Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-03-02
The Contamination Of the Fraud.

the Congressional proceedings yesterday the
House voted not to count the vote OF Sollace,
one of the Vermont electors, because Of alleged
ineligibility, after which the two Houses met
10 Joint convention, when the electoral vote OF
Vermont was counted for Hayes AID Wheeler,
both Houses not having voted to reject the
vote. Virginia and West Virginia were then
called and their votes counted for Tllden and
Hendricks. Wisconsin, the only remalnlng
State to be counted, was then reached, whcD
the democrats presented objections to counting
the vote of Daniel ". Downs, one of the re-
publican electors, on the ground that be was
ineligible, having beena United States pension
surgeon both on the day Of thu Presidential cleo
ton and on the 9th Of December, when he casI
his vote as an eectur. At ll.25 o clock the
Houses went into separate session to consider
the objections. Upon reaching its Chamber
the Senate without debate aud without roll
call, adopted a resolution to count the vote OF
Downs, together with the other republican
electors for Wisconsin, and the Secretary was
Instructed to notify the House Of its action In
the House, after the separation, there was
again considerable flibustering, and ii was one
O clock this morning when it proceeded TO the
discussion of the main questionable eligibility
of the Wisconsin eiector.
The certificate Of Wisconsin having been read
Mr.. IIynde, OF Wis, presented objections, signed
by Senators Barnum, Mcdonald, Kelley Coop
er and Johnston, and Representatives, Lynde,
Of Wis, Burchard, of Wis, Phillips, Of Me-.
| Tucker, of Va, Springer, Of ILL.,, Rice, Of o.,
Vance, of O., Young, OF Tenn, and Money, OF
Miss, to counting the vote of Daniel W Downs,
one of the electors for the STATE of Wisconsin,,
because he held the Office ofpenson surgeon and
examining surgeon for the pension office prior
to and on November I, 1876. the day of the
Presidential election, aud 90 December 6, 1876
on which day he assumed to cast his vote as an
eector, that said Office was an office Of proht
aud trust, and that said Downs could DOT there
fore be cousttutioually appointed az elector for
the State of Wisconsin. or vote as such under
the constitution of the United States; that said
Downs was not therefore duly appointed an
eIector for said State, and that his vote cannot
be coustitutionally counted.
The Senate then at 1l.25, retired to its
| Chamber, so that the two Houses might scpa-
rately consider and determine objections.
MIR. Mills, of Texas, then offered pre-
am Bile and resolution declaring that Samuel y.
| Tlden and Thomas A. Hendricks we're COZ.
stitutionay elected President and Vice Presl'
dent 10 November; that the true votes of Florl'
da and Louisiana had been suppressed by 4
corrupt returning board.
MIR. Wood said il his proposition was not
accepted be would not leave the hall till the
count was completed.
MIR. Brien. If the gentleman is the high
priest OF the republican party let him 20 on.
| MIR, MagoOn offered a substitute tor the orlgl-
nal resolution, declaring that the vote OF Downs
should be counted, the objection to the con-
trary notwithstanding.
This the Speaker said made up the resolu-
ton, the amendment and the substitute, which
ia parliamentary usage made the main ques
ton, and 20 more amendments were in order.
He recognized MIR. Lynde as entitled to the
floor, and that gentleman demanded the read
ing of the objection and the testimony attached,
which was then read.
The two hours debate then began, aud at
o'clock a. No., Messrs. Magoon. Cate, OF Wis,
Mills, of Texas, Caswell, of Wis. Burchard,
of H., and Blackburn, Of KY. addressed the
House. The latter gentleman made bitter
speech, charging that the country had been
chiseled and cheated out of the honest expires
end had come, and yet there was fitness 10
the hour that should not pass UNDECIDED. 1t is
Friday, the day on which the Saviour suffered
crucifxon between two thieves, and to day free
government was crucifed amid number 0!
thieves. On that day the nominating couven
ton was held, and Oh that day the mlscreants
of the Electoral Commission promulgated their
work. Applause.
The Chair item porarily filled By MIR. Coch-
} rane) said if the applause in the galleries was
repeated be would order them cleared. De-
F. risive laughter on the republican side.
Mr. Williams said there might have been
some disorder 10 the South, but be asked
Southern men to contrast democratic rules in
1860 With the results of republican govern.
pent now, as shown by the thousands of school
houses all over the States. He extended the
hand of true brotherhood to the South.
MIRO Brien followed in 40 argument again st
: the republican party, charging all manner oil
fraud 10 the late election, and designating MIR.
Wood, of N. Y, before whom he stood,a the
high priest of the radical party, and was him
self designated by MIR. Harrison, Of ILL.,, as the
small priest OF the fllbusters.
MIR, Lawrence conteuded that Downs was no
more an officer Of the government than law.
yer employed 10 case, or contractor skilled
|
and if he was his act as an clector dc Jact0
could cot be questioned. He wanted to avoid
establishing precedent that might come back
upon them should the democrats come lutC
power sixteen or twenty years hence. Tie had
voted against Sollace in the Vermont case, and
now he wanted to bring solace to those who
voted against him. He had ouly voted so be.
cause he desired to reach conclusion, as the
Senate had already settled the question.
Mr.. Lyude contended that there was no way
to enforce the constitutional provision except to
reject the vote. If an agent performed an act
DOT authorized by his principal the deed was
void. Mr.. Lynde criticised the action Of the
Commission, and said he failed to see how it
had reached its conclusion. He maintained
that it was only by investigation that it could
be ascertaiued who truly represented the State.
Mr.. WaIliug had read letter from certain
persons in New York endorsing his course, aud
urging him to thwart the thieves at ali hazards.
lie also had read the kilograms of President
Grant, sent at the time OF the election, in rela-