The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-02-19
The Count to Proceed
To-day.
Democrats will Make no
FactiOus Opposition.


VOt6S IOr ETeSluept duu v iCc L Tetiueut.
The House Postpones Actiou till Monday,
Mr.. Gorham, Secretary of the Senate, arrived
in the ball of Representatives during the read
ing of the journal, but was not recognized by
the Speaker.
AT the end of the reading the Speaker laid
before the House communication from JUS
tice Nathan Clifford, President of the Electoral
Commission, informing the House that the
Commission had arrived at decision OF the
Louisiana case, and had transmitted the de-
cision to the President of the Senate, to be
opened and read in the presence of the two
houses.
MI. Lamar offered resolution directing the
Clerk of the House to inform the Senate that
it would be ready to receive that body at one
o'clock on Monday next, for the purpose of
proceeding with the counting of the electoral
vote.
Mr. Kasson-I rise to point of order. There
is a message from the Senate.
The Speaker-The chair is aware of that fact
and does not desire to interrupt the message.
The chair, on the contrary, has submitted to the
House the fact as communicated from the
President of the Commission.
Mr.. Kasson-Does the chair. permit me to
make my point of order. Shouts of No, on
the Democratic side L am addressing the
chair, the message from the Senate pertains to
the question before the House.
Mr.. Luttrell-How does the gentleman know
that?
The speaker-The chair overrules the point
of order
Before the announcement of the vote, the
Secretary of the Senate was recognized by the
Speaker and communicated the message that
the Senate was now ready to meet the House
and proceed with the counting of the electoral
vote.
The resolution was adopted yeas 100, nays
Ill.
Mr.. Lamar moved that the House take re
cess till Monday morning at 10 O'Clock
NJ IrnI Inox To n1yao nrf frov,,
the South Carolina investigating committee, but
objection was made, and Mr.. Lamars motion
was agreed to-yeas 149, nays 107.
A Democratic caucus was announced for 7.30
this evening amid cries of NOW, now," from
many Democrats, but the suggestion was not
adopted.
Tie Democrats Conclude to Abide the
Result by a Vote Of 60 - 40.
The Democratic Senators held caucus this
evening concerning the political situation, but
took no action, except to agree to meet with
the House Democratic caucus tonight. The
latter met at half past seven, Representative
Clymer of Pennsylvania presiding.
A resolution was offered proposing to aban-
don the commission, but this received only 10
votes. Mr.. Cochrane, of Pennsylvania, offered
a preamble and resolution substantially as
follows:
Whereas, the electoral commission was Gre
ated in good faith, with view to the examina-
tiUu VI 6Vlu6uC6 duu dill 4ucStiOuS WuiCu pcItdlu
to the disputed votes of Florida, Louisiana aud
Oregon; and
Whereas, said commission, in disregard of
their oaths, fraudulently refused to obey the
law and the will of the people by defeating
such examination; therefore
ReS0lved, That it is the duty of the Demo-
cratic party, and all American citizens, to de-
feat the fraudulent acts of said commission by
all means known to the constitution and laws,
to the end that all possible delays may be inter-
posed by dilatory motions and objections in
terposed to the vote of every State yet to be
counted, with the view of multiplying issues
and thereby defeating the Inauguration of a
usurper.
Mr.. Reagan, of Texae, offered the follow
ing resolution as substitute for the above,
namely:
Resolved, That the count of the electoral vote
shall proceed without dilatory opposition, to
the orderly execution of the act of Congress
creating the electoral commission, whose decis-
ion shall be read and acted upon in accordance
with the provisions of said law.
long and animated debate ensued. On
one side it was commended that the conception
of a tribunal to adjust the controverted ques-
tons was a sublime act of statesm anship,
freighted with the hopes and wishes of the ma
ton, but the result was disappointment mixed
with grief and misfortune. 1t would. however,
be injurious to the Democratic party, who
strongly supported the electoral bill, if they
did not now abide the result in good faith. On
the other side it was argued to be better to
have an iuterregnum, and for the presiding
officer of the Senate to act as President until
there could be a new election, rather than SUBJ
nit to fraud which should be defeated by all
means known to the Constitution and rules of
the House.
