Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1877-03-17

ished an opportunity Of hearing OF
trial. The Republic deserves tt
lose its liberties, if it tolerates such
outrages for an hour.
In the case of Florida, the com
mission also refused to hear prooi
that at the time of the election ii
South Carolina anarchy prevailed
destroying the Republican form ol
Government in that State; tha,
troops were retained IRE in v;ols.
doMscf tic COnsti itutl 81, tG ihtoelUub
with q free choice by election, q
that tho lawful vote OF that State
could not be known.
Against these decisions we pro.
test most earnestly, in the name ol
free Republican Government. In
the first place they struck . fatal
blow at the Constitutional powers
of the two Houses to count the elec-
toral vote. This power has been ex-
ercised by both Houses without dis
pute from the foundation of the
Government. That evidence should
be reached in cases Of contested
elections is clear. The principle has
been maintained by the ablest states
men the country has produced. It
was the practice, confined to the
principle in secret session, notably
in the case of Louisiana itself in
1869 and 1873. Such evidently was
the view of both Houses on the
present question. Committees were
sent to Florida, South Carolina and
Louisiana to take testimony and re-
port as to the election in those States.
1t is difficult to see upon what prin-
ciple this view can be based. The
duty of Congress is to count the
vote. This makes the enactment Of
the vote to be count ID. This again
makes the determination of what is
the true vote, and distinguishing
what is false from true. This re-
quires evidence. Forms of law ex-
pressing the fact cannot be made
unless evidence be admitted. In
the second place, this decision nuli6es
Nm article of the Constitution. In
section l, article A. tits provided that.
" But no Senator or Representative,
or person holding an Office of trust
or profit under the United States,
shall be appointed as electcr." II
the States choose electors who are in-
eligible, how can this provision be
made efectual? The State, by its
action, has refused to appeal, mani
fsstly it can then be only enforced
by power. BY their frauds, corrup-
tions and usurpations, by their
bribsries, perjuriss and forgeries,
did the conspirators obtain certificates
of election for the Republican candi-
dates in the Southern States named.
From the day that certificates were
issued to the Hayes electors in Lous-
lana and Florida the country has
been filed with unprecedented OK
element. People have done little
else than engage in discussion as to
the fraudulent conduct of the return
ing board. In this condition of af-
fairs business has been generally
suspended, failures have been fire.
qAent, and prostration seized nearly
every interest in theland. When this
excitement was at its height, Congress
One Of its duties was to
count the electoral votes of the Sta es,
including Florida and Louisiana.
With the view of facilitating the count
and providing for the peaceful per-
formancs of its duty by Congress, q
bill was passed creating On electoral
commission. By that law the com
was to ascertain the true and
lawful vote Of every State. In this
labor it was to exercise IS to the
hearing Of evidence and examination
Of papers, such power as Congress
or either House OF Congress, pos
sessed. In the belief that evidence
would be heard and that the settle
,nsnt Of the disputed question Of
facts would be fairly reached, Con-
gress and the people accepted the
How that con6denes
bas been disappointed, and how .
decision was made. based upon thsrs-
fusal to consider the unfortunate
question Of dispute, Is we'll known
10 the country. When the certificates
from Florida and Louisiana were
opened and submitted to the two
Houses, objections were fled to them,
presented to tho Hayes electors.
Against other grounds of objection
it was urged that certificates had been
fraudulently and corruptly Issued BY
the returning boards and executives
of these States, and is the result Of
q conspiracy between them and the
electors claiming to have been chosen.
Such certificates have been adopted
in violation of the laws of the States,
and some OF the electors named were
ineligible by express provision Of the
G Constitution Of the United States
wher these objections were made for
consideration before the commission,
proof was offered to the commission
- ,,,oto;u The commission bv n