The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-24
Democratic Caucus.

w NASHlN6TOS, reOruAry So.- w ueu
this afternoon, Information reached the
House that the Electoral Commission
had decided upon counting the Oregon
vote for Hayes and Wheeler, q motion
was made and carried TO take q recess
till tomorrow at 10 o'clock, the purpose
of the msjority being to hold caucus
before the announcement of such decision
should be received. Directly after the
recess notice was read from the desk in
wing the Democrats to re-
main for the purpose of holding
a caucus. When the hall had
been cleared OF all others, Representa-.
tive Lamar ca led the meeting to order
He said that he had been requested 70
suggest that the caucus adjourn till $50
tonight, whereupon some member pro-
posed Saturday night, but the voice OF
The majority Of the members being in
tsyor Of continuing the caucus this after.
noon without adjournment. Representa-
ton that tomorrow motion be made
iG the House inviting the Senate TO meet
the House in joint convention at one
o'clock on Monday.
Representative Kehr offered substi-
tute, namely that motion be
made in the House inviting The
Senate 10 meet in joint
session o-morrow. at one o'clock, to
proceed with the count Of the electoral
votes.
To this Representative Neal offered
an amendment, which Representative
kehr accepted, 10 the effect that after
the Houses shall have met in joint SEES
sion to receive the decision of the Com
mission on the Oregon question, aud
shall have separated, the House will
then proceed 10 discuss the decision.
Ar earnest and excited discussion en-
sued, in which Representatives Hurd,
Southsrd and McMahoD, Vance, Of
Ohio, Knott, Sparks and Lane, psrtici.
pated, fsvoring delay till Monday.
Representatives Hill, Brown, Wiltshire
Harrison and House, were in favor o.
inviting the Senate 10. meet the House
to-norrow for the purpose of continuing
the count of the electoral vote.
Speaker Randall made few remarks,
counselhng calm deliberation, in view OF
the importance of the questions pre-
sented.
Representative Field also spoke brief
ly, stating that he had prepared two
bills. one providing tor the election Of
President and Vice President, on the
frst tuesday in May, the presiding off
GERS OF the Senate TO act as President In
the interval between the 4th OF March
and that time; the other bill providing
for quo pdrranto proceedings, so that the
respective contestants for the Presidency
and VIce-PresIdency could go before
the United States Supreme Court, and
there present their Claims TO the office.
Under operation Ot the previous ques-
ton, the subject and amendment TO Rep.
Mr. Nc cMshon's resolutions were re-
jected syes, A; nays, sc.
Mr.. Nc Mahon's resolution inviting
the Senste to meet the House at ten
O'Clock Monday was then adopted by
about 20 majority.
The reasons given by several gentle
men who were present 81 the caucus for
this de ay were that the House wanted
further time Tor reflection and 70 prepare
objections to South Carolina and other
cases. A number Of Democrats vho did
not saa action delay lett the hall from
time 70 time before the close OF the pro-
ceeding; snd others privately ssid, after
adjournment, that they wou d not be
bound by the csucus, as msnv Democrats
hsd puroosely sbsented themselves.
Representative Wells, OF New York,
will under circumstances earnestly
oppose the postponement contemplated
by Representative Nc Mshon.
No sction was taken or Represents
tive Fieli's two bills, which Represents
tive Wills regarded a. unconstitutional
and besI1es quo rdrranto before the
Supreme Court, some of whose members
have decided agsinsl filden, would be In
efiectQxl.
The Democrats OF the caucus Who
favored Al immediate resumption OF the
count express their surprise that those
who advocated delay mustered in such
strong1orce, and say thsi many Demo
crsts who viii act differently had len
the House before the announcement OF
the caucus. no; supposiug tha; one would
be held without sufficient notice, and
besides TIE sixty six Who voted for delay
scarcely number more than one third OF
the members Of the House
l. Is reporten that jus, before the ad'
iou.n ment Of the caucus q resolution vAs
adopted by q vote OF 81 against 80, pro
yIdipg for another recess OF the House
from Monday tall Tuesday. Prior 70 the
introduction OF this resolution namoer
OF the members Of the caucus had Lett
the hail, saying they would not abide
blythe action, which provides for . re-
cess from tomorrow till Tuesday.