Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-03-07
TELEGRAPHIC.

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The South Carolina Cas-,
Decided by the Com
mission.
WASHINGTON, February 27.-Law
renee refuted the fifth objection
that there was no republican form o
government in the state, by citing au
thOrities.
When Lawrence closed, Christian
cy waived the right to object, ani
Blair for the democrats, said the,
would prove that violence, intimida
ton and the presence of the Unitet
States troops had prevented q fre,
and fair election. He first emphasized
the absence of registration as an opel
violation of the constitution; thel
considered the use of the military
which it was we'll known were usel
to control the election.
Lawrence said the republican coun
sci would submit the case withou
argument, and Judge Black conclud
ed the speaking feelingly, and saying
he felt he had lost much Of the digni
ty Of an American citizen. He would
willingly lead forlorn hope if j,
could avoid this great calamity. If ht
could redeem this nation from the in
fanny with which IL was covered, hi
ought to do it as freely as he would
go to his bed. He considered the de
tails of the case, and concluded, say
ing he never expected to see another
election. At 10 the commission
went into secret session but then tool
recess until l 40.
The electoral commission was in
session until p. M, and after three
and one.half hours discussion, Ed.
munds moved that voting commence
at six O'Clock, which was carried by
8 to Z.
Morton at six o'clock submitted
that it was not competent for the joint
convention to inquire by evidence
whether state regularly represented
in both houses Of congress and rec
ognized as state by the other de-
partments, has republican form OF
government; that while such anarchy
exists as to render it impossible to
exercise the right of appointing elec-
tors is sufficient cause for rejecting
any electoral votes purporting to be
votes of electors appointed thereby,
yet when state is regularly recog-
nized and represented as above, and
appoints electoral votes according to
its laws, the joint convention can't re-
ceive evidence showing that disturb
ances existed during the election
which may have curtailed the Free
dom of the election. That it is not
competent for the joint convention,
by taking evidence, to inquire into the
regularity Of the action of the presi-
dent in sending: military into any
state for the preservation of order
and the suppression of insurrection,
In order thus to lay ground for re-
jccting the electoral vote of such
state. That in view of these facts,
there seems to be no valid objections
to counting the votes of South Caro-
lima in certificate No. 1.
Field offered substitute that evil
dence was admissible to show that
United States troops were unlawfully
stationed in a state during an election
period, which prevented free cleo
ton that evidence was admissible rs
to the unlawful stationing, and the in
timidating efforts of United States
marshals.
The substitute was rejected, 8 to Z,
and Morton's motion adopted by the
same vote.
Frelinghuysen offered resolution
that tho electors named in certificate
No. 2 were net lawful electors of
South Carolina, and that their votes
should not be counted. Adopted
unanimously.
Morton offered cOrollary resolu-
ton that the republican electoral
votes be counted. Agreed to, to Z,
and report giving the grounds OF
the decision was drawn up.
Morton offered resolution thank
ing, in behalf of the commission, the
presiding officer (Clifford) for his
ability, impartialitv and urbanity.-
Adopted unanimously.
A resolution offered by Strong was
adopted authorizing the members of
the commission to file the remarks
made by them during the consulta-
tions of the commission, and to have
the same published with the proceed
ings of the commission.
A resolution removing the injunc-
ton of secrecy was adopted.
On motion of Garfield, the COM
mission adjourned till Friday, March
I'd, unless sooner called together by
its presiding officer.
The commissions report is in SUBJ
stance that the documents submitted
to the commission have been exam
ined, and that by majority of votes
ii has been decided that the votes of
the republican electors, who are nam
ed in certificate No. i, certified to by
Gov. Chamberlain, are legal and con-
stitu.ional votes, and are to be count
ed for Hayes and Wheeler. The
grounds of the decision are that these
electors appear to have been duly ap-
pointed, and that they voted at the
proper time and place, as the consti-
tuition demands; that the commission
has decided that ii lie not competent
to go into evidence aliunde of the pa
pers opened in the presence of the
two houses to prove the validity OF
other than duly certified claims to the
Office of presidential elector. The re-
port will also set forth in detail the
facts stated in the account of the pro.
ceedings of the commission already
given.