The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-02-22
TIE Louisiana Case.

Before this issue OF the journal had been
printed, it was known over the length and
breadth of the country that the majority
Of the Electoral Commission. by a vote OF
to :, had approved and endorsed the ac-
ton OF the infamous returning board OF
louisiana We give below the proceed
ings from the excellent report OF the Bos-
ton Post
W AsHiNGTON, Dec. IT,
The story Of to-day'S secret session of
the Commission is soon told Ten O'Clock
found the members all in their places and
the doors locked. Morton opened the bail
with an hours speech after his own kind.
Law, logic and fact were alike ignored
He confined himself solely to asserting that
he knew all that was necessary to know :;
that the Republicans had Il majority in
Louisiana, and that no Republican could
vote to take other evidence than the GER
titicate Of the Returning Board His speech
was simply last crack OF the party whip
over the shoulders of the Republican mem
bcrs OF the Commission.
After Morton came Thurman who de-
ivered what is considered by those who
heard it to have been the great speech of
the day. 1T is 4 great misfortune" said
Commissioner Payne tonight, that Thur
mans speech was not taken down. new
nr saw him so aroused, SO utterly absorbed
in any argument more mastery, or more
unanswerable Mr.. Thurman considered
first the Louisiana statutes bearing ON
elections, and showed beyond all dispute
that the repeating act OF 1872 repealed all
nrnvinne olnot;osa4ie,vra, counsel uenIeu,
that the Returning Board might be adj
Judged under the law to have power to
tabulate and compile the electoral vote,
but shew that they had no power by law
TO throw out votes. He also showed con-
clusively that the Returning Board mad no
power to I'LL any vacancies. This part OF
his argument was so strong that Morton
tried to break its force in his customary
way by interruption. Justice Bradley got
round 1t by claiming that he believed that
the old election law was still in force that
IN his Judgment none @: the counsel had
rightly eNpounded the statutes except Mr.
Evarts, and that no proof had been offered
to show that Levlsse and Brewster held
offices OF trust in December when the
Board appointed them to fiji vacancies
caused by their own cOnniyance in remain
ng outside OF the doors of the meeting
room until i O'Clock in the afternoon The
other broken reed was swept from under
Bradley by Thurman, who read the old
law providing that in ease of vacancy
caused by death, or absence OF any APP
pointed a members, the Election Board
might fill such y vacancy, but said Thur
man, those men could not he, and there
lore were not appointed in November
Bradley thereupon subsidized into pitiiul 81
lencc, as he did many times during the
day when forced into a corner. The close
Of lhmman's argument was wholly de-
voted to a question of the jurisdiction of
the Commission. which he clearly showed
that it possessed.
Garfield followed Thurman for an hour.
and spoke after Morton's style His only
point was the reading of a decision of the
Louisiana Supreme Court affirming the
legality of the Returning Board
Bayard spoke next. His speech was a
plea to the honor OF individual members
of the Commission to pass on law and facts
as impartial judges, and not as partisans.
He pleaded tor the people of the South
and affirmed his own belief that individu-
al members of the Commission would not
act otherwise than Just
Edmunds followed Bayard, and devoted
himself to an endeavor to cover up Thur
mans ugly logic by ingeniously construct
ed sophistries. Hunton then spoke ten
minutes, and at quarter to Bradley, The
modern Warwick, rose to close the debate
A strong effort was made to get more
time, other Democratic members of the
Commission desiring to speak, but the
prejudged eight refused to change the gag
law made yesterday to close debate at
o'clock to-day There was a look of aston
ishment upon the faces of the Democratic
members Of the Commission as Bradley
rose with a roll OF manuscript in his hand.
1t did not seem possible that the man who
was chosen TO fill the post of umpire had
written out his opinion in advance of ar
guments before him by the Commission,
but such proved to be the fact Noticing
the look of amazement. Bradley attempt
ed to excuse himself by saving that his
brethren knew that he was nervous and
always had to commit his views to writ
ing; that he had written out his views last
night, intending to change any portions
That might be necessary il he was con-
Vlnced by arguments to-day. 1t is need
less to add that he had not changed any
OF 1t, and that his predetermined opinion
was weak attempt to show why he
should vote as he did
The moment Bradley concluded, Hoar.
with his bland, hypocritical smile in full
blossom, jumped up and offered general
resolution that the Commission had decid-
ed not to admit evidence. He thought.
doubtless, to get off with only this gen
eral, indefinite record, but he reckoned
without his host. Abbott's deep voice ar
rested the attention of the Commission
before Hoar was fairly seated. "Hold on;
there is something else to be done first
he remarked, quietly, but in his most cut
ting tones, and thereupon he proceeded to
offer. one after another. six separate reso-
lutions, on each of which he demanded
the yeas and nays. The vote on these reso-
lutions forced eight Republican partisans
to record that they refused to consider evil
dence Of forgery, of bribery, of illegality,
of ineligibility and of unconstitutionality.
1t was master stroke on Abbott's part, is
so considered here tonight, and Abbott
has received unqualified commentator