Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-02-17
80 aREAr FRAUp JUsIIFIED.

The Acknowledgement Of ten
thousand citizens in Louisiana was
indorsed and legalized yesterday as
far as it could be done by the eight
Republican partisans, who cOnsti-
tute a majority of the electoral COM
mission. There is no case so bad
that it has not two sides, and no
criminal that is not entitled TO a
fair trial, and none, it would seem,
but what may hope for acquittal
and justification. The electoral
vote of Louisiana was thrown out
by the action of both houses when
there was no political necessity for
it. and its corrupt government has
only been permitted to exist for the
benefit Of ofice-holders. Even
now that government is not recog-
nized by the President, and has no.
legal status. 1t is not even o de
facto government. Both houses
concurred four years ago in ex-
Guiding the vote of Louisiana
unon the grounds Of neglect.
Now the commission decides that
the electoral vote Of Louisiana for
HAYES must be counted in the face
of glaring frauds. The infamy is
accomplished. Oregon will not
amount to a cobweb in the way Of
the eight high joint partisans.
Hayes is already counted in; in
fact he has been virtually from the
hour that it was decided to exclude
evidence in the Florida case. The
precedent is about to be established
that open fraud committed fol
party purposes can be sustained by
hat party. The Republican ma
jority in the commission voted yes.
terday on eight distinct PROPOSE
lions, submitted in different forms,
involving all the main questions
arising under the Louisiana case.
and the party lines were never once
broken. The main issue on the
Republican side was offered by
Representative Hoar as follows, to-
wit: "Ordered. hat evidence BE-
not received" This was passed by
a vote of eight yeas to seven nays
Then the question Of deciding IN
favor of the Hayes electors was cal
ried by the same partisan vote.
The grounds Of this decision, stated
briefly, are substantially as follows.
"That is not competent to go intc
evidence aliunde, as to the papers
opened by the president of the sen
ate in the presence Of the two
houses, to prove that other personl
than those regularly certified bJ
the governor Of the State Of IOuisi
aua, in and according to the de.
termination and declaration Of theil
appointment. In other words, t
90 behind the certificates of tn,
governor SO far as it is founded npol
the action of the returning board
The report will also state that tn
commission could not receive an.
evidence to show hat any electo
was ineligible on November 9Th
the day Of election, on the groun.
that it was not essential to shoy
that an elector was eligible on tina
day, 50 long as he was eligible whe
he cast his vote in the electoral co
lege, and the fact appears that til
alleged ineligible electors, Brewstt
and Leyisse, were chosen to I'll I'll
vacancies caused by their own al
sence from the college, and thel
was no allegation of ineligibilii
at the time they cast their vote
1t is not likely hat the Democra
will attempt to i%nterpose dilatol
proceedings, although the leade
have held a caucus to considI
what course to pursue. The elect
raj law is so framed hat the deci
ion Of the commissions shall
binding unless otherwise orderl
by both houses, which is an il
probable s~upposition. The a
does not impair or affect any rig.
now existing under the constitute
and laws to question by procee
ing in the judicial courts of Il
United States the right or title
the person who shall be declar,
elected or claim to be elected Pre-
ident and Vice President of t
United States, if any such rig
exists. Tilden is not. therefor