The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-12

not be subject to be set aside by congress.
The power of congress was to count not
to reject duly certified votes of the
states.
MIR. Tucker followed on the opposite
side. Members of the commission had
taken an oath to render Judgment accord
lug to the constitution and law. The
commission in passing On the eligibility Of
Humphreys had declined to pass on the
question of the validity of the vote OF an
Incompetent elector. Did the commission
mean to decide that the ineligbility of the
elector was to haye no effect on the vail
dity of his vote? IF the state appointed
an Ineligible eiector was he, notwith-
standing, to be declared by the
commission aud by the two houses
to be competent electcr and his vote to
be a valid vote? fso, then the act of a
canvassing board Of state was valid, and
the constitution, quod hoe, was
void. In regard to The main
question, the decision Of the commission
was to the effect that the only voice per
mitted to speak for a state 10 matter OF
presidential elections was the voice Of q
that the voice Of the Judiciary and the leg
contended that all the organism of d stale
must speak its Voice.
Messrs. Banks and Frye favored and
Hessrs, Springer and Hurd opposed the
report.
Mr.. Corr said he doubted not that uu-
der the paipable facts behind the COVER
nor's certificate Florida should have been
returned for Tilden but he held that the
Democratic majority had no moral right
to complain that the commission rendered
a partisan decision in reporting the votes
| for Hayes though this decision was con
| trary to the facts and the will Of the peo-
| ole. yet the wrong is chargeable further
! buck than the commission, namely: Or
those who established this partisan tribu-
ual. When a Democratic majority Of the
house adopted this law, with the full know /
edge that The majority of the commission
would be Republican and governed BY
| Republican instincts, and controlled by Re
tubican interests, and warped by Republi
biascs and moved by Republican motives
they deliberately abandoned every clam
which the De mocratic masses asserted tC
the control of our national affairs. The
commissioners have done no more nol
less than what could or should have beer
expected or required Of them. Mr.. Carr
continued in this strain for considerabl,
time,
The debate closed at l:l5P. NJ, and the
house proceeded to vote for Mr.. Hale
amendment was rejected by 81 to Is
and Mr. Field 5 resolution adopted.
WASHINGTON, Feb. l2,-SENATE.- TIL
session begun at 10 o'clock with slim at
tendance. The president, Mr. Ferry, said
answering Mr.. Davis, that recess upo
auy question, except one raised in join
convention, would be out Of order.
The senate. without transactiDg any bus
iness, awaited Tor the notification that tb
house was rea5y to resume joint session.
. AT 2.20 the clerk of the house appeare
. at the bar Of the senate and announce
the decision Of the house
that the counting of the vote {
: Florida shall not proceed in confurmt
with the decision of the electoral commi,
. sion and also notified the senate that th
! house was Tow ready to meet the senate
= joint meeting.
The senate then proceeded to the hall
the house.