The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-08
Decision Of the Electoral
Commission.
Will Not 90 Behind the Face
Of the Returns,
But will Pass Upon the In.
eligibility Of Electors.
A Strict Party Vote.

WAsHlNaToN, February THE Elec-
toral Commission commenced its session
to-day at 10 o'clock, and continued till 4
o'clock. A large crowd Of interested
persons we're in front of the doors Of the
court room, expressing great anxiety to
learn the result of the deliberations. AS
the members came into the lobby on
their way out they were eagerly sur
rounded by their personal friends
and interrogated. As the iDjunc.
tion of secrecy had been removed
there was no objection to
give the decision. The following
is the minute of the unofficial record OF
the Commission.
Justice Miller ordered thas no evil
dence be read or considered by the Com.
mission which was not submitted TO the
Joint Convention of the two houses by
the President Of the Senate with the dif.
ferent certificates, except such as relates TO
the eligibility Of F. G. Humphreys, one
of the electors.
The vote is as follows: '
Yeas-Bradley, Edmunds, Frelinghuy-
sen, Garfield, Hoar, Miller, Morton and
Strong-8.
Noes-Abbott, Bayard, Clifford, Field,
Hunton, Payne and Thurman.
On motion of Mr.. Abbott,
Resolved, That in the case of Florida
this commission will receive evidence in
relation to the eligibility Of Frederick C..
Humphreys, one of the persons named in
certificate No. !, as elector.
Yeas-Abbott, Bsysrd, Bradley, Cliff
ford, Field, Hunton, Payne and Thur.
mans.
Edmunds, Frelinghuysen, Gar
field, Hosr, Miller, Morton ami Strong
-.
The Secretary of the Commission was
instructed to inform the counsel on the
respective sides that at IL o'clock to-mor-
row is will be prepared to hear argument
on the Question OF the eligibilitysot +. q.
Humphreys as an elector.
Humphreys is one of the Republican
electors, and the question raised as to
hi eligibility Is that he was, at the date
of his election, United States shipping
commissioner, which is alleged to be
such an Office of trust or profit Is to dis
qualify him from acting IS elector, but
which office it is asserted by the Republi-
cans he resigned before the election.
The Commission by their decision to-
day will have before them IN the Florida
case three sets of papers, namely: First,
the certificate OF the Hayes electors; sec
ond. that of the Tilden electors; and third,
the paper containing the record of the
circuit court of Florida on the quo aodr-
ranto, and the subsequent action OF the
legislature of that State.
The Republicans express themselves
gratified with :he decision of the Com
mission, while the Democrats are some
what discouraged by It, The former
claim no consequence will be attached to
the quo aoarranto proceedings Of
the circuit court of Florida, as they
are now under appeal TO the supreme court
of that State and therefore not final. 1t
seems to 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 aHd
more than one return. A prominent
Democrat of the Commission said :his
afternoon that the meaning Of the vote
of the Commission is that the ministerial
acts of State executive officers are to be
respected, but not those Of the judiciary.
he added, however. as the Democratic
certificates embody the proceedings Of
the court they will by this decision be
fully opened up for consideration and
argument. The Democrats also find some
satisfaction in the fact that the
rule established by the Commis-
sion will lead TO the ascertainment
that Watts, the Republican elector in
Oregon, was ineligible at the time ef his
election, and hence only two Republican
electors from that State can be counted,
Cronin, Democrat, being the third cleo
tor. On this supposition they think the
Democrats still have 3 chance for the
Presidency, and that the election may be
thrown into the House where Tilden
would be elected, and that in such an
event the choice of Wheeler as Vice
Presiden. would devolve on the Senate.
The decision Of the Commission is die
cussed q, the hotels and in private politi-
cal circles tonight, al, conceding that
the Republicans seemingly have the sd-
vantage. The Democrats express their
regret that the parties were strictly d.
vided on the subject.