case is
reached. The decision made yes
terday leaves three sets Of papers
before the commission, namely;
the certificate of the Hayes electors,
that Of the Tilden electors, and q
paper containing the record of the
Supreme Court Of Florida on quo.
warranto and subsequent action 0.
the legislature of the State. The
mist that can be hoped for under
the present aspect Of things il
that the election will eventually b.
thrown into the house. If Watts
of Oregon, IS found to have beer
ineligible at the time Of his cleo
ton, and Cronin'S y1te is rejected
the election Of President would b
thrown into the house and Tildel
would be elected, while Whsele
would doubtless be elected by th
senate. The alleged ineligibl
Hayes elector from Florida now be
gins to figure. 1t is asserted that b
was at the time Of the election
United States shipping clerk. II
claims to have resigned in October
But if the eight Republicans con
slider themselves bound, Ike Wells
to save the nation by counting i
Hayes, we may expect partiSa
rulings and maneuvers until tn
end worthy of a political conyen
ton. The country will have a LEI