Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-02-21
From Washington.
PRESIDENTIAL QUESTION VIRTUALLY SETTLED,

In favor of erecting fire-proof building three
hundred feet square, for national museum, on
the west side Of the Smithsonian Institute The
bill removing the political disabilities of General
James f. johnson Of Virginia. was passed.
In the House, n resolution declaring the Tilden
electors chosen in Florida was adopted, one hun
bred and forty-two TO eighty-a strict party
vote, except that Purman Of Florida voted with
the democrats
THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION.
Ex-senator Carpenter concluded his argument,
and was followed by Judge Trumbul on the
same side, and by Messrs. stoughton and Shella-
barger for the Republicans Both Carpenter and
Trumbu seemed to be over-weighted by feeling
that the case they were pleading was hopeless un-
less they could induce the Commission to rescind
Its action in the Florida case, and open the doors
to an interminable investigation OF the details OF
the state election. The clear and convincing ar
gument OF Mr.. Stoughton, on the other side, tore
away all the sophistry of Mr.. Tilden's counsel,
and left the case so plain and simple that any
preiudced boy Of sixteen ought to be able to de-
eide 1t correctly lie made an admirable point by
quoting Trumbull, the disnterested Senator Of
1872, against Trumbul the paid attorney of 1877
His argument was the masterpiece Of the day, and
in its keen legal analysis of the real situation,
has not been equalled by any Of the speeches on
either side before the Commission.
THURSDAY February 18th
In the House the bill removing the political disa-
bilities of James T. johnson. the rebel General,
was passed
THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
Mr. Evarts closed the case for the Republicans,
and then Judge Campbell spoke for the democrats.
Mr. Evarts contended that the right to cast its
votes rested in the state, and was not grant
from the general government. The whole matter
of selecting the elector determining the mode
and issuing the certificate belonged to the state
1t was the duty of the federal government to count
the votes after they had left the state As in the
Florida case, so here, this body had the bower Of
the two houses to count the votes, the power
granted to those bodies By the constitution, but
not the power OF legislation. Mr. Evarts argued
against the authority OF Congress to interfere in
state affairs, and said our forefathers were so
jealous OF federal power that they would not per-
init the introduction OF federal fingers in the state
elections, and now 1t was thought to thrust the
thickness OF man IONS upon the power oil the
state by an inquiry through the Commission into
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FRIDAY February 10Th.
The Senate spent the day IN discussing the
| racine railroad Dlll.
In the House, the bill to carry into effect the
treaty between the United states and emma WA
so amended as to allow certain American insu
rance companies to go before the court OF claim
to make case against the Chinese indemnity fund
THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION.
The Commission assembled at ten o'clock il
secret session. and Mr.. Hoar submitted the reso
luton: Ordered, that the evidence be not re
ceiyed:" and Mr. Abbott, as n substitute. g." Re
soired, That evidence be received to show tina
30 much of the act Of Louisiana establishing
the returning board for that state il unconstitu
tional and the acts of said returning board ar
void The latter was reiected-veos M.ssrs
Abbott Bayard, Clifford. Field. Hunton, Pawn
and Thurman. seven; nays. Messrs Bradley. Ed
munds. Freliprhuysen. Garfield. uoar. Miller
Morton and Strong, eight
Mr. Abbott offered another substitute: " Re
solred. That evidence will be received to sho,
that the returning hoard of Louisiana. at the tim
of the canyassinp and compiling of the vote O
that state nj the last election in that state, wa
not LEGALLY constituted. under the law establish
ing it. in this. that it was composed of four pei
sons of one nolitcal marty instead of five person
of different partes;' and this was rejected b
the same vote. He then offered another subst
tute: " Resolred That the Commission will r,
ceye testimony ON the subject of the frauds a
legged in the specification of counsel for the oil
iections to certificates and 81" rejected by tn
same vote. fourth substitute was offered b
Mr. Abbott; Resolred. That testimony tendin
tn show that the so-called returning board {
Iouisiana had no Jurisdiction to canvass the vote
for electors for President and Vice President
admissible &" Int il shared the same fate. and :
did fifth from the same quarter. providing ths
> evidence be admitted to show that more than te
thousand votes were rejected without any legt
, proof of intimidation. Mr.. Hunton offered
sixth substitute alleging that the votes Of Lou
lana had never been legally compiled nor cal
vassed, nor pretended to be, but the returnin
board only tabulated the returns as made by III
supervisors. Rejected by the same vote Sc,
enth substitute offered by Mr. Bayard, to pro,
Y the inegbity Of two electors was rejected b
the same vote. Justice Field offered the eight
and last substitute, that evidence is admissib
upon the several matters presented by the obie
i tors. This was also rejected, and the question Q
r the original order submitted by Mr. Hoar can
: nm. namely THAT the evidence offered be II,
. received" Mr.. PAYNE moved to strike out Il
a word " not -; rejected The vote ON the origin
order was then taken, and it was adopted-Yea
Messrs. Bradley, Edmunds, Frelinghuysen, Ga
: field, Hoar, Miller, Morton and strong-eigh
nays, Messrs. Abbott, Bayard, clifford, Fiel'
L Hunton, Payne and Thurman-seven
The final vote having been taken, the injun
ton of secrecy was removed, and counsel an
spectators admitted, and the official proceeding
III A II