The Saint Paul globe., 1900-05-06
LOST VOTE Of VERMONT
MYSTERY OF THE ELECTORAL
CONTEST OF 1870 Is NOW
EXPLAINED
MADE A BIG STIR IN THE HOUSE
OIandestineIy Given to a Page by
an Attache of the Senate, and
Congress Refused to
Receive 1t.


1877, told in graphic style the brief story
of that unique legislative and judicial
tribunal. He described how it came into
existence to meet an unprecedented emer-
gency in our political life, and how 1t
was welcomed by the Democrats at birth,
condemned by them during its life. and
followed out of existence by their execra-
tions, having seated Rutherford B. Hayes
in the White house, in opposition to the
claims Of Samuel ]. Tilden During that
historic struggle, which threatened at
one time to bring the governmental ma
chfnery to a stop, there was one incident,
almost sensational at the time 1t occur
red. the surrounding circumstances and
unprecedented ending OF which have nev-
er been told, but which is now, after the
lapse Of twenty-three years, fresh in the
minds Of those who took part in or wit
messed It
1t is the story Of the lost electoral re-
turns from the state of Vermont writes
David S. Barry, Washington correspond
ent Of the New York Sun, in the Path
finder. Congress wrangled over the sub.
ject Of that set Of returns under the lend
ership Of Springer and Hewitt, Garfield
and Hoar, and other giants whose names
are less well known to political fame. A
young man was arrested for having in
his possession a document upon the con-
tents Of which might have hinged the
result of that fierce presidential fight.
He was brought before the bar Of the
house, and nobody would receive the pa
per or touch it officially. 1t was rejected
and spurned and, after forming the sub
1ect Of a bitter parliamentary wrangle,
disappeared by piece of skillful leger-
demain as suddenly and more mysteri US
Iy than 1t had appeared, and there are
not dozen men alive today who can tell
what became of it. Nor did they ever
know, because the story has never been
told. 1t forms an unknown chaDter I'm
the political history of the United Stat
On the 2Sth of February, 1877. the house
OF representatives engaged in the work
or counting the electoral vote (the cleo
tofa1 commission being then in existence
to settle disputed points when submitted
by the senate and house acting Jointly
mad been engaged in a discussion as to
an alleged irregularity in the returns
from the state Of Vermont. The techni-
cal point, as 1T afterward developed. was
that one Of the electors on the Renub-
ncan ticket was ineligible, and another
having been chosen in his place the no.
tlce of such action had been filed in the
United States district court In Vermont
after the date fixed by law for the re-
cording Of such notice
HEWITT TENDERS A PACKAGE.
The state Of Vermont was reached IN
the process Of counting the votes when
representative Abram S. Hewitt, of New
York, addressed the chair and said:
MI Speaker, I hold in my hand
Qlrn gaIJS
votes from the state of Vermont. This
package was delivered to me by express
ABOUT the middle of December last, and
win 1t came letter stating that sim
llar package had been forwarded by mail
TO the presiding officer of the senate
called upon him and inquired whether
any other than one certificate from tbe
state OF vermont had been received by
MIN than the one which is already in his
possession.
then rendered him the package. tn.
seals OF which were unbroken, and which
Is now as 1t came into my possession. Ha
oeciined to receive it. upon the ground
tnat he had no authority in law TO do 90
onoer the circums tances I now tender
TINS package to the presiding officer op
the senate, as purporting to contain af.o
toral votes from the state Of Vermont ;,
Instantly there was a hubbub IN tha
chamber Representative John A. Kag-
son, or Iowa, at present the snaciaI coro-
missioner OF the state department e7gae
eo IN the work Of arranging reciprocity
treaties. promptly arose and said:
age" - '"e pack
The presiding officer Of the ,oin+ ses
sion was the acting vice president of tba
United States lowing to the deatb of
Eehry WILSON,, Senator Thomas w. Fer.
ry' Oh Michigan, then in the zenith oP bis
power as senator Of great wealth and
social and political influence. Ten vears
or SO later Mr.. Ferry died at his Eone in
michigan ruined financially. mentaIIy and
otherwise. In response to Mr.. Kasson.a
objection Mr.. Ferry said: 'Tha cbai |
mas stated that he has received but one
set OF certif1cates from the state of Ver
mont. lie also states that the law nro-
hlbits him from receiving any after tbo
frst Monday in February. His DUTY Is to
receive and open and have read all GER
tftcates that have been received bv hin,
up to and on tha5 day"
Mr.. HEWITT's STATEMENT
On March 1, at an evening session Of
tht two houses, Mr.. Hewitt hurrfedIv ad-
dressed the chair and said:
l think the gentleman from VIrptpis |
fMr Terry will allow me to interrunt
MIN for moment while 1 make a state |
ment to the house. A messenger has inst !
approached me and delivered me the |
package which was delivered Yesterday
or attempted to be delivered to the presi- !
dent OF the senate. 1t is not my property
The speaker (Mr. RandalD asked:
who is the messenger"
Mr.. HeWitt-The messenger stands H.
rectiy in front of the speaker Cdr. Hew-
Itt ana the messenger were In the main
aisle near the north entrance of the
ehamber). [ have no custody of it, IF is !
not my property.
Mr.. Blount of Ceorgia-Is he the gen.
tleman to whom the gentleman from Ohio
(Garfield) referred a while ago?
Mr.. Hewitt do not know who he is T
only know that he tenders me the pack
age.
The Speaker-If there be no objection
on the part of the house the clair will
receive the package
Objection was made and Representative
Chg Iron) Kelly, Of Pennsylvania, said:
Il ask that the messenger be interrogated
where the package came from
The Speaker-The chair does not think
that it would be IN order to interrogate
the messenger.
Mr.. Banks, of Massachusetts, Certainly
not.
The debate then ran on all night, the
most conspicuous advocate of the plan
Of compelling the presiding officer to re-
ceive and open the belated package being
the bounding Springer" of Illinois, since
chairman of the committee on ways and
means and author OF the famous pop
gum tariff bills and row United States
judge in Oklahoma by the grace of Presi-
dent Grover Cleveland, and Abram s.
Hewitt. Finally along toward morning
Garfield arose and made one Of his char
acteristic, plausible, oyer-the- garden-wall
speeches which served in a measure to
OIL vl