Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-02-20
WASHINGTON.
uenrressional Preessdlnrs.

present. That fact having been ascer-
tanned the regular business Of the day
was introduced by Me-. Gibson Offering
an order that the Hayes electoral votes
for louisiana be not counted.
Mr.. Hurlbut moved to amend by strik.
ing out the word " not"
The discussion was opened by Mr.
New, who said that he..had voted for the
electoral commission bill without hesita-
ton or misgiving, and be was not
ashamed Of the support which he had
given to that measure. He accepted
without qualification his humble share of
responsibility. He would vote to sustain
the objections to the decision Of the
commission. He was in favor Of pro-
ceeding without unnecessary delay to
the completion Of the count.
Mr.. Seelye said that in the case of the
Louisiana election, corruption on the one
side seemed as henious as cruelty on
the other side was horrible. He found
it quite impossible to say which of the
two sets of electors from Louisiana
voiced the true will of the people of that
State. 1t would have been hard to
find wiser and more candid men than
those who had pronounced the decision
of the electoral commission. He appre.
ciated the strength Of their position.
Congress could moi be too jealous of the
constitutional right Of a State to choose
its Presidential electors.
Mr.. Joyce declared that the whole
scheme Of.the election to tire presidency
Of the grand fraud of Grammercy Park
had been a superb Democratic cheat
from beginning to end.
Mr.. Mcmahon said the decision of the
commission in the case Of Louisiana was
worse in its consequence to the Ameri.
can people than in the Florida case. As
to Oregon, the Democrats looked for
ward with much hope to the decision in
that case.
Mr.. Rice protested against the wrong
aud violence embodied in the decision,
and argued that the whole subject should
be referred back to the commission.
Mr.. Watterson rose to speak, add i'm
mediat6iy the floor and galleries we're
hushed into stiffness. He said il the &C,
ceptance Of the inevitable with resolu.
ton and dignity be the highest, as it is
the %rarest, form Of courage known among
men, it is made harder in this present in
stance by the consciousness OF double.
dealing and foul play. Two courses are
open to the majority on this hoor-on
one hand a passionate cutlery, al once
impotent and childish; on the other
hand, without offering needless obstruc.
tons to the progress Of eveats, an earn.
est, manly but temperate protest against
what we believe to be a great and griey-
GUS wrong. In my judgment the latter
is our clear and boundsn duty. We owe
it to the necessities Of the ease; we "
it to the country; we owe it to ourselves.
Because we were duped by false pre-.
fences into a snare furnished no reason
why we should forget the obligations that
press upon honorable men, In the very
act Of passing the electoral commission
bill we provided for the contin lency that
has come upon us. l voted for that
measure in perfect good faith. The
result is against me, and deteStable
as | must think the means that brought
it about, | accept il as a a~uality. l shall
90 to my people and shall tell them all,
for, as now advised, they know only a
part, and when they have taken time for
reflection they will, l am very sure, illus.
trate the wisdom and grace Of modera.
ton, doing nothing that does not become
good citizens. Life will still 60 forward.
In spite of all this there are things to
live for yet in tkls rough world, aud,
among the rest, that day Of reckoning
dies ii@, dies illa-when the dark shall
be light, and the wrong be made right.
Mr.. DAnford defended the decision as
one which, outside of party feeling VOID
meet the approval Of the whole Amer.
can people. A.ihough there had been
investigating committees into the cleo.
nons IN Florida, Louisiana and Oregon
which had found much eroOkedness,
yet in all words spoken, letters written,
seAegsams sent, there had not been
traced to any Presidential %elector, to any
memer Of his household, one word
that would bring the blush of shame TO
the American people. Applause
The speaker here announced to.day's
legislative session begun, and after
prayer and the reading of the journal
the debate was resumed.
The debate CLOSED at one o'clock and
the house then voted on Mr.. Glib.
sons resolution that the decision
of the commission be no agreed
to, and it was adopted--YeAs, l72;
nays, 80. It was a party vote, ex.
eept Messrs. seelye and Pierce, Of Mas
%aAchuselts, who voted with the Democrats
A message was then sent to the Sem
ate that the house was ready to meet
that body in Joint convention.
heath Of Another Rear Admiral.
WASHINGTON, February 2O.-Rear Ad.
miral Louis NJ. Goldsborough died this