Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-02-22
THE ELECTORAL COUNT.

The Electoral Commission were in
secret session, on the 9th. from ten a. m. until
h4lf-past eight p. IN. continuously, with the cx-
ception of two short recesses. Almost the entire
time was occupied with the debate, in which
every one of the fifteen members of the Commits
sion participated and the discussion. from its
commencement to its close is understood to have
been one OF extraordinary power and ability. AT
six .. m, the debate being endef, Senator Ed
munds submitted resolu ion declaring in sub
stance that the four Republican Elec votes of
Florida should be counted. Mr.. Hunton moved
as substitute that the four Demo ratio Elec' oral
vo es be counted. This was defeated-aves z:
noes, s. Mr.. Edmurds then withdrew his r So
luton and Mr.. Garfield offered one declaring that
the Republican Electors were duly appointed and
h t the votes cast by them for President and Vice
PRESIDENT were the votes provided for by the
Constitution OF the United States This resolu-
ton was adopted by the following vote: Yeas
Bradley, Edmunds, Frelinghuysen, Garfield. Hoar
Miller, Merton ard Strong-S. Nays-Abbott.
Bayard, Clifford, Field, Hutton, Payne and Thur
mani. Me, srs EdmunGs Bradley and Mil er
were appointed committee TO draft a rep rr
OF the deci ion of the Commission with a brief
ted to tie joint session OF the two houses.
The Electoral Commission, on the 10th,
certified to the Senate its decision in the case
of Florida as follows: ''That it is not competent
under the Constitution and law as it existed at
the date of the passage of the act con-
shutting the Commission, to go in'o evidence
dttWade the papers opened by the President of
prove that OF her persons than those regularly GER
tilted TO by the Governor of Florida according to
the de ernlination and declaration of their ap-
poIntment by the Board of State Ganvassers prior
to The time required for the performance of heir
duties, had been appointed ectocs. or bv
counter proof to show they had not and that all
proceedings of Courts, or acts of the Legislature
or OF The Executive of Florida, subsequent to the
ca ting OF the votes of Electors the prescribed
day, are inadmissiDlc fer any such purpose In
respect to the question raised to the eligibility
OF humphreys, the Commission is of the opinion
that. without reference to the question of the
effect OF the vote of an ineligible Elector, the
evidence does not show that he held
the office OF Shipping Commissioner at the
time the Electors were appointed TIE Commits
sion decided that, as a consequence OF the fore
going and upon grounds befo e stated nei her of
the papers purporting to be certificates of the
Electoral vote OF Florida are The certificates or
votes provided for by the Constitution Of the
United States and they ought not to be counted
as as Such, bsbs'f In In Joint session: Mr. Fiel
formal. objections to the decision of the
Commission. a the two houses separated in
accor ance with the provisions of the act creating
the Commission to consider them. The Senate
after deba e-by a vote of a TO 25-resolved that
the decision of the Commission upon the Elec-
toral votes OF the State Of Florida stand as the
lud Ement OF the Senate, the objections made
thereto TO the contrary notwithstanding, and the
Secretary was instructed to notify the House
thereoF. The House took recess until the tn
The House, on the 18th. resumed the
discussion upon the objections to the decision of
lAC SoAliiilSeioh III ana, after
somewhat acrimonious debate, voted not to con-
cur. The joint session was resumed at 2 rs d.
m. The announcement of the decision of each
house was made, and the p: :esiding officer sad:
a." The two houses not concurring in order ne
otherwise, the decision of The Commission
will stand unreyeTsed." The iellers then
announc d the vote OF Florida cast for
Hayes and Wheeler No objection being
made to the certificate from Georgia. its eleven
votes were cast for Tiden and Hendricks Next
| fol owed in succession Illinois with its twenty
one votes for Hayes; Indiana, with it, fifteen
votes for Tilden: Iowa, with its elev n votes for
hayes, and Kentucky. with its twelve votes for
Tiden. Then came the r ific tie If m Loui j.
ana. showing eigh votes for Hayes aud Wheeler
signed by the Returning Board and duly
authenticated by Gov. Kel ogg. Another GER
tificate was presented, showing light votes fo.
'riden and Hendricks. agthent ta ed by Me
Emery, as Governor. snd still aEother showing
eight vote Hayes and Wkeel-r a d
au henticated by Deslon ie Secretary of Stat
4 burlesQue er iicate was also presented show
ing hat the E ectors. all bearing the so e hat
uncommon name of John Smith. hal met and