Among tn SO who advocated Cochrane' g
proposition were Messrs. Thompson of Massa-
Lynde of Wisconsin, and among those who op-
posed it were Messrs Brown of Kentucky,
Reagan of Texas, Singleton of Mississippi,
Hill of Georgia and Senators Bayard and Kerr
pan.
Mr.. Bright of Tennessee offered the follow
ing amendment to Mr.. Reagan's resolution,
namely:
But this resolution is accompanied by the
solemn and earnest protest of the Democratic
party against the gross and shameless violation
of law, justice and truth, contained in the de-
cisons OF the majority, who signed the same
in the cases of Florida ana Louisiana.
The resolution of Reagan, as amended by
Bright, the whole being substitute for Coch-
ranes' proposition, was adopted by vote of SO
to 49,
Mr.. Field of New York offered a resolution
for the appointment of a committee of five to
inquire whether it be expedient to withhold
the appropriation for the support of the army,
Mr.. Willis of New York moved to lay the
resolution on the table, saying that to with
hold such supplies would be revolutionary.
AhO OhOoo WouiA pO W dldiuu tuO COuu0iy anu
therefore he should oppose any such legislation
to the bitter end.
Mr.. Field withdrew the resolution.
Messrs. Field and Tucker of Pennsylvania
suggested that there be an adjourned meeting.
This was objected to and an adjournment then
took place.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 49, - The Democratic
Congressman report tonight that no factious
opposition will be made to the counting of the
electoral vote tomorrow, although some of
their number are strongly inclined in that d.
rection.
Pablo Opinion.
New YORK, Feb. ia reporter Of the
Herald who visited many stores and business
men last evening, after the reception of the
Bulletin despatch of the Commissions decis-
ion in the Louisiana case, states that all ex-
pressed feelings of relief that the case was de-
cided, both Democrats (although condemning
the decison) and Republicans who commended
it.
The Times considers the decision in the Lou
isiana case as virtually settling the Presidential
question in favor of Governor Hayes.
The Tribune says: At last the end is at
sight; that it may take Mr. Tilden and his par
tisans some days to find out they they are dead,
but the remains must soon be buried out of
sight. The country will accept the Louisiana
verdict and the Oregon disclosures as the end
of the controversy.
The Herald says: Certain it is that Mr.. Til
T.
Hayes will be called to assume the RESPONSE
bilities, trials, difficulties aud anxiteies which
attend the administration of the government.
The World says that it would be idle to en-
ter into any elaborate criticisms of decision
made by the simple process of counting noses,
and we are not disposed, therefore, to waste
words on the vote by which the Electoral Com
mission yesterday reached the conclusion that
fraud and faisehood in Louisiana must be con-
sidered as good basis of the title of American
Presidency as fraud and falsehood in Florida
As for the Democratic party, since it in good
faith accepted this tribunal, we do not see how
any bad faith or incompetency on the part of
its accepted agents can release it from its obi-
cations. We have little doubt that no calami-
ty could befall a free country worse than the
Inauguration of President under vitiated
title. We have not the slightest doubt there is
one thing much worse for any political party
than an honorable defeat, and that is dis.
honorable victory
The Sun does not express any views.
NEW YORK, Feb. ia New Orleans special
to the Herald says: 1.-THE news of the Com
missions decision produced intense excitement
here Outside of Republican circles it is every
where denounced in the bitterest terms. The
people are open in expressing determination
not to submit to the imposition of the Packard
State Government Should it follow as conse-
quence of Hayes declared election"
Another New Orleans special says the decis-
fha ,:c,t<,, has 40, ,nI