The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-02-16
Tho Electoral Commission.


the Commission created by Congress to decide
upon the contested Electoral votes; but whqp@e
found that the Senate had elected Morton and
Garfield to th,t Commission our faith in 1t as
nom partisan tribunal, became still weaket for
we knew then that trickery and partisan
schemes, entirely unbecoming tribunal egtrus-
ted With such momentous national intetests,
would be resorted to by tho Republican msjostSl
of that body, and the wishes of q large majority
of the people, as expressed through the ballot
box, would be ignored by such extreme ,arti-
sans, and the party whip would contpl the
Commission. Still we hoped that the r'Presen-
tatiyes Of the Supreme Bench would rise above
all party considerations, that the commissioners
chosen from that dignifed position would bring
to the great work only the spirit of justice and
n decent respect for the plain voice of the peo-
pie But this hope was almost blasted when we
found that the four Judges had selected Judge
Bradley as their associate upon the Comm ission.
We could not forget that Bradley was chosen as
partisan judge when the discussion upon the
legality of the greenback issue was 10 be deci1
ded by the United States Supreme Court, and
he has continued warm supporter of tie party
that placed him upon the bench ever since
Nor was that the only cause for our fear We
heard from the best authorities that Judge Brad
| ley was u warm, personal, well as political
friend of Gov. Hayes, the Republican caudSlSls
| for President, and, furthermore, that he had ex-
| pressed more interest in the election than any
other Judge on the Bench. Taking all these
things into consideration we had strong reasons
for our misgivings that the Commission would
be controlled more by party prejudice than a re
gard for the expressed will of II majority Of the
people. AS we said before, the Commission was
toe strong Republican i'll its feelings and Interests
| to give much hope that it could rise abo,e par.
| ty, even upon such grave question.
| We, however, have not given up the contest
yet. Wiser heads than ours seem to thiR that
Louisiana and Oregon will present sire ger ar-
guments Cor Tilden than Florida did. ! II does
! seem to us that man of ordinary intellect and
responsibility can read the infamous frauds SO
| incontcstably proven against the Republican Re.
turning Board of Louisiana and believe that
Hayes received majority in that Slat, and SIC
don't believe majority of his own pArty viii
| Ho satisfied If hv ,ahos lilo seot pres;terse uu
der such infamous circumstances.
The Commission is now in session upon tn,
Louisiana vote, and we cannot better explair
the present situation of the Electoral disput,
than by giving the following from the Necs 0nc
! Courier:
The count has now reached Louisiana
and if, rs is probable, the party division il
the Commission remains as heretofore
Judge Bradley must decide the vote of tn,
State. The case of Louisiana differs il
many respects from that of Florida Ii
the latter case but one set of Electors vUtet
on the first Wednesday in December, an,
but one certificate beas the signature o
amy person claiming to be- Governor of til,
State at that date. In louisiana bbth set
Of, men claiming to be E&ctors met an,
cast their votes on the day appointed by law
and both received certificates tromiperson
Glaimipg t. be Governor Of the State. L
may be that The ComM1$sion tnac Is to sal
Alr. Bradley, will feel called uponto dccid,
who was the Legal Governor of Luuisian;
on the 9th of December. There arc othe
phases Of the ease which make it diffcrcn
from that of Florida. Even the cases O
allcsed mcil%ih;lity are different, from tn
fact that Brewster and Lcvisce do not CLAIM
to have resigned their offices before th
election. The Louisiana case wilf prcscn
several new points, and it is very far from
certain that the decisions thus far mad
settle the final result.