River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-02-22

cision shall be received and acted upon in
accordance with the provisions of said law.
But this resolution IL accompanied with the
solemn and earnest protest OF the Democratic
party against the gross and shameless violation
OF law, justice and truth contained in the de-
cision OF a majority who signed the same in
the cases of Florida and Louisiana.
At precisely ii a. m, on the 10th,
the two houses of Congress met in joint ses-
sion TO proceed with the count. The Presi-
dent OF the Senate said:
"The Joint meeting of Congress resumes its
session. The objectiOns pre- sented 70 the GER
tifieates from the State OF Louisiana having
been submitted TO the Commission, the two
Houses have recOnvened TO receive and re-
consider the decision Of that tribunal, in writ
ing, by majority OF the Commissioners, and
signed by the majority OF the Commissioners
agreeing thereto"
The decision was then read II is in Ian
guage the same as the decision given in the
case of Florida, with the difference that where
the latter recites, ''the Commission has decid-
ed, the words of the present decision are,
'the Commission has by q majority OF votes
decided" The official communication con-
tlnues: "The brief ground OF this decision is
that it appears upon such evidence as by the
constitution and law named in said act of
Congress is competent, and pertinent to con-
sideration of the subject, that the before men,
toned electors appear to have been lawfully
appointed such electors OF President and Vice
President OF the United States, for the term
beginning March 4th, 1877, OF the State Of
Louisiana, and that they voted as such at the
time and in manner provided by the constitu-
ton OF the United States and the committee,
and the commission has by majority of votes
decided that il is not competent under the
constitution and law as it existed at date of
passage OF said act to go to evidence ali cundi
the papers opened by the President of the
Senate in presence OF the two honses to prove
that persons otLer then those regularly certi-
lied to by the Governor of the State in and ac-
cording TO the determination of their appoint
ment by the returning officers for electors in
said State prior to the time required for the
performance OF their duties had been appoint
ed electors or by counter proof to show they
had not, or the determination of said return
ing officers were not in accordance with truth
and tact, the Commission, by a majority OF
votes, being of opinion il is not within the
jurisdiction of two Houses in Congress assem-
bled to count the votes for President and Vice
President 10 enter upon the trial of such a
question.
The Commission by majority of votes, is
also OF opinion ii is not competent to prove
that any OF said persons so appointed electors
as aforesaid held an office of trust or profit
under the United States at the time when
they were appointed, or that they were ineli-
gible under the laws of the State, or any other
matter offered to be proved ali cundi the said
certificates and papers.
The Commission is also of the opinion, by
majority OF votes, that the returning officers
OF elections who canvassed the votes at the
election for electors in Louisiana were law
fully constituted body by virtue of constitu-
tonal law and that the vacancy in said body
did not vltiate Its proceedings.
"TEe Commission has also decided and
does hereby decide, by majority OF votes, and
report, as consequence OF the foregoing and
upon the ground before stated that the paper
purpoTtiIfE TO be a certificate oil the electoral
votes OF said State OF Louisiana, objected to
by T. o. Howe and others, marked
n. c., No. ., by the Commission, and here
with returned, is not the certificate OF votes
provided for by the constitution OF the United
States and that they ought not to be counted
as such"
The signatures are
SAM. +. MILLER,
w. STRONG,
JOS B. BRADLEY,
GEO. + EDMUNDS,
o. p. MORTON,
FRED. T. FRELINGHUYSEN.
JAS. A. GARFIELD,
GEO. f. HOAR
The decision having been read, the presid-
ing officer asked whether there were any OBJ
jections to the decision and Mr.. Gibson pre-
scented objections to the decision, on the
ground that the Commission had refused to
receive evidence which had been offered, and
had decided that the votes mentioned in GER
tificates and should be counted Tor Hayes
and Wheeler, such evidence to the contrary
Notwithstanding. The paper recites at great
length the proceedings OF the Commission, but
the point OF it is the rejection OF evidence. 1t
is signed by most OF the leading Democrats i'll
both houses
In addition to these objections Senator
Wallace offered another series of objection
after which the two Houses separated to con-
slider the objections separately. The Senate
after the allotted two hours debate by strict
party vote decided that the report of the
Commission should stand. The House by a
vote OF 40 to $50 took recess until the Goth
without considering the objections.