Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-03-02

lection to the democratic certificate by
Senator Patterson.
The objections having been read, the
presiding officer announced they would be
submitted to the electoral commission, and
the Senate would now retire. The House
then at 6, took a recess till 10 Tomorrow.
SENATOR HERMAN TAXES Mr.. THURNAN's
PLACE ON THE COMMISSION.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-The electoral COM
mission re-assembled at $50, last evening,
Immediately after the two houses separated.
ALI tho members we've present. Mr.. Herman,
successor to Mr.. Thurman, taking his seat
for the first time. The papers referred to
the commission by the two houses in
joint session were received BY the Sec
rotary. In response to tho inquiry as to
who appeared as directors, Mr.. Hurd
annouced that Mr.. Cochrane and himself
would appear for the directors to certificate
No. l. Mr.. Lawrence said Senator Christi
ancy and himself would appear for the
objections to certificates No. 3 Mr..
Christiancy said they did not propose to
occupy the whole time allowed them. The
commission then adjourned.
TIE SOUTH CAROLINA CASE.
WASHINGTON. D. c., Feb. 27.-The COM
mission alter listening to arguments, at
LILO p. In. went into secret session, but
Immediately adjourned to las, at which
time it again assembled and remained in
secret session from las to p. IN. After
the discussion had continued three and
half hours, Edmunds submitted motion that
voting should commence at 6 O'Clock. which
was agreed to-yeas 8. nays 7. After p.
N, propositions were offered and voted on
as follows: Morton submitted the fol-
lowing:
Resolved. That it IS not competent for the
two Houses, assembled for the purpose of
counting the electoral votes, to inquire BY
evidence whether state, regularly repre-
scented IN Congress, and recognized as state
BY the other departments, is government
republican in form that while the exis-
tence of public disturbance and anarchy
in airy state. to such an extent as TO make
it impossible for the state to exercise
its rights, to appoint electors and to
and to express its will in that behalf,
is sufficient cause for rejecting any electoral
votes purporting to be the votes of electors
appointed thereby. yet, when the state is
regularly represented in Congress. and is
recognized by the other departments Of the
government, and has a government republic
can in form, and does appoint its electors
in the manner prescribed by the legislature
Congress, assembled to count electoral
votes, to show that disturbances existed at
the time of the election which may have
interfered, to greater Or less extent, with
the freedom of the election at the polls in
said state.
Resolved, That it is not competen. for
Congress, when assembled to count the
votes, by taking evidence, to enquire into
the regularity Of the action of the President
Of the United States, in sending military
into any state for the preservation Of order.
the Suppression of riot and domestic vio-
lence, il order by such proof to lay ground
for rejecting the electoral vote of said state.
Resolved. That in view Of the PROPOSE
tions contained in the foregoing resolutions,
evidence offered to show that South Caro-
lima, at the late election, did not have a
republican form of government, and evil
dence offered on the subject of disorder.
violence and the presence of troops in
said state during said election, is not COM
petent, but that notwithstanding the Of
fer of such evidence. the electoral votes of
South Carolina ought to be received and
counted if not Objectionable on other
ground.
Mr.. Field offered a substitute declaring
that evidence, that troops were unlawfully
stationed in the State. and that qualified
voters were deprived thereby of the right
of suffrage, and that the unlawful action
of the United States deputy marshais, al
so prevented free choice ct presidential
electors, was admissible.
Rejected, 8 to 7.
Morton's resolutions were then adopted
by vote of 8 to Z.
Frelinguysen offered a resolution declar-
ing that the Tilden electors named in GER
tifcate No. 2. were not the lawful electors
of South Carolina, and their votes should
not be counted adopted unanimously.
Morton offered the following:
Resolved. That c. c. Bowen and the other
Hayes electors named in certificate No.
were the lawful electors for South Carolina.
and that their votes are the votes provided
for by the United States Constitution, and
should be counted.
Adopted by vote OF to I, the same as
the vote on Mr.. Morton's previous resolu-
tons.
A report will be presented to the Houses,
giving the grounds on which the commits
sion had reached decision.
A resolution thanking Commissioner
Clifford for the ability, impsrtislity and
urbanity with which he has presided over
its deliberations was adopted unanimously.
A resolution was adopted authorizing
the members OF the commission to file re-
marks made by them during the consulta-
tions of the commission and have them
published with the proceedings of the com
mission.
A resolution was also adopted removing
the injunction of secrecy, and the commits
sior adjourned till 10 a. m, Friday, unless |
called together sooner by the presiding
officer.
THE TWO HOUSES IN JOINT sEssIoS-soUTa |
CAROLINA COUNTED FOR HAYES AND |
WHEELER
WASHINGTON, d. c.. Feb. 2s.-The House
having adopted a resolution that the vote |
of South Carolina be not counted, the Sem |
ate was informed that the House was ready |
to meet it in Joint assembly and at GEO |
p. M, the Senate entered the Hall OF the |
House The action of each House or the |
decision having been read. the presiding
officer announced that the two Houses not
concurring otherwise, the electoral votes OF
South Carolina wOnld be counted, and they
were thereupon declared BY one of the
tellsrs. for Hayes and Wheeler. Pending
that action Jones, of Kentucky, raised the
question that there was not a quorum of
the Senate present. (Only % having en-
tered the hsll) but the presiding officer paid
no attention to the interruption and direct
ed the clerk to proceed with the reading,
Jones contenting himself with a protest
against the proceeding. The votes of Ten
nessce IL, and of Texas 5, for Tilden and
Hendricks, were then announced without
objection, and without a full reading of the
certificates. Then came Vermont with >
votes for Hayes and Wheeler. Tho certi-
ticste having been read in full. Poppleton
rose TO present objections to it, but first
asked whether any other certificate had
been received from Vermont than that
which had been read The presiding officer
replied, No. Hewitt. stated that he held
in his hands package purporting to con-
tain the electoral vote OF Vermont, which
package had been delivered to him BY ex-
press about the middle OF December, and
that with it came letter stating that
similar package had been forwarded to
the President of the Senate by mail. On
learning, to-day, that no corresponding
package had been received by the presiding
officer. he had rendered to him this package
(holding it up) the seals of which were
still unbroken, and the presiding officer de-
clined to receive them. He now rendered
the package to the presiding officer as pur-
norting to contain the electoral votes of
Vermont.
Presiding Othcer-The chair hGs slated
that he has received but one certificate
from Vermont and tae chair also states
that the law prohibits him from receiving
any certificates after the lst Thursday of I
February His duty is to receive, open and
have read all that have been received on I
hat day.
Springer-i understand that the third
return from the state If Florida was re-
'eived on the thirty first of January. Am
correct in that? correcting him' elf, but
till stumbling mean February.
ALI the Iesnnnse which the nresidinn |