New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-20


of the Commission was against the law and in de-
iance of the revealed will of God. All the Demo
Gratis who spoke appeared to have forgotten, until
Mr.. Christancy forced the unwelcome recollection
upon them at last, that their own leader, Mr. Thur
man, told them explicitly before. they voted upon
the Electoral bill that the competency OF evidence
was a chief question in dispute between parties,
which the Commission would have to decide. Mr..
Bayard's speech, shortest of all that were made,
breathed spirit of sorrow rather than indignation.
His efforts, he said had been crowned only with
failure and he mourned for his country's sake The
decision he declared in solemn tones, destroys the
essential safeguards of the Constitution and an
nounces to the people that truth and justice honesty
and morality, no longer the essential basis of
their political power" Mr.. Humans speech was
merely synopsis OF the brief OF the Democratic
counsel.
On the Republican side Mr.. Boutwell, made very
effective effort falling into the melancholy tone OF
the Democrats he said that he too disappointed;
he had hoped that there would be placid acquies-
cence in the decision of the Commission andshe was
surprised to hear the very men cOndemnlng that
decision who had been most active In persuading
their associates pledge themselves in advance to
accept it fair end just In the course OF what was
the most spirited speech on the Republican side, Mr.
Sargent referred to the recent attempted assassina
ton of Gov. Packard At this Mr.: Withers laughed
derisively. Mr.. Sargent turned upon him sharply
with cutting alusiOn to the murder OF Mr. Lincoln
by Democrat and to the recent editorial in The
Washington Capital a Democratic paper, counseling
the assassination Of Gov Hayes.
vote was first taken upon resolution offered by
Mr. Herman that the electoral votes of Louisiana be
not counted. 1t was lOst-Yeas %; Nays II. Mr..
Sherman's resolution that the decision of the Com
Mission stand, the objections to the contrary not
withstandng, was then adOpted-Yeas, IL Nays,
2S Both were strict party votes Mr.. Conkllng
did not vote and was not at the Capitol to-day
Mr. Blaine was absent by reason OF illness, as his
colleague explained. The Southern Republicans,
Mr.. Dorsey and Mr.: Hamilton, were also absent
Republican Senator's after listening to the Demo-
cratic speeches to-day assaling the fairness OF the
decision of the Tribunal, could not help feeling
amused at the Inconsistency into which political ne
cessity had led their opponents when they remem-
bered in what different tone the same gentlemen
spoke in urging the passage OF the Electoral Dill.
Some of them took cruel pleasure in looking up
the speeches. now scarce month old. i'll advocacy
of the bill Among these speeches that IS worth
reading at this time is that of Senator Bayard, in
which he said that the decision of the Commission
would be accepted in the patriotic spirit Which
led Arstides to write his own sentence of Danish
ment upon shell. Referring to this in a joking
vay Tonight q Senator said that the Democrats
could now follow Arstides' example, and write
their sentence of Punishment upon the shell While
the Republicans took the oyster.
An absurd rumor was in circulation on the Demo
cratic side of the House to-day that Senator Conk-
ling was going to speak against the Louisiana de-
cision. and this expectation was urged by some
members as one for not going on with the de-
bate in the House. and for taking tho proposed re-
cess The eagerness with which the Democrats
catch at straws of the curious features of the
situation. They cannot entirely rid themselves OF
the delusvc notion that took hold of them six weeks
ago that Mr. Conkling is in some way OF other gong
to rescue them from defeat
The protest against the Louisiana decision, which
the Democratic Senators are expected to sign, is IN
the hands of Senator Randolph and will not be Of
fered for signatures until the close of the count.
One of the Southern Senators said to-day that 1t
might not be offered at all.
Before the last Senator had disappeared through
the door Fernando Wood was upon his feet and half
way down the aisle from his seat claiming Tec0gni-
ton by the Speaker to move further recess until
10 o'clock tomorrow. As it was past o'clock and
no devotional exercises had taken place, the Speaker
remarked that new legislative day having begun,
prayer by the Chaplain would be i'll order After
this the journal of Saturday was read. Fernando
Wood was then recognized and made his motion.
The vote on the recess was then taken by Yeas and
Nays and stood 14O in the affirmative to 100 in the
negative. A considerable number of the Democrats
feeling that the agreement OF Saturday even
ing bound them to proceed with the electoral count
without any further delay, voted with the Republic
cans against this recess and had the leaders Of the
party thought it wise to interpret that resolution
they might have defeated it, After brief cOnsulta-
ton among a few of them it was thought wiser not
to press the matter to-day
Other reasons than the opposition OF the hot
headed Western men were assigned for the ADJOURN
ment Among these the first was that Mr. Iiurd OF
OHIO had been designated by the Democrats to man
AGE the Oregon case before the Electoral Commission
ON the part of the House. He is of the best law
vers in the body but very extreme In his views ana
strongly in favor of revolutionary measures to pre-
vent a completion of the counting OF the electoral
vote before the 18th of March. lie became so much
excited over the decision of the caucus Saturday
night, decision made in spite OF most earnest
appeal on his part that he decided to have nothing
whatever to do with the Oregon case, and has thus
forced his party to intrust that duty to new man
who il not prepared. Mr. jerks of Pennsylvania,
who was one of the directors i'll the Louisiana case,
has been chosen to take Mr.. Hurd's place. He ex-
messed 10 his party associates desire that he he
allowed another day for PREPARATION and IL was 10
secure this that many OF the more conservative
Democrats voted for the recess. Another reason
given is that the committee appointed by the caucus
last Saturday evening, and consisting of Mr. Lamar,
Senators Cooper and Salisbury and several Others,
whose duty it is to prepare formal protest against
the Louisiana decision has not completed its work,
and desired until tomorrow for that purpose Then
the objections to the vote of Waits in Oregon are
still incomplete.
r,