The New York herald., 1877-02-08
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE coxxIssIoN-THE ARGu-
NENT AND THE vOTE-THE CASE OF THE AL
LEGRD INELIGIBLE ELECToB HUMPHREYS.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE CoMXIssIoN-THE ARGu-
MENr AND THE voTE-rHE CASE OF THE Al
LEGRD INELIGIBLE ELEcToR HUMPHREYS
WASHINGTON, Feb Z, 1877.
At four o'clock tho private door for the judges was
opened and the members OF the commission came out
The adjacent corridor was thronged with Senator's
Representatives. lawyers and writer's for the press
These retiring toward oach wall, loft opcn an avenue
through which the members OF tho commission
passed along toward tho House and toward the
Senate, turning neither 10 the right nor TO
the Lett to recognize even their most intimate
friends Senator Edmunds tho nrst to appear
Ho hurried to the Senate stairway aud was not
accos,ed. Judge Hoar followed, and denoted by hts
gay bearing tho result, even before word had boon
spoken TO any OF the throng outside by member of
the commission Senator Morton came next Instead
Of being carried In char, as Is usual whenever he
goes from end OF the Capitol to the ohcr he was
partially supported by two men who relieved him
from the OF his during hts slow walk along
the corridor. An old gentleman bent forward and
asked him In undertone:-
"what Is the decision. Senator'S"
Eight to soven.''
But, for Gods sake, which side arc the eIght?n
against going back OF tho Florida returns" said
Mr. Morton, wearily. walking on.
This was the first verbal an nnouncement Within
over tho telegraph wires TO every corner Of the
country.
THE pRocRgDIxGs
It remains TO tell tho story OF tho ngs
of the commission session. so tar as IL can be
told without violating tho injunction Of secrecy which
still hangs over all the speeches and coIioquies An
injunction to absolute secrecy CONCERNING evcry.
thing, to last during the progress OF the de-
bate. passed Immediately after tho meeting
trxxsu
persons other than the Commissioners wore admitted
to the room, excepting Mr. Rcardon, Marshal of the
Supreme Court; Mr. Kinney the clerk elected by the
commission, and low pages For convenicnc. all
the Commissioners descended from tho bench TO tho
body tho court aod about tho tables
there In the order customary during Tho sessions OF
Congressional committees, Justice Clifford prcsidIng
TINE ARGUMENT
Then tho argument began, an argument which
proved to be abo at times, so striking and even
thrilling botn sides that the Comms.
sloners unite In mutual compliments to one
another, ard regrctung that no stenographc
reporter was present 10 all speeches Tor
history For partial restitution IN this respect some
Of tho Supreme Court judges Will doubtless deliver
written opin,ous and some OF tho Senators and mem.
OF tho House the commission viii expand their
notes.
On tho first day yesterday Senator Ed.
munds opened the discussion, speaking strongly
in behalf Of Hayes Hc was followed by
Senators Frcinghuyscn and Morton, both of
whom urged tho impoIicy, cgality and absurdity
OF going behind the returns OF Florida any STATE
All the members except Mr.. Morton rose while ad-
dressing tho commission, and the proceedings wcrc
from nrst to last, member OF tho commission
says, ''conduc.cd with unbrokon dignity and de-
corum."
Senator Thurman followed Mr. Morton, making an
argument the democratic side, which was succeeded
by ono equally cogcnl and intensely earnest by Mr.
BsyArd. Judge Hoar then made extremely able
presentation Of tho republican case. Nessrs Hun,on,