Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-01-31
Gle ftEEMan
MONTPELIER VT.
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 81. 1877.
The Electoral Commission.

The Electoral Commission.
Last Wednesday discussion was resumed
in the Senate on the electoral bill and the
day session heightened into IN all night:
sitting. Mr.. Edmunls, who had charge o
the measure, was determined to bring i
to q vote, and this he succeeded in obtain
ing q few minutes after seven O'Clock
Thursday morning. II resulted AZ in favor
of and II against the bill.
Twenty one republicans were for it and
Eileen against it while of the democrats
only Mr. Eaton of Connecticut opposed it
The discussion of the day and night was
nm earnest ope, Conkling, Bayard and 9th
crs advocating andtAIorton, Sherman, Sar
gent and their followers opposing the pas
sage. Of the new England republican
senators Blaine and Hamln voted with tin
minority while Cragin, Edmunds, Morrill,
Dawes Boutwell, and Burnside we're among
the yeas.
The bill was taken up the same day III
the House where Garfield of Ohio made
the best speech against it and G. F. lloaI
of Massachusetts the most admirable ont
in its favor. A vote was reached ut five
O'Clock Friday afternoon and stood l9l fol
TO Sc against the bill. Thirty three re
publicans We're among the yeas and IL
among the nays. The Maine republicans
except Burlcigh, the New Hampshire ant
Vermont republicans voted no, while thu
Massachusetts delegation except Banks yot.
ed ycs. Eighteen democrats who are fo'
the constitution as it WAS " recorded
their votes in opposition; Proctor Knott
being among the number.
The republicans and democrats of the
senate and house selected their rcpreson.
tives on the commission in caucuses held
Saturday and Monday. The republican
senate caucuses chose Edmunds, Morton
and lrclinghuysen. 1t was the occasion
of an attempt TO put those who favored the
bill on back seat in the party, rs Blaine
or somebody else was at first put on in
stead of Frelinghuyscn ut the lictaton of
Morton. The result was lively discus
sion between Morton and Elmunds, and
the Indiana senator found the Vermonter
not ready himself 10 be read out of the
party and not ready to see Others read out
because they agreed with him. The same
game was attempted in the House caucus
and came near succeeding as Mr.. Hoar
received but three votes more than Mr.
Hale, Gen. Garfield an opponent of the bill
having already been selected AS one of the
house republicans on the committee. The
democrats selected Payne of Ohio, Abbott
of Mass, IIunton of Va, of the house and
Thurman and Bayard Of the Senate.
On Monday the president approved the
bill and not only did that but sent Il mes
sage giving his reasons for believing it to
he q wise and patriotic measure. Iester-
day the Senate, under its provisions, elect
ed Ednnunds, Morton, Frelinghuysen,
Thurman and Bayard members of the
commission while the House chose Payne
Hunton, Abbott, Garfield and IIoar. The
vote in the House stood Payne 1858, Hun
ton 1858, Abbott 1853, lIoar 26f, Garfield
$40.
Justices Clifford, Field, Miller and
Strong met yesterday and selected the fifth
Judge who is to complete the commission
We have not learned at this writing who
of tie remaining four judges was chosen,
bat the general opinion inWashington was
that it would be Bradley Of New jersey.
The election of Judge Davis as senator
from Illinois seems to have placed him
outside Of the number from whom the
rejection was to be made.
The two houses meet tomorrow and be-
gin the count. When objection is nude
to the vote of state the question at once
goes to the commission and the new time
fixed for beginning the count gives some
thing over month in which to consider
the various questions that will arise.