The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-20


A UNIT FOR CARRYING OUT IN GOOD
FAITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE ELECTo-
RAJ BILL.-OBITUARY, &C., &C.
From Our Regular Correspondent
A VICTORY FOR THE CONSERVATIVES DEMO
Gratis. r..,..!.
WASHINGTON. February 19.-The con-
servatiye element OF the Democratic party
gained decided victory Saturday night
over the more extreme members of the
party. Democrats of the South are almost
unit for carrying out in good faith the
provisions Of the electoral act, so far as 1t
depends upon the two houses, although the
infusion OF bitter partisanship into the
Electoral Commission practically defeated
the object OF its creation. Western Demo-
the count until the 4th of March. In that
event the Republicans would have revived
their claim that the president OF the Senate
should count the electoral vote. The Senate
would have proceeded without the House
if the latter had refused to Join them,
and the president of the Senate would have
declared Hayes elected. Grant would GER
tainly sustain Hayes, and the Senate would
confirm his appointments. The Democracy
could only declare no one had been chosen
President, and after electing Tilden would
have had to sustain him BY force against the
formidable power Of the Hayes Govern
ment, and that with but forlorn hope OF
success, as they are divided among them
selves. No matter which party would be
the reyoIutionists
THIS WOULD BE REVOLUTION,
and no renesting man can believe that the
businessmen Of the country would sustain
the Democratic party in advocating policy
that would indefinitely postpone n settle
ment of the presidential squabble, and pro-
badly lead to civil war. Commercial peo-
pie desire political tranquility, which to
them is more important than the success of
this OF that candidate. This feeling shows
itself even in the Democratic party; and its
existence there, as given to the world by
Mr.. Hewitt himself, the confidential friend
of Mr.. Tilden, and the nominal head OF the
party, was the real cause Of and necessity
for the passage Of the electoral act. II the
party had continued ~...
UNITED IN COUNSELS AND ONE IN ACTION
they might have succeeded without the in
terrention Of the electoral act and without
war. The Republicans were gradually
giving way before their bold advance, and
BY the 14th Of February would (as the de-
bates on the electoral bill showed) have
practically given up the claim of judicial
power in the president OF the Senate, and
the counting would have taken place in the
usual way and under the light Of the con-
gressional Investigations OF Florida and
Louisiana. Those States would have been
thrown out and Tilden elected by the
House.
The Senate marched in at II o'clock'to-
day, and the Joint session commenced.
Morton came half-hour earlier, looking
CHEEKY and happy. Robson waddled in with
his red face and sat by little Hale, his pro-
bable successor. Old lack, Don Cameron,
and Fentou, took seats far back on the Re-
publican side. The Supreme Court judges,
if present, did not~come to the front, as on
former occasions. Sargent, John Sherman,
and Logan sat together, with Boutwell,,
Spencer, and Frelinghuysen at their backs,
West on the right, and Bruce and Hipper-
Mitchell on the left
HAPPY GROUP OF STATESMEN.
Many seats on the Democratic side were
vacant, their owners standing in the cloak
rooms and lobby. Blaine and Conkling were
not present.
The president OF the Senate caused to be
read the decision Of the Commission on the
Louisiana case, with their reasons therefor,
and called for objections. Gibson, OF Lou
isiana, submitted objections, which were
signed by nearly every Democratic senator
and representative, and included the pre-
ceedings in full OF the Commission in secret
session, the propositions submitted and
severally voted upon, and the whole OF
printed pamphlet Of thirty-seven pages, set
ting forth the points upon which the Demo-
Gratis had proposed to produce proof. To
read all this took the clerk, Adams, in his
usual bungling style, about an hour; but ii
was necessary in order to get
THE WHOLE CASE on Tue RECORD
in the form desired by the Democrats.
Senator Wallace Pennsylvania submitted
paper, signed by himself, Senator John
ston, and others, obieeting on the ground
that the decision is in violation Of the cleo
toral act and the Constitution !; that the
Commission refused to examine in order to
determine who were fairly and legally
elected electors, which was the very object
Of the act; ithat the decision is in entire
disregard OF justice and truth, and endorses
the most palpable frauds. 81
Mr.. Cochrane PENNSYLVANIA submitted
a paper, signed by himself, Senators With
ers and Johnston, and others. It recited
that it was not denied that Tilden received
majority OF votes cast in Louisiana; that
the Returning Board was guilty OF gross
violations OF lazy, &C., and that the action
OF the eight commissioners violated the
letter and spirit Of the electoral law and
OF the Constitution. r. a:f >fl.it ~
Long before these papers were read
through Morton and other Republicans Jet
the hall, and when the president Of theSen-
ate directed the Senate to retire there were
but few to march to the Senate chamber
- Mr.. Wood New York; moved for, q recess
until tomorrow, but the Speaker suggested
that he withdraw it so that prayer might be
offered and the Journal Of Saturday read.