Electoral Commission

an American commi ion provided for by act of Congre , Jan. 29, 1877, to settle disputed questions in regard to the electoral votes of several States in the presidential election of 1876. It was composed of 5 Senators, chosen by the Senate; 5 members of the House of ee gre chosen by the House; and 5 A ociate Justices of the Supreme Court, 4 of whom were designated by the act of Congre and the fifth selected by the 4. It was found, on conte the electoral votes-in the presence of the two Houses of Congre , there were conflicting certificates from 4 States — Louisiana, Florida, Oregon, and South Carolina. These certificates were referred to the commi ion, which by a vote of 8 to 7— following the line of party division in the commi ion — decided that the certificate of electoral votes cast for Hayes and Wheeler was the legal certificate. The decision of the commi ion, according to the terms of the statute, became irrevocable; the disputed votes were counted ‘accordingly; and Hayes and Wheeler were found duly elected by a majority of one electoral vote. The important question before the commi ion was whether an electoral certificate being in form confe edly according to Jaw, it was competent for Congre or the commi ion to go behind the same and take evidence aliunde in support of alleged irregularities committed before such certifieate was i ued. The majority of the commi ion took the negative view. The commi ion was composed as follows: Senators, George F. Edmunds, Allan G. Thurman, and Thomas F. Bavard; Representatives, Henry B. Payne, Eppa Huntoon, Josiah Abbott, James A. Garfield, and George F. Hoar; A ociate Justices of the Supreme Court, Natkan. Clifford, William Strong, Samuel F. Miller, Stephen J. Field, and Joseph P. Bradley. Justice Clifford was the law president of the commi ion.