The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-02-15
THE ELECTORAL COUNT.

Electoral Commission was decided ad.
versely to the Democrats by a strict party
vote, and it was ordered, in the Gaze OF
Florida, that no evidence would be re-
ceived or considered which was not sub
mitted to the joint convention of the two
Houses by the President of the Senate
with the different certificates, except such
as related to the eligibility of one of the
electors. The evidence to be considered
under this order did not include an ex-
animation into the proceedings of the
Returning Board, and motion to allow
evidence showing that the Florida Can
vassing Board had cerruptly and fraudu.
lently certified to the election of the
Hayes Electors was voted down before
the passage of the order that was finally
adopted. The decision of this question
settled the fate of Florida, and in due
time the Electoral vote of that State was
decided in favor of Hayes by the Com
mission. In conformity with the recent
law, the two Houses of Congress met on
Saturday last to receive the decision upon
Florida, and upon objection being made
thereto in writing by the requisite num-
Der of Senators and Representatives, the
joint convention was dissolved to consider
the objections. The Senate refused to
sustain the objections without delay on
its part, and the House took a recess
until Monday at ten o'clock. The law
provides that the decision of the Com
mission must stand, unless the two
Houses separately concur in ordering
otherwise.
The House decided, after spirited
and earnest debate on Monday, that the
finding of the Commission was incorrect,
and that the Tilden Electors had been
regularly chosen in Florida. 1t was a
strict party vote The non-concurrence
of the Senate in this decision causes the
finding of the Commission to be made
absolute.
The joint session of the two Houses
was then resumed, and the votes of
Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas
and Kentucky were counted without OBJ
jections for the respective candidates.
When the vote of Louisiana was reached,
the President of the Senate handed three
certificates to the tellers-two of them in
favor of the Hayes Electors, and one
signed by McEnery as Governor in favor
of the Tilden Electors. Objections were
made to the count, and the objections
were referred as before to the Commits
mission, which was re-convened in a
short time to consider the Louisiana case.
The objections to the Hayes Electors are
based upon the illegality Of the Return
ing Board; ineligibility of two Electors
who were Federal officers; the disquali-
fcation of the certifying Governor, Kel-
logg, who was not chosen by the people,
and is a creature of compromise; and
that one-half the Electors were State
officers whom the constitution of Louisi-
ana forbid exercising functions like those
of Presidential Electors.
The argument before the Commission
was progressing on Tuesday, and it is not
likely that conclusion will be reached
for several days. There is no indication
at this writing that additional evidence
will be allowed beyond the papers sub
mitted with the certificates, and unless
this is done we do not expect different
result than was obtained in the Florida
case. The recent developments in the
Louisiana matter. exposing the unlawful
and fraudulent acts of the Returning
Board, would materially assist the Dem
ocrats, who are prepared to show that the
poll lists represented majority of ten
thousand for Mr.. Tilden. which was
changed by the Returning Board into
pretended majority of,several thousand
for Mr.. Hayes. The exclusion of the
recent testimony will again place the
Democrats at disadvantage, and we are
not hopeful that any less political bias
will govern the majority of the Commits
sion in the case of Louisiana than was
manifested in regard to Florida. 1t il
too early, however, to forsake the field Of
conflict, or to surrender every vestige VI
the strong grounds upon which the peo'
pie have relied for success. The ability
and courage of the Democratic leaders
will not fail or falter until the end is
reached, and if the choice of the Ameri.
can people is set aside by partisan
tribunal, it will not be alleged that the
efforts of their trusted leaders were lack
ing in energy or perseverance.
In the event that the vote of Louisiana
is counted for Hayes, the only possible
chance to- elect Mr.. Tildeu will be the
vote in Oregon. The rejection of the
Cronin certificate would not be final,
either, for it is more than probable that
the Commission will be compelled to hold
that only two electors were appointed in
Oregon. This decision would make tie
vote, and the election of President would
90 10 the House and of Vice President to
the Senate-.-------.---~.4~