Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1877-02-15
Letter From Washington.
WASHINGTON. ID. c.,
A. 4

FEBRUARY IL, lci. y |
The .frst Decision Of the Electoral ComRis-
sion-His a Republican GdiR-Cdpt. hds !
10 get Justice Congressional Proceed |
iHgs-Hog a Louisiana state Office is
Treated by a Democratic HouSe-Dedit Of
RsGr-i3mird Wakes.
The Presidential contest may be said TO hive
put on another new face in the last twenty far
hours. Since election day there have been
constant changes, caused by the discovery hde
and there of supposed ineligible eleo;or o. a
fresh attempt TO bull-dozc a Republican Srie
Government in the South; but the stranxest IF
sll the transformations is shown by the fist
vote of the Electoral Commission on Wedne.-
day, II j. not safe 10 put too much faith IN
this sensible and proper act Of the Commission
but there is no denying that it gives new hope
10 the Republicans. II ought not to ave sur
pri.ed one that 20 exalted a tribunal has refys-
ell to make a Returning Board Of itsclf-reihe
to decide over again the petty question wheGi-
er or not Smiths or Jones' vote chouldbe
counted.-it ouSh, MOTTO surprise one. hut
does. The influences that summoned the Con
mission are all Democratic or conservative
!; was only by prolonged struggle that two
Radical Republicans werc elected TO plares u,
on It, while nearly every one put upon it 81
the Democracy /. an ultra Democrat. The eX
piring Administration IN, no f,yOrs to give.
In short, everything in the Commission airi
surroundings pointed To a Democratic result
But the first vote. deciding, in subs lance, not.
10 go behind the action of the State Govern
ment in its appointment Of electors, Is a suit
stantial Republican triumph. Confined 10 tin
mere inquiry which of the different sets oftls
electors from Florida IA, the proper creasn-
tials-ani that i the scope OF the Inquiry ASIDE
cided-thcre will Be no chance to confuse tRe
public mind or mind Of the Commission. with
outside questions The testimony OF Picket
and MADDOX AMI Llttleheld held back until
the Commission met. ~ To produce effect &
the most desirable season, will now 20 foc
naught. The Star Of last evening gives tbs
summing up of the pre-, ent feeling here: "Te
! Democrats who voted for the bill, are blae--
those who voted against it are happy. All the
| Republicans feel good
| Yesterday the argument. a, to the eligibility
| OF HUMPHREYS was concluded. and to-day, prob
ably, the vote on the State will be taken, and
| the result laid before the two House. to-mor-
| row.
BY the action OF the senate yesterday, pro-
| yiling for the payment OF Capt. Eads in bond
! instead of cash. that gentleman will get sone
80 On more than he otherwise would. ~
bonds being now much above par. lfhi, VIZ
at the mouth 9th M,,i.>ippi proves TO All
that now appear, likely. the country Wi not
regret the amount nor the further yineht>
| yea To be made. 1t Is most gratiy.g Tact
taJ reflects credit upon the Admir''r'tlon'
that when thi, money wa> dr-t vo'h. only
year ago, many people supposed TIT payment
in land would - the GovernmA' less 'hAn
] in cash.
The SsJa's yesterday also 'oA up the In
Dis Appropriation bin, with amendments
( rhe.. y general inli,po,itnn to 10 NUN
| Ie[i-lttiye work while the Electoral Commit
Zion i in session, and this VII crowd the cot
siirTa;ion Of the Appropriation bill and othr
| imP,rian, mi'ter~iaip tn lat lcs days oil ne
! session.
| Ia the House yesterday. Mr. Hale Of Main
+ called attention II the fact tat the members a
+ tn Loui-isna Returning 3 pAri wcrr Nontin'i
/ by order OF the HpI-'. n "a damp, DARK dun
| geon in the cellar OF tn" Capitol" sui, VIII
.
J better accommodations. The worI- used d.
not iuly describe this place Of confinement. Il
l. nj only d,rA ant damp. but it i foul with
/ escaping ga, aud it has no ventilation. Tn"
President Of the Board, Ex-Governor Wells. il
over seventy year, u AZ anl ia feeble health
~ action wa, taken BY theA Z. =
drought that the Speaker VIII proyrt 49, :
Quarters for ths prisoners without Anyc.
Instructions from that body.
All the testimony the House Commit, +,
privileges &C., has taken in regard TO the Lou..
ians Returning Board. with the exception Of
that given by Lit,iefell. Mad Y and Pickett.
has seen- very favorable 10 the Board. II,
clerks, aud employees have been examined
during the past lew day. anl have len a good
impression on the minds Of all. Tn. M.idox
WAS an adyenturer who sought 10 blark-maiI
both parties. AMI that Lttledell att,mpted 10
MAKE Others responsible for fraud in which
he alone was concerned. and tina; the partic.
acca>'sl by Ls.A wri, ,H.loly innocent, i,
most probable.
O"e Of the most gall ant AMI useful officers OF
the Navy. died yesterday In this CITY Rear
Admiral wilkes entered the Navy in 1916. aud
Wa oae Of it, most noted officers forty year.
ago. In 1861, he took from British mail
steamer, Mcs-rs Mason and Slidel, Commits
siOner, from the Confederate Government and
brough, them 10 this country as prisoners.
Impact was disaNowed BY the Government
and the prisoners given ~, but the gallant OF
fcet waS repeatedly promoted thereafter in re-
Spouse 10 a demand which was nearly uniytr-
sal among Union men. maxwell.
LAT.R.-AQer the foregoing WAS written,
the electoral Commission adopted the follow
ing resolution in the Florida case. That the
four persons. to wit, +. c. Humhpries, {. ".
Pearce, w. IL. Holden, and T. W. Long. were
duly appointed electors Of President and Vice
President for the State Of Florida and that the
votes cast by aforesaid four persons are the
vote provided for by the Constitution OF the
United States. "lhi. gives the State to Hayes
unless both Houses concur in reversing the ac-
ton of che Commission.