The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-02-08


-. A.
(ASsoCilteL pTesl EcpoTt.)
WASHINGTON, February The Elec.
tOrGl Commission commenced session to.
day ut 10 o'clock and continued in session
until 4 o'clock. 4 large crowd Of inter.
ested persons were in front Of the doors
OF the court room, expressing great
anxiety 10 learn the result Of the deliber.
ations. As the members Of The Commits.
sion came into the lobby on their way
ont they were eagerly surrounded by
their personal friends and interrogated
as to the injunction. The secrecy had
been removed, and there was no obec.
tiOn TO give decision. The following is
4 minute unofficial record OF the Commits
sion:
On motion of Justice Miller il was or.
dcred that no evidence be received by the
Commission which was not submitted to
the joint convention Of the two Houses
by the President Of the Senate with the
different certificates, except such as re.
late to the eligibility Of +. c. Humphreys
"a one OF the electors. The vote is as
follows:
YEAs-Bradley, Edmunds, Frelinghuy-
sen, Garfield, Hoar, Miller, Morton and
Strong-S.
NAYs-Abbott, Bayard, Clifford, Field,
llunton, Payne and Thurman
On motion OF Mr.. Abbott, Rcsolrtd,
That in the case Of Florida this Commits.
sion will receive evidence in relation to
the eligibility Of Frederick C. Humphreys,
one Of the persons named in certificate
No. as an elector
NEAs:-Abbott, Bayard, Bradley, Clii.
ford, Field, Hnnton, Payne, Thurmah-I
Is.
NAYs:-Elmunds, Frrlinghuysen, Gar.
field, Hoar, Miller, Morton, Strong.
The Secretary OF the Commission was
instructed to inform the counsel on re.
spectiye sides that a, II o'clock to-mor-
row it will be proposed to hear the argu-
mcnt on the question oil the eligibility Of
i. G.. Humphreys as an ElcCtor. Humph-
reys is one OF the Republican Electors
and the question raised as to his eligibil-
ity is that he was at the date Of his elec.
ton United States Shipping Commission
er, which is alleged to be such an office OF
trust or profit as TO disqualiiy him from
acting as an elCctor, but which office it is
asserted by the Republicans lie resigned
before the election.
THE PROSPECT LOOKS MAYEsY.
WAsHlSGroN, February 7-llP.M.-
II seems 10 be the prevalent belief that
the ultimate decision will be in favor Of
the Hayes and Wheeler Florida electors,
and that the course in this case will be
pursued with regard to Louisiana, where
there are two alleged ineligible electors
and more than one return. A promi.
nent Democrat Of the Commission said,
this evening, that the meaning OF the vote
Of the Commission is that the ministerial
acts OF the State executive officers are to
be respected, but not those Of the Judi.
ciary. He added, however, that as the
Democratic certificates embody the pro.
ceedings of the court they will by this
decision be fully opened up for consider.
alton and argument. The Democrats find
some satisfaction in the fact that the rule
established by the Commission will lead.
to the ascerlainment that Watts, the Re-
publican electOr in Oregon was ineligible
at the time Of his election, and hence on.
ly two Republican electors from that
State can be counted, Cronin, Democrat,
being the third elector. On this suppo.
sitiou they think the Democrats still have
a chance for the Presidency, and that the
election may be thrown into the House,
where Tilden would be elected, and that
in such event the choice Of Wheeler as
Vice Prsident would devolvc on tho
Senate.
The decision Of the Commission is dis.
cussed at the hotels and in private poliii.
cal circles tonight, all conceding that the
Republicans seemingly have the advan.
tage.
The Democrats express their regret
that the parties were equally divided on
the subject.
HUMPHREYS ALL RIGHT.
IA an introduction to the subject Of
inquiry into the eligibility Of Frederick
C. Humphreys, as proposed by the Com
mission, the Committee on Privileges and
Elections to-day examined that gentle
man in accordance with instructions Of
the Senate. Witness testified that he act
ed a. a Republican elector. Previous TO
that time he held the office OF U, S. Ship
ping Commissioner at Pensacola, but re.
signed in September last and his resigna-
ton was accepted. lie had no copy Of
his letter Of resignation, but handed q
letter accepting his resignation to the
Chairman. The letter reads as follows {:
SIR: Your letter Of the 9th of Sep.
tember, 1876, resigning your office Of
United States Shipping Commissioner
for the port OF Pensacola, in lie State
Of Florida, has been read by me and yonr
resignation Of said office is hereby nc.
cepted.
Very rcsp'y, your obedient servant,
W. b. Woons,
U. S. Circuit Judge.
OCTOBER ., 1876.
ToE. G. Humphreys, Renuoola, Fla.
Witness said that Judge Woods was