The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-02-12

Ihls IL signed by Senators Jones OF
Florida, Cooper, Herman, Salisbury and
Mcdonald, and by Representatives Knott,
Field, Holman, Tucker, Thompson, jerks,
Finley, Ellis, Sayler, Morrison, Springer,
Barnum and Hewitt.
The presiding officer asked II there
were further objections, and there being
none, he said the Senate would withdraw,
so-that the objections could be consid.
cred.
The Senators then withdrew from the
hall.
AdiscussiOn Sprang up on n motion to
take n recess until Monday, the Republi.
cans opposing it and arguing that under
the Electoral Act the two houses had no
power to take u recess, but should at once
proceed to consider the objections to the
decision ofthe Commission for tive hours
and then vote upon it, and so permit the
joint assembly TO resume its session for
the completion Of the count Of the State,
The Democratic Senators pressed the
motion for recess until Monday. deny.
ing that such recess would be out Of
keeping with the Electoral Act. The
motion was voted down, "A to 90, n strict
party vote.
A long debate followed the refusal to
adjourn, based upon the form Of proper
motion to sustain or ovCrrule objections
filed by Mr.. Field.
Senator Whyte offered an order that the
Senate do not concur in the decision Of
the tribunal, and reciling that the votes
east by the Democratic electors Specify.
ing their names) were the lrue and law.
ful votes for President and Vice Presi-
dent in Florida. This motion was de.
ieated by u strict party vote, as follows
IEAs-Messrs. Bailey, Barnum, Bay.
ard, Bogy, Cockrell, Cooper. Davis, Eaton,
Goldthwaite, Hereford, Johnston, Jones,
Of Florida, Kelley, Kernon, McCreery,
Mcdonald, Moxey, MCrrimon, Norwood,
Randolph, Ransom; ;Saulsbury, Stevenson,
Wallace, Whytc and Withers-2G.
NAYs-Messrs. AlCorn, Allison. An.
Lhony, Blaine, Booth, Boutwell,, Bruce,
Burnside, Cameron, Of Penna., Cameron,
Of Wis, Chatlee, Christiancy, Clayton,
Conkling, Conover, Crogin, Dawes, Dor.
sey, Ferry, Freelinghuysen, Hamilton,
Hamlin, Harvey, Hitchcock, Hone, In
gals, Jones, Of Nevada, Logan, MrMil-
Ian, Mitchell, Morrill,, Morton, Ogleby,
Paddock, Patterson, Robertson, Sargent,
Sharon, Spencer, Teller, Woodleigh, West,
Window and Wright-45.
Mr.. Edmunds stated that Mr.. Thurman
was absent on account OF sickness, and as
he (Edmunds) would vote against the
order, and the Senator from Ohio for it,
he would withhold his vote.
Mr.. Sherman said that he did not like
the amendment to Mr.. Whyte's order of.
lered by Mr.. Hamlin, because it recited
names Of persons voted for in Florida.
He hoped that the vote by
which the amendment had been
adopted would be reconsidered. This
was agreed TO and the following resolu.
tion adopted in its stead by strict par.
ty vote:
ResOlrcd, That the decision OF the COM
mission on the electoral vote Of the State
Of Florida stands ms the judgment Of
the Senate objections made thereto, to the
PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE.
When the Senate had retired motion
was made 10 take recess, when Mr..
Hale raised the point OF order that
recess could not now be taken. A long
discussion followed.
Mr.. Springer held that there was moth.
ing in the Electoral bill which prevented
the House from taking n recess. 1t was
not unreasonable that the House should
ask two days to consider \ decision which
the commission had been nearly Ten days
in considering.
Mr.. McCrary thought the House had
arrived at a point where it was obliged
under the constitution Of the United
States TO count the votes, and in that
stage the House could not take recess
until State was reached that would
have to 20 TO the commission.
Mr.. kasson said that in the conclusion
OF the report OF the Joint Commission on
the Electoral Vote it stated that the pas
sage Of the bill was necessary to ailay
public excitement and agitation. If the
majority Of the House took u recess TO.
day public agitation would be increased
tenfOld. The people OF the country
would ask If it was the intention OF the
House Of Representatives to prevent the
completion OF the Presidential count.
Right or wrong, that question would be
asked tomorrow from the Atlantic 10
the Pacific ocean. He submitted TO the
patriotism OF the House and the interest
it had in preserving the peace and pros.
perity OF the country, that it should in
terpose no unnecessary delay in that
process Of law which the whole country
was looking to for its salvation.
Mr.. Warren argued that TO say the
question As to the Florida votes was set
tied by n single report OF the commission
was To speak directly in the face Of the
act itself, and Of the very purpose at
which it aimed.
Mr.. Wilson held that the only duty OF
the House was to discuss the objections
to the decision for two hours, and then
vote upon it, and let the two houses come
together again in joint session. Any
other Interpretation would nullify the
Electoral act and be revolutionary.
Mr.. Banks stated that the language of
OF the constitution was imperative that
when the electoral votes are opened they
shall be counted. For seventy.tive years
there had not been a single instance Of n
recess being taken or proposed under
such circumstances.
Messrs. Jones, Sayler and others also
participated in the discussion.
Speaker Randall maintained that the
clause in the 9TH section of the Electoral
Act which says that while the two house
shall be in joint session no debate shall be |
allowed, etc, had no pertinency TO the |
question. The portions OF the act which |
had pertinency 10 recess were, first, part
OF the lth section, which provides that II |
there be objection to tho report Of the
Commission each Senator and Represent
ativC may speak 10 minutes, and that ai- |
ter such debate shall have lasted two
hours it shall be the duty Of each house
to put the main question without further |
debate. lie thought that under that
directory clause recess could not
be taken at any other time than the pres.
ent. II debate had been entered upon, a |
motion TO take n recess would mott
be in order. Anothnr nnrtinn nf the |