The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-02-20
THE LOUISIANA CASE.
Fall Text of the Tribunals Decision as 10
the Vete of Louisiana.
lis Excuses for ifs Action.
Especial to N. o. Democrat

Especial to N. o. Democrat
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1g.-The following Is the
full text OF the decision of the Commission ih
the Louisiana case:
WASHINGTON, d. G., Feb. 16
To the President of the United States Senate,
pre- iding
In meeting of the two houses of Congress
under an act of Congress entitled an act to pro-
vide for and regulate the counting OF the votes
for President aud Vice President, and the de-
ciaion of the questions arising thereon, for the
term commencing March 4, A. d. 1877. approved
Jar. 20, 1877
The electoral Comrliseion mentioned in said
act having ruled certain certificates and papers
purporting to be certificates aud papers accom-
panying the electoral vote from the State of
Louisiana, and in connection Herewith submit
ted to it, under the said act, now report that it
has duly considered the same, pursuant to the
said act and, by majority OF votes. decided,
and do hereby decide, that theIvotes OF William F.
Kellogg, ]. Henry Burch, Peter Joseph,
Lionel A. sheldon, Morris Marks, Aaron
d. Levissee, Orlando Il. Brewster, and Os-
car Jotfron, named in the certificates of Will
liam 7. Kellogg, G vernon of said State, which
votes are ceitisied by the said persons, as ap-
pears by the certificates submitted to the Com
m sion as Aforesaid, marked Nos. 1 and by
said Commission, and herewith returned. are the
votes provided for by the Constitution of the
United States, and that the same are lawfully to
be counted, Ne therein certified namely, the
votes for Ii. d. Hayes, Of OHIO, for President
and the votes for w. A. Wpeeler, OF New York,
for Vice President.
The Commission has, by ma ority OF votes,
has decided and does hereby decide and report
that the persona first before named were duly ap
pointed electors in and by the said State Of Lou
isiana. he brief ground of this decision is that
it appears upon euch evidence, as by the consti-
tuition and law named in the said act OF Con-
greEs, is competent and pertinent to the consid-
Grafton OF the subject; that the before mentioned
haa uyft nta ali If
the President and Vice President OF the United
States for the terra beginning March 4, 1877 of
the State Of iouhiana, and that they qualified as
such at the time and In the manner provided for
by the constitution OF the United States.
The Commission thus, by majority of votes,
decided and does hereby decide, that IL Is not
competent, under the constitution and law, as /.
existed at the date OF the passage Of the said act
to go into evidence outside OF the papers opened
by the President Of the Senate in the presonee Of
the two houses to prove that other persons than
those regularly certified to by the Governor of
the State, according to the determination OF their
appointment by the Returning Officers for elec-
tons in said State, prior to the time required tor
the performance Of their duties, baa been
appointed electors or, by counterproo!, to show
that they had not or that the determination OF
said Returning Officers was not in accordance
with truth and fact.
Inc Commission, by a majority of votes, being
of the opinion that it is within the iurlsdic son
of tho two houses OF Congress assembled to
count the votes for President and Vice Presi-
dent, and TO enter upon trial OF such questions
as might arise, and also being OF tne opinion
that it is not compstent to prove that sny Of said
persons SO appointed electors IS aforesaid held
oGices Of trust or profit uader the United States
at the time when they were appointed, or that
they were ineligible under laws of the State, or
any other matter offered to be proved concern
| ing said c. rtiiicates and papers.
| The commission Is also OF the opinion, by
majority Of votes, that the returning officers OF
ell ction who csnyassed the votes OF the election
for electors in Louisiana were lawfully consti.
tuted body by virtue of constitutional Law, and
that vacancy in said body did not viti4te its
proceedings.
The Commission has also decided and does
hereby decide, by M iority of votes, and report
~ consequence upon the foregoing, and upon
the ground hsfoie stated. that the paper purpart-
lug 10 bs o certificate OF the electoral votes of
sald STATE OF LuuIslauss Objected by L Q
Howe and others, marked mo. ~ by the Com
mission sud herewith rsturneds is not cexiist~
cate al the votes provided for by the consEitu-