The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-12
From onr Regular Correspondent. |

but at that hour only half dozen
members were In their seats, so o
recess was taken until 11:55. At twelve
the two Houses convened. and u communi-
cation from Judge Clifford informed the
presiding officers Of each House that the
Commission was prepared to report upon
the questions referred to them. Mr.. Sayler,
for the purpose Of delay, moved that the
Senate be notified that the House would re-
ceivc them in joint session at l O'Clock.
Mr.. Hale proposed as substitute that the
Senate be received at once. This was voted
down, the Democrats voting in the negative
and sayler's motion was agreed to. Hale
gave notice that he would call the ayes and
noes in future If any attempt was made at
delay. Springer replied, "Wc accept the
notice." ..s .s..
THE JOINT SESSION. -,
At precisely O'Clock the Senate entered
the hall Of the House and took seats on the
Democratic side. The President Of the
| Senate called the convention to order, and
submitted the report Of the Electoral Com
mission, which declared that Hayes and
| Wheeler are entitled to receive the four
votes OF Florida.
AS soon as the objections Of Dir. Field
had been read the Senate withdrew, so that
the houses might separately discuss the OBJ
jections.
| IN THE HOUSE
Mr.. Lynde tDcm.), OF Wisconsin, moved
to take recess until Monday. Mr..
Hale (Rep.), Of Maine, raised a point
OF order that the electoral bill ex-
pressly provided that under the circum-
stances now existing the houses could only
decision Of the Commission, and must then
take vote. Springer (Dem.), Of Illinois,
quoted the section Of the bill under which the
houses have already taken recesseS from day
to day, as expressly authorizing the action
proposed by Judge Lyndc. McCrary, Kas-
son, Ho>kins, Banks, Hoar (Reps.), opposed
a recess, and Warren, Hooker, Sayler, Hart
ridge. and Cox Dems.). advocated it.
Mr.. Hoar said the spirit OF the act pro-
yided that no recess could be allowed until
vote had been taken upon the objections
presented. He thought that to say any
party in the House desired TO defeat the
conclusion Of the counting Of the electoral
vote by repeated reccSscS would be TO
charge an act OF political dishonor, which
he, for one, was not prepared to believe
was the fact.
The Speaker overruIed his point OF order !;
| J.I %Ino nn1
| tabled.
The House then 6 L. NJ voted 10 take 4
recess until Monday at 10 o'clock-aycs,
1863; noes, 10S.
The Senate, without discussion, accepted
the decision of the Commission, and noti-
tied the House that they were ready to pro-
coed with the count. But they took re-
cess until Monday, upon being notified OF
the action OF the House.
The recess gives
TIME FOR THE IRATE AND THE DESP0NDEST
DEMOCRATS TO RECOVER
their equanimity, and is not the Inaugural
ton Of the general policy Of delay fore
Swallowed in yesterdays kilograms. II
gives time, too, to fully prepare the case OF
Louisiana for proper presentation before
the Commission, which very recent devel'
opments made impossible to do to-day.
The decision of the Florida case does not
justify in any degree the supposition that
the Commission will blindly adjudge every
case in favor OF the Republicans. Yet
General Terry, Colonel Cabell, and Colonel
Douglass, and many other Democrats 60
about mo,rnfully and refuse to be com.
fortcd.
WATTS'S RESIGNATION.
Postmaster-General Tyner testified to-day
before the House Committee on Privileges
that OH November II, 1876, he received by
telegraph the resignation OF j. W. Watts,
postmaster at Lafayette, Oregon, and
transmitted acceptance Immediately by tele'
graph. The written resignation was re-
celyed at the Post-Otfice Department on the
9th of December. The office was put in
charge OF J. b. Underwood. a special post
office agent. On the 23d Of November Fl.
W. Hill was appointed to fill tie vacancy,
and his bond is dated December 18th, and
approved at the Department January Sd,
and his commission January 4, 1877. I'm
derwood took an inventory OF the property
November I4th, and removed the Office to
another building, Hill then acting as bis
deputy. General Tyner said in point OF
fact Hill was not actually indicted into Of
flee until January 4th, but he ceased to be
postmaster when relieved by Underwood.
1t is the practice of the Department to ac-
cept designations when sent by telegraph.
j. u. McGrew, Sixth Auditor of the
Treasury Department, testified that the last
account OF Watts as postmaster was made
for the time between October l to Novem-
Der IA, 1876 The receipt Of Underwood
for property surrendered by Watts is Gated
November II, and was received at the Trea-
sury Department December /. Watts was
indebted to the Government, and has not
yet paid up the balance because the state
mcnt has not been forwarded to him. 1t is
usual to demand settlement ut the end OF
quarter. Watts resigned in the middle OF
a quarter.
Associated Press Report BY telegraph to the Dis
| pach.J
WASHINGTON, February 10. In Joint SEES
sion to-day the president OF the Senate or
dered the following to be read:
ELECTORAL COMMISSION,
Washington, D. g., February 3, lS77.S
To the President of the Senate OF the
T-.;tod ctotoc prasidinp in the meetin @ OF