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


The preliminary question before the
Electoral Commission was decided nd.
versely to the Democrats By strict party
vote, and it was ordered, in the ca.c Of
Florida, that no evidence would be re-
ceived or considered which was not sub
mitted To the joint convention of the two
H0usea by the President Of the Senate
with the different certificates, except such
Is related to the eligibility of one of the
electors. The evidence y 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 Cnn,
vassing Board had corruptly 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
oscidcd 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 i'll writing by the requisite mum
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 n spirited
and earnest debate on Monday, that the
finding Of the Commission was incorrect
and that the Tildcn Electors had been
regularly chosen in Florida. It was a
strict party vote. The non-coucurrence
Of the Senate in this decision causes the
fimling of the Commission to be Made
absolute,
The joint session Of the two Houses
was then resumed, and the votes OF
Georgia, Illinnis, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas
and Kentucky were counted without OBJ
jections for the respective candidates.
When the vote of Louisiana was reached,
tiie President OF the Senate handed three
certificates to the tellcrs-two of them in
favor of the Hayes Electors. and one
signed by McEnery a4 Governor in favor
of tLa Tilden Electors. Objections were
made TO the count, and the objections
were referred as before to the Commits
mission, which. WAS re-convened in
short ttiiiIi5 To consider The IIoisiulin case.
The objections to the Hayes Electors are
based upon the illegality Of the Return.
ing Board; ineligiblity of two Electors
vino were Federal officers; the disquali-
ficatiop Of the certifying Governor, Kel-
logg, who was not chosen by the people,
and Is creature OF compromise; and
that one-half the Electors were State
officers whom the constitution Of Lnuisi-
ana forbid exercising functions like those
OF Ereeldentint 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
vii! &c allowed beyond The papers sub
mitted with the certificates, and unless
this is done we do not expect different
result than was obtained in rhe FLORIDA
case, The recent developments in the
Louisiana r.atter, exposing the unlawful
and fraudulent acts Of the Returning
Board, would materially assist the Dem.
ocrats, who are prepared to chow that the
poll lists represented q majority Of ten
thousand for Afr. Tilden. which was
changed by the Returning Board into a
pretended majority Of several thousand
for Mr. Hayes. The exclusion of the
recent testimony will again place the
Democrats at disadvantage, end we arc
not hopeful thot any less political bias
vi. 5oss.a the nujjotiitiy ui tnp Commits
sion in the case of Louisiana thea was
manifested in regsrd to Florida. It ia
too early, however, to foEsake the field of
conflict, or to surrender every yestige of
the strong grounds upon which the peo-
pie have relied for success, The ability
and courage of The Democratic leaders
will no. fail or faiter until the end is
reachsds ind if the choice of the Ameri:
can people % set aside by a partisan
tribaaa, Il win not be alleged tha. the
efforts OF their trusted leaders we're lack!
iuginenergy or perseverance,. i
Tn,tlie event that the vote of louisiana
is c6uhtea for Hayes, the only possible
chance so5 elect Mr. Tilden will be the.
vote in 9regops The rejection lnf the
CroAin egstiSuate wouid not be final,
either, for it ID more than liroba6lo that
the c;pmmiasinn viii DO compelled TO bold
that only tive electors were appointed ii
Oregon. This decision w0nld rikke a lie
vote; ard The isIscaioh OF President would'
Sc s. lis Hohss aud Of Vice President -
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