The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-13
rLORlDA'S DISPUTED VOTE.
,ur pEWOCRfTTC OBJECTIONS TO THE
YRIBTNfL'S DECISION.
a warm Debate In the House-An Indiana
Democrat Holding the Democratic Major
If, Kespou.ibic Mr.. Field Declaring that
,nc nccisInn IL Entitled TO no Respect.


,t VI aul Mr. McCrary crop. Iowa. rose to
,ru iNr dis .ussion on the objection TO the
un,- decision in the Florida case. Mr.
Cvmr lncn. Pa raised the point Of order
that there was no quorum prcso mt. and unani-
rl0.s .ons nt was given that tho debate on the
ou,-. III should not begin until half past 10 and
fiat nI business should De transacted until that
tim.
Tile House resumed its session at half past 10.
ana Mr.. Field Dem, n. W for the purpose of
irn.us the matter before the House in duo
frm fired the following order:
. Of Florida shall not proce Il in conformity NTH
l-I.u oft the Electoral Commission but that the
Vote. rom The sae :" f Fi RI ior rcsi
d.nt aui vice President Of the United states
Mr. Halo Rep Me- moved an amendment Us
% seL Tint the counting of the electoral vote from
' state OF FLORIDA shan proceed in conformity with the
Mr.. Knott Dem. KY offered rs a substitute
nm order rcciting the language of the Electoral
at. that the commission might take into view
such petitions. dispositions. and other papers as
shall. by the Constitution and now existing law.
D. inpetent; rcrting also the fact that. In the
Florida case Tho commission had decided and
determined that no evidence would he received
or 'Nu- .lercd which had not been submitted to
iHN Houses in Joint convention by the Pros-
,..l. the : mate: that certificate No. that ~
q Hlyr- Dl,. tors contained mo- evidence what
rwHli' cart lirates Nos. 2 and tho-c ol tho
rnI % clertorsl did contain EVIDENCE lullS aud
spUIH ai'lN showing The fu.t That the hlitDr had
l.4.uluIy objected and appointed ns electors and
Therefore ur lerng that the decision of the
,nru s-lon and the grounds thereof bc re-
iIlni.i ana rc'ommitt"d to the commissiu Ion
WITH Ir request that the same Dee 80 corrected
or explained. and that the commission be-
further requested to furnish in detail the true
r.l-' u- "i It's decision So that the House may
b. heightened rs a. the course 1t ought to pur-
80. Do ti" discharge OF its duties. and that IN
t' mean time the votes OF the Hayes electors
t.A 't counted.
POINT OF ORDER.
Nr Hale made the point OF order TINT under
=. ELECTORAL COMMISSION law II was the lmppr-
at'e duty 81 the House. at the end of the two
'urs debate. to vptc ON the main question,
watch WIS whether tn votes SHOULD he counted
.n uniformity with the decision. and that no.
ing IN the shape of delay. in WHAT yer form
Presented. could now arrest the wheels OF It's
Mr. Wilson tRcp.. Iowa. added to Mr.. Hae's
point Of order that this House could refer no.
thing Ia the commission that would require at
Mr. Wool Dem. \. " declared that any in
tmluon ~ desire on the part of the Demo
cratic side Of the Hous" TO intcrpose any fac
'u~ opposition 90 any decision Of the Electoral
Nnui-~lon was entirely gratuiOus, and un-
wgrrIted by, ANYTHING that had taken place.
Mr. Hain-liis anything been said this morn
inE 90 ~ lirate any change OF that kindp
Nh Wood The scntcmq has Just spoken OF
delay. and has intimated that there il an intcn-
.uI disposition on the part OF the House to
4 iNy % tun. ! can assure The gentleman that
IN 10 l~ no ~l'n intention. while we are ready
~ good faith TO carry out in all respects the
RE ioral Commission law and the result that
may 10" reached in pursuance of II; still. at the
Sam" time, we demand the right Of free express
zion # opinion.
Mr. Knott contested the point Of order. and
Thought there was nothing ia the law which
prevented the House, with the concurrence of
zoo senate, from rcmaniing back To- the EleetO-
ril Comm ssinn for their further CONSIDERATION
.nD decision which it had made in tho Florida
nas' IN order that n might have an opportunity
o. explain the, elarins Inconsistencies which
N-fsf q IA % Ia.
Mr.. Banks (Eop, Massl said that under the
Ir visions II the Electoral at the House was
NNtrupnn the decision Of the commission. 1t
y .ill ~ h", respectful to the commission 10
The speaker overruled tho point o. order
made by Mr.. Hale, but sustained that made by
NJ Wilson. holding thn there was nothing in
ID" Electoral Commission law that authorized "A
recommittau of the question back 10 the COM
mission and also ruling that II was not compe
tent for on" House 10 refer bill or any other
matter to AN out-id commission. The sub-ti-
iu,e offered by Mr.. Knott was. therefore. not in
THE DEBATE OPENED.
Tho House thereupon. nj l1;l5. proceeded 70
n" DISCUSSION Of the objection a. the decision
u' the Electoral Commission. and Mr.. NJ Crary
hop, Ia addressed the House in support 81
UUU decision. He said that the decision OF the
commission "mbra' ed several important lrOpp-
lions, upon the correctness Of which the two
Houses Were 70 decide. that these propositions
IS ''min'ntly sound and iully supported both
r'as 20 ana authority seemed 10 HIM entirely
.r. II said The FIRST point decided was that
i" W' Houses ~ Congress. in the exercise Of
Nr lHiN rs % count "a" vote Tor resident and
'-l'r -Idrnt. could not ~ into an inquiry
i.l" numb n Of votes cast at the polls for the
tors In the several States. In other words
% Mas head that tue decision OF thai question
IS "i Ia the, proper authority in the States.
a.l mat when that authority had canvassed the
rs Jared and adludged the result and
certified IN" election Of tho electors in due form.
= q .- fNr appointment Of electors required hy
't G. Institution. He claimed that this
ia ,ac.orIance with the precedent
t-tfli-hnd by the hin Of 800. which
--'i n,ih Houses Of Congress. and was only
-l IN iWIur" t9Ngree upon the form Of a sin
lrNNsion That bll. he said, created
OBJ roHn.iu", e. VII m was 10 be- referred
aug .ol'7 arising upon the count oi the elector-
ui Nhe u. i.' state nut II was CAREFULLY pro-
'"ih iy Ia" senate and the House bill,
Al g. INJURY should De ma. ~ t. the mum
ti N'l'7 't-t i,r IN" electors AT The polls,
N i" .i- i.shrlHl ~ ~ the statesmen of that
,,, iN"iu'r M'lh ,tr ~ 'iu-Nr nohtrul ~
I. IL" 7,ii,i nav ill' ~ ''i91 b,ll OF ,Isv'
''"'''' j. plFp'i' ana a,Noit"d ny JOhn Mar,
.', "' |H "'"l Jusu y. ol ur United
.'..n.ii a,yy0r mon mis- nii..t,"n A'trr r,r1-
IiIts flr This grand committee. II defined their
.if.~i inn ia these words;
A.f .r-.n. thu. chosen shall form n ioint commit
t' a'i nave power 60 xnnint iuio all disputes rel
M r.' l.n .i irt -idrht anl Ni.t ft.lrhi ol
,trs,..- n. =, --g.s .f-i. 70 ne "-H@ff
H.. it,.