Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1880-08-15
New York SUM-

side would have presented " a eou"'J
so distinctly as Mr.. Garfield does the issue
of the great fraud OF 1877. AS n OF
Grants mack of ''visiting statesmen" he
assisted al the beginning Of the iniquity
bv which the vote OF Louisiana was de-
Iberatelv stolen. As a member Of the
House of Representatives he gave the aid
of his presence and the comfort OF his
counsel to the Returning Board thieves in
all the stages Of their work. He signed
tine living report Of John Sherman, which
was one OF the steps Of the conspiracy to
steal the Presidency.
When the bill creating the Electoral
Commission was before the House, he OPP
posed it in a vehement speech, January
IS, 1877, upon two distinct grounds: First,
that it was q ~"usurpation,' and, secondly,
that it would empower the Commission,
clothed with the authority conferred on
Congress. to review all the acts connected
with the election. But let us quote bis
words: +.
ssThis is usurpation in every meaning OF
the word. Though the Constitution has
sought to keep Congress away from all the
process Of making a President, the bill
| creates and places in the control OF Con-
| eress the enginery by which Presidents
| are made at the caprice of the Senate and
| House. 1t grasps all the power, and holds
| States and electors as toys in its hands.
| It assumes the right of Congress to go
down into the colleges and to inquire into
all the acts and facts connected with their
| work. 1t assumes the right OF Congress
to go down into the States, to review the
| acts of every officer, to open every ballot
| box, and to pass Judgment on every ballot
| cast by seven millions OF Americans.
AI-A vra Na1a
Mr.. Garfield was chosen o member of the
Commission to represent the Republicans
of the House OF Representatives. We
| shall see how he carried out his declara-
lions against the bill. The Florida case
was the first presented, and may be said to
have been the turning point Of the contro-
yersy. 1t was strong in every respect, and
was fortified by judicial proceedings that
! peculiarly appealed to the fairness and
| good faith Of the five Justices of the Su-
preme Court who were sitting as members
| of the Commission.
The frauds of Florida had been con-
| cocted and concerted with those OF Louis
lana, as the cipher dispatches which passed
between the Republican managers in the
| two States, before the returns were finally
| completed, made clear. They threw out
| all the Democratic votes necessary to leave
an ostensible Republican majority, and
then declared Stearns elected Governor
| and Hayes electors chosen. This outrage
was 30 glaring that Drew, the Democratic
| candidate for Governor, got a mandamus
from the Supreme Court to compel the
| Board OF Canvassers to restore the pre-
| cincts that had been cast aside by fraud.
| Under that order the votes were honestly
| counted. and Drew became the legal Gov
| ernor, as he was chosen by a majority OF
people.
Before the pretended Hayes electors
| voted on December 6, the Tilden electors
began proceedings in the Circuit Court Of
Florida, claiming that they had been law
fully chosen, and that the others were
usurpers. Here is the judgment Of the
| Court:
ssAnd it is further considered and ad-
judged hat the said REALTORS, Robert Bull
lock, Robert B. Hilton, Wilkinson Call
and James Z. Yonge (the Tilden electorsl
all and singular, were at said election duly
elected, chosen and appointed electors OF
| President and Vice-President Of the United
States, and were ON the said 9th day Of
December, 1876, entitled to be declared
elected, chosen and appointed as such
electors, and to have and receive certifi-
Gates thereof"
Now turn to the action OF the Legisla-
ture. Two laws were passed. The first
was "to provide for a canvass according to
the laws OF the State Of Florida, as inter
preted by the Supreme Court, Of the votes
for electors Of President and Viee-Presi.
dent cast at the election held November 7,
1876" They did n in pursuance
thereof, and certified the election Of the
Tilden electors. The second act declared
"Whereas, the late Governor, Marcellus
l.. Stearns, by reason Of said illegal action
and and illegal canvass Of the
said Board Of State Canvassers, did erro-
neously cause to be made and certified
lists. of the names Of electors OF this State
containing the names Of Charles Fl. Pearce
Frederick @. Humphreys, William Fl
Holden and Thomas Long 1.-THE Hayes
electors), and did deliver such lists t.
said persons, when, in fact, the said per
sons had not received the highest number
of votes, and in a canvass conducted accord
ing to the rules prescribed and ~adjudgei
as legal by the Supreme Conrt, We're no
appointed as electors or entitled to receive
such lists from the Governor. but Rober'
Bullock, Robert B. Hilton, Wilkinson Gal
and James E. Yonge 1.-THE Tilden electors)
were duly appointed electors, and were en-
| tltlku W ' "A pa jim RODO VII
lists made and certified by the Governor
and to have such lists delivered to them
Thus the courts and the Legislature ani
the legal Governor all united in denounc
ing the fraud which had been perpetrated
after Zach Chambers order to organic,
the conspiracy had been issued. Thre,
sets Of certificates we're sent to the Presi
dent OF the Senate, viz: No. /, made b,
the Hayes electors and certified by Stearps
No. 2, made by the Tilden electors. with.
out the certificate Of Stearns, but with thu
certificate Of the Attorney-G General, tn
dissenting member Of the Board Of Stat
Canvassers; No. 8, containing the actor
of the State authorities and the laws re
citing the election OF the Tilden ~elector,
and ordering new certificates to be issuet
in their name.
All this testimony was before the Com
mission, with the records OF the courts
backed by u tender Of oral evidence. How
was it treated? Mr.. Justice Miller moved
February 7, 1877, as follows:
"Ordered, That no evidence will be re
ceiyed or considered by the Commission
which was not submitted to the joint con
vention Of the two Houses by the Presi
dent OF the Senate with the differen
certificates, except such as relates to tn
eligibility Of +. @. Humphreys. one Of tn
electors"
This was the crucial test Of the Com
mission, which was virtually to decide tn
Presidential election. The real question
behind the words Of the order was whetheI
proof OF the frauds that had been commit
ted in Florida, South Carolina and Louis
lana should be admitted. The vote stood
Yeas-Messrs. Bradley, Edmunds. Fer
linghusen, Garfield, Hoar, Miller, Morton
and ~Strong-S. Nays-Messrs. Abbott, Bay
ard, Clifford, Field. Hunton, Payne ant
Thurman.
Garfield represents the Great Fraud
Hs was one OF the chief instruments b,
which the conspiracy was completed.