Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-03-03

officers IN 10 whom had been chosen electors.
The action OF the State officers concerns the
State, and not Congress.
Mr. Bayard (Dem.), OF Delaware, who served
on the commission, mourned tho failure of his
Efforts In behalf OF justice, for II seemed to him
not only did this decision Of the eight members
OF tho commission level in tho dust all the on
sential safeguards thrown around the election
OF Chief Magistrate but II announced to the
people OF this land that truth and justice, hon.
es'y aud morality were no longer tho central
ba Il Of their political power.
alr Wallace dem. J, of Pennsylvania said
The senator from Ohio (Mr. Shcrman) says
that 10 lawyer asserted the right To go behind
the returns, hut the record shows that he HIM
sell said that this bill gave that right when he
resisted 10 passage, and two Of the commission,
MeNsra, Morton and Garfield, in the debate
imposed the bill because II gave that right.
The rejection Of the proof Of fraud by the
commission admitted its truth.
Mr.. Sargent QIep.), of California, argued
that the decision Of the commission only sus-
tanned the right of the State In selecting its
electors.
Mr.. Withcs (Dem.) of Virginia, said this
decision demonstrated the fact that the men,
bcrs Of the highest tribunal in the land could
not rise above party. The decision that Con-
gress could not inquire into fraud in the cleo
tural vote Of the state was asserting n doctrine
OF state sovereignty mover advocated by its
Widest nlheronS.
Mr.. Kernan's substitute was thon voted down
by strict party vote, anc Mr. Shcrman's rcso-
luton was agreed TO.
The Senate having concluded its action on
the vote OF Louisiana, the secretary was M
strnctcd to inform the House of the Senate 4
readiness to go on with the count.
House.
Mr. Whitthorne Dem }, OF Tennessee, offer
cd rs an independent section TO the Naval APP
priati0u bill the amendment authorizing the
appointment OF commission to decide and
report upon the future naval policy Of the
United States, said commission to consist OF
the admiral of the navy. the general of tho
army, two naval officers to be designated by
tho President two senators and three MEM
befs of the House. Adopted, with an amend
mont offered by Mr. Beeho (Dem.), of New
York, providing that all the expenses incurred
by the commission shall be horne by the men,
bers thereof.
Mr.. Gibson DEM, of Louisiana offered an
order that the Hayes electoral votes for the
State of Louisiana be not counted.
Mr.. Hurlbut 0iep.), of Illinois, moved to
amei.d by striking ont the word mot. y
Mr.. Now ,Dcm.). of Indiana, opened the dis
cussion. and advised that the House submit to
the finding of the commission.
Mr.. Seelye Cnd.). Of Massachusetts,, said he
found it quite impossible to say which of the
two sets Of electors coming up from Louisiana
voiced the true will Of the people of that state
II would have been hard 20 find wiser and more
candid men than those who had pronounced the
decision of the Electoral commission.
Mr.. Joyce (Rep,), of Vermont, supported the
decision of the Electoral commission and asked
whether anybody supposed that. if the decision
had been the other way, the objections would
have been heard from the Democratic party.
Mr.. Mcmahon (Dem.1. of Ohio said he had
been to Louisiana and could say that Samuel
j. 1ilden had carried Louisiana as fairly and
honestly Ms HAYES had carried Ohio.
Mr. Rice Cbom.l, of Ohio protested against
the wrong and violence embodied in the de-
cision, and argued that the whole subject
should he referred lack TO the commission BY
tins decision government of order was to be
supplanted by government of fraud and vio-
lcnce and he feared that il was but the begin
ming of the end OF the Republican institutions
of the country.
