The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-28
The Electoral Commission.
WAsnINaroN. Feb. 27

go over any Of the ground that had been
contested, or anything that had been de-
cided by the commission. He would con-
fine himself to what he considered new
points. He would, 10 support of the first
objection that the government of the state
was not republican in form, confine him
self to few months that preceded the cleo
ton. He went into an inquiry as to what
constituted republican form of govern
ment, and the relative duties of the federal
and state governments, holding that 1t only
could be republican that gave the people
free and fair opportunity to express their
posed to show by testimony taken by the
house committee that colored men in South
Carolina we've lntimidated by other
colored min; that there was an
instruction in the state which was not
put down at the time of the election,
but at that time required the presence of
thirty-two companies. Would the com
mission receive this testimony which would
show conclusivey that anarchy PREVAILED
In the case of Missouri and Indiana when
they came into the Union, and when states
came back under the reconstruction act, it
had been held that congress had power 10
inquire whether there was state as re-
said, was the inquiry to which he desired
TO direct the attention OF the commission,
and asked that they admit evidence to show
that anarchy prevailed and hence there was
no government. Mr.. Hurd held that as
the constitution of the state required regis
tration, and that as the requirement was
utterly ignored the election was void. He
next went to the objection that the pres
ence of troops oveiawed the people. The
call of the governor was, he claimed, not
in accordance with the constitution, and
the troops were in the slae on the day of
election unconstitutionally. Troops were
at the polls no. to keep the peace but to in
fuence the election.
Mr.. Cochrane stated that Judge Black
and Montgomery Blair would appear as
counsel for the DIRECTORS to certificate No.
1. He then submitted proffers Of proof
that there had been failure of registration
as provided by the state constitution, and
that through such failure over three thou
sand fraudulent votes for Hayes had been
cast second, that in August, 1876. large
number of soldiers were sent into the state
under Gen. Kruger, and that il more were
| needed he would call for them that not
withstsnding this, on the next day, October
II, the president issued proclamation
and large number of additional troops
we're sent into the state that during the
year 1876 there was no time when the state
authorities could not preserve peace; third,
that troops were cent into the state without
the request of the legislature which could
have readily convened; fourth, that
troops were sent, not to preserve the
peace, but TO overawe voters; fifth, that
the presence Of troops emboldened the
more desperate of the negroes, and in
Beaufort and Charleston they inaugural ed
system of riot and violence, in which
they were protected by the state officers
tEat the police of Charleston, composed
mainly of desperate negroes, employees its
time 10 shooting down inoffensive white
citizens; that negroes at the polls were
armed and prevented colored men who
would have voted the democratic ticket
from doing SO; that the state militia, con-
sisting of worse class of negroes, were al
the polls and assisted 10 preventing the
colored men from voting the democratic
ticket; that one of the electors who waf
sheriff of Charleston county, appointed
hundreds of deputies who went about ar
resting citizens at their pleasure, and thai
the United States msrshals in large mum.
bers were at the polls interfering with the
free vote.
Mr.. Lawrence commenced his argument
for the republican side, showing that the
want of registration act did not affect the
election, contepding that the constitution
of the Uui ed States gave power to the leg
islature of the 5 ale, and that the constilu
ton of the stale could put no restrictions
upon this constitutional grant to the legis
lature. He went into a brief argument
next to show that the form of government,
in South Caroliua was republican. The
third objection, that troops had been sta
toned In the state without authority Of
law, was untrue In fact, and if not so, 4
government understood and executed The
laws. In relation to the presence of ,
United States marshal at the polls, he saiC
the constitution gave to congress the powe
to enforce Its provisions, and II evidence
was to be admitted, there would be abun
dant proof to show the presence of thes,
men was necessary. 1t must b.
presumed in the absence of proof to tb,
contrary that the officers had done thei
duty. In reply to the fifth objection, tina
there had been no republican form of gov
eminent from January LIT, 1875, to Decem
Der 10th, he cited authorities to show tina
the history OF the state must be acceDte,
as evidence of an established republican
form of government. MIR. Lswrenc
closed at l1;45, and Senator Christianc.
waived bis right to be heard as an objector
Mr.. Blair said they would offer to prov
that, owing to violence and intimidation
and the presence of United States troops O.
the day Of election, there was no full an
fair election by the people. The first pom
on which he proposed to lay s..tss was tn
absence Of any registration of voters. TIL
constitution of the state was imperativ
and said there 'shall" be provisions mad
for registration of qualified voters owe
twenty-one years of age. He contende
that there was nothing in the constitutlo
Of the United States that made the legisll