Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-02-28
The Commission.
The Sou h a1.O;ina
Case.
A DECISION REACHED.
The Hayes and Wheeler
Votes to be Counted.
The Vote Stands 8 to 7.

WASHINGTON, February u. The commission
met at ten this forenoon.
| MIR Hurd s ated no counsel would appear in be-
half of objections to certificate number one. Mr..
Hurd as objector proceeded to submit reasons
why he thought the commission should reject GER
| ti6cate number one. He would confne himself to
| what he considered new points.
| Mr.. Cochrane stated that Judge Black and Mr..
BLAIR would appear ~ counsel for the directors to
| certificate number one. Tney had been uncer-
lain whether they could attend, but were now
| present.
| Mr.. Cochrane submitted certain proffers of proc
which he proposed to make good il admitted by
| the commission, as follows:
First that there had been failure of registra =
| lion as provided by the state constitution, and
| That through such failure over three thousand
| fraudulent votes for Hayes had been cast.
Second, that in August, 1876, large number of
soldiers were sent into the state under Gen. Ruger
who telegraphed that all was quiet and that no
| more troops were called for then; that notwith
| standing this, on the next day. August l7th, the
president issued proclamation, and a large num-
Der Of additional troops were then sent into the
| state.
Third, that troops we're sent into the state with
out the request of the Legislature, which could
have readily been convened.
Fourth, that troops sent not to quell iusur-
rection and preserve the peace, but to the
voters.
| Fifth, that the presence of the troops embolden.
ed the more desperate of the negroes and that AZ
| Beaufort and Charleston they inaugurated sys-
ten Of riot and violence, in which they were pro-
tccted by the state and officers that the police of
Charleston, composed ma My of desperate neg
roes, employed its time in shooting down molten
| sve white citizens; that the negroes at the polls
were armed, and prevented colored men who
would have voted the democratic ticket from do
| ing So
| Mr.. Bl ir occupied forty-fve minutes leaving
| an hour and quarter to Judge Black.
Mr.. Lawrence and the counsel the other
side, in view of the brevty of time, had conclud-
ed to submit the without argument.
Mr. Bayard said the offers Of proof had not
| been printed, and he moved that they be printed
| for the convenience of the commission. He un-
derstood they could be printed in an hour.
The order was made.
Mr.. Black said that he had no time to consider
, the case. The court knew as much about it as he
did. 1t was his idea that counsel should speak
only to assist the court in coming To a conclusion
and when he could not do that he should take his
seat. With much feeling he said that he felt he
had lost much OF the dignity of au American citi-
zcn and that this great nation had got its foot in
a crack, from which it could not be extricated. If
, prolonged hope could go out to avert this great
calamity, he would gladly lead it. He did not
know how be would feel if called upon to lay
down his life, but if he could with his life redeem
the nation from the infamy with which it was
covered, he ought to give his life as freely as he
would 90 to his bed
Objections had been presented here which to
him appeared inseparable, but it might be that he
in common with millions of others had been
wrought up to a state of feeling that made his
vision less clear, aud things appear different than
they did to camer persons.
He went into an examination of the details in
the South Carolina case, branching off at intervals
into similar strains Of complaint against the &C.
ton of the commission.
Judge Black said he never expected to see an
other election. He cared not to ask how the peo-
Pile had expressed their will a, the polls He only
wanted to know what kind of rascsls they had got
for returning boards.
At eleven o'clock the commission went into Sc
cret session, but at once took recess till quarter
to two in the afternoon.
The commission remained in secret session
from AS to p. NJ.
After discussion had continued three and half
hours, Mr.. Edmunds submitted II motion that the
voting should commence at 6 o'clock.
This motion was agreed to, yeas s, nays Z.
After six o'clock on motion of Mr.. Frelinghuy-
sen, the following was adopted to I:
Resolved, That Theodore X. Barker s. Nc
Gowan. John W. Harrington, John Isaac Ingra-
ham, William Wallace, John B. Erwin, and Rob-
ert Aldrich, the persons named as electors in
certificate No. 2, were not the lawful electors for
the state of South Carolina, and that their votes
are not the votes provided for by the constitution
of the United States and should not be counted.
Mr.. Morton offered the following
Resolved. That &. &. Bowen, j. Wusmith T.
b. johnson. Timothy Harley, w. B. Nash Will
son look ana W. +. myers. tue persons named as
electors 10 certificate No. /, were the lawful cleo
tors for the state Of South Carolina and that their
votes the votes provided for by the consttu-
ton of the United States, and should be counted
for President aad Vice President of the United
States.
This resolution was adopted-yeas 8, nays7.
A report was drawn up to be presented to the
two houses, giving the grounds on which the COM
mission had reached its decision.
Mr.. Morton offered the following:
Resolved. That the thanks of the commission
are due to Commissioner Clifford for his ability,
impsrliaity aud urbsnity with which he has pre-
sided over its deliberations.
This was adopted unanimously.
A resolution was offered by Mr.. Strong, aud
was adopted, authorizing the members of the COM
mission to file the remarks made by them during
the consultations Of the commission, and have
the same published with the proceedings of the
commission.
A resolution removing the injunction of secrecy
was adopted.
On motion of Mr. Garfield. at 6.54 P. NJ, the
commission adj burned till IL A. NJ, Friday
March 3D. unless sooner called together by Its
presiding officer.
SnNnENSEn TEU ECDAs sS