Mr.. Foster (Rcp), of Ohio, spoke of the tuty
OF both parties to abide by the decision. and
said this is not time for mere party exnlta-
ton. He said that he lived in Coy. Hayes dis
trict. and that the people of all sections of the
country may confidently expect from him not
oulv fair but generous consideration. He
added | say that his highest ambition will be
to administer the government SO periodically
and wisely AZ to wipe away every necessity or
excuse for the formation of parties ON q
tional basis and all traces of party color lines
that thereafter shall hear no more of solid
South or united North. The flag shall float
over States. not provincos--over frcemen, not
subjects. When Gov. Hayes appealed to the
people of the South i'll his letter of acceptance
he addressed them as my countrymen = and
why not his countrynen? Are not the South
crn States the equal of those in the north, east
or west, and is not the South an integral part
of the nation? 1t has been said. sneeringly,
and FOR the purpose of stirring the wild pas
sions OF the human heart TO bad actions that
the South under President Hayes must submit
to an unconditional surrender to the Republican
party. No, sir; no such demand will be made.
All that will be expected is the patriotic coop
Grafton Of Southern patriots in the great work
of restoration through the Union, the Constitu-
tion, and the enforcement of the laws In this
great work the representative men of the South
have already distinguished themselves for
patriotism and craftsmanship during the pen
dency of the present crisis in our history.
Messrs. Grape Ckep.) Mass, Waterman
(Dcm.), Ky, Cox (hem.). N. y. Doniord
IEor.), Ohio Ellis Dem), La. Kelly tRep.).
Pa. Wood (Deln.), n. Y, and others took part
IN the debate When the debate closed the
House proceeded TO vote on the order submit
ted by Mr.. Gibson that the Hayes electors be
not counted (N!r. Hurlbut having withdrawn
his ameudmcnt), and it was agreed to, yeas,
l72 nays, Ga party vote, except that Messrs.
Seelve and Pierce of Massachusetts voted with
the Democrats
THE JOINT CONVENTION.
The Electoral convention having given its
decision relating to the Louisiana matter, the
joint convention of the Senate and House met.
The presiding officer said "The joint meeting
of Congress resumes its session. The objec
tions presented to the certificates from the
State of Louisiana having been submitted to
the commission, the two houses have recon-
yened to receive and consider the decision of
that tribunal i'll writing by II majority of the
agreeing thereto. 1t will now
bl t.ry of Ina ia
decision was then read as follows: The Electoral
mentioned in said act having re-
,eived certain certificates and papers pnrport-
ing to be certificates and papers accompanying
the same OF the electoral vote from the State of
Louisiana and the objections thereto submitted
to it under said act, now report that it has duly
the same. pcrsuant to said act, and
has by majority of votes decided and does
hereby decide, that the votes of William ?.
Kellogg, ]. Henry Blrch, Peter Joseph, l.. A.
sheldon. Morris Marks. Aaron B. Levisee,
Orlando II. Brewster and Oscar Jeffrion, named
II the certificate of William p. Kellogg, gov
.rnor of said State which votes are certified by
;aid persons as appears by the certificates sub
nittcd to the commission as aforesaid, and
marked Nos. l. and by said commission and
herewith returned. are the votes provided for
~ the Constitution of the United States and
herein certified. namely: Eight votes for
Rutherford j.. Hayes, of Ohio. for President
nd eight votes for william a. Wheeler of New
York, for Vice-President. 4
The commission has, by II majority of votes,
lecded, and does hereby decide and report,
hat the eight persons first before named were
!ulv appointed electors il and by the said State
If Louisiana.
The brief grounds of this decision is that it
appears upon such evidence AZ by the Coustltu-
ion and the law named in said act of Congress
: competent and pertinent to the consideration
# the subject, that the before mentioned cleo
ors appear to heye been lawfully appointed
uch electors of President and Vice-President
# the United States, for the term beginning
Iarch 4. 1877, of the State of Louisiana, and
hat they voted as such at the time, and in the
manner provided for by the Constitution OF
he United States and lie law.
And the commission has, by Il majority of
'otes, decided that it is not competent, under
he Constitution and the law as il existed at [
he date of the passage of the said act, to go
nto evidence diiunde Of the papers opened by {
he president of the Senate in the presence of
ne two houses to prove that other persons
han those regularly certified to by the govern {
+ of the State on and according to the deter
nnntion of their appointment by the returning
floors for elections in said State prior 70 tbn Y