The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-02-15
Especial ptspatch 10 The Pittsburgh poa.l

cluding the admission OF Humphreys as
a competent elector. The impression
prevails that this vote will be applied to
all succeeding contests. ]. P, B.
Second Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, February o.-It is now
understood that the State of Florida has
been given to Hayes, but two of the Re.
publican Judges Judges Bradley and
Strong-consider that they reach this
conclusion upon grounds that will be
fatal to Hayes in other cases. The Com
mission is in session at nine o'clock on
the form of report to Congress.
J.P. B.
(By Associated PreSs
WASHINGTON, February o-The Elec-
toral Commission this evening, by avote
of against 7, decided that the four cleo
toral votes of Florida should be counted
for Hayes and Wheeler. A formal re-
port to this effect was signed at $40 P. M.
by Messrs. Bradley, Edmunds, Freling.
huysen, Garfield, Hoar, Miller, Morton,
and Strong, and will be sent to the Pre-
sident ofthe senate to morrow morning.
How the Decision Was Reached.
The Electoral Commission were in
secret session from 10 A. M. until $40 in
the evening continuously with the excep-
ton of two short recesses. Almost the
entire time until nearly the close of the
session was occupied with debate in
which every one Of the fifteen members
of the Commission by turns participated
Two or three of the Justices and several
Of the Senatorial members read elabor-
ately prepared opinions upon the main
points at issue and the discussion is un-
derstood to have been from its commence
ment to its close of extraordinary power
and ability.
The question of the eligibility Of
Humphreys was not made the subject OF
much discussion, nor was any vote taken
concerning it. At one stage of the pro-
ceedings, however, Senator. Thurman Of
fered a resolution declaring that there
was not sufficient evidence offered to
show that Humphreys was not ship
ping commission on the 9TH day ofNov
This resolution was criticized by several
Republican members on the ground
that it might carry an implication that if
Humphreys had been such commits
sioner on the 9TH of November, his vote
would have been invalid, and the reso.
luton was not argued, there seeming to
be practically a unanimity of opinion
that Humphreys resignation was legally
efectual, being rendered and accepted
before the election.
About six o'clock P. NJ, the debate be.
ing ended, Senator Edmunds submitted
a resolution declaring, in substance, that
the four Republican electoral votes of
Florida should be counted, and embody-
ing also various resolutions for such de-
claration,
Representative Hunton offered the fol- |
lowing as substitute: |
ReS0lyeG, That the electors named in
certificate No. 2, to wit, Wilkinson Call,
J. E. Yenge, Robert Ballock and Robert |
B. Hilton are the four persons who were
duly appointed electors by the State Of
Florida on the 9TH day of November, and
that their votes as certified by such certi-
fcates are the votes provided for by the |
Constitution of the United States.
This substitute was rejected by the fol- |
lowing vote: Yeas MessrS. Abbot, |
Clifford, Field, Hunton, Payne, and
Thurman 7 Nays-Messrs. Bradley, Ed
munds, Frelinghuysen, Garfield, Hoar,
Miller, Morton and Strong-S.
Mr., Edmunds then withdrew his reso-
luton and Mr.. Garfield offered the fol- |
lowing which was adopted by the fore
going vote reversed.
Res0lVed, That the four persons, to
wit, Frederick c. Humphreys, Chas w.
Pearce, VIM. H. Holden and Thos. w.
Long, were duly appointed electors of
President and Vice President for the
State of Florida, and that votes cast by
the aforesaid four persons are votes pro-
vided for by the Constitution of the Unit
ed States.
The vote in detail on the adoption of
this resolution was as follows. Yeas
Messrs, Brady, Edmunds, ,Frelinghuysen
Garfield, Hoar, Miller, Motion & Strong
IS, Nays-Messrs, Abbott, Bayard,
Clifford, Field, Hunton, Payne and
Thurman,
On motion Of Mr.. Garfield, Messrs.
Bradley and Miller were ap-
pointed a committee to draft report of
the decision of the Commission with
brief statement of the reasons therefor,
to be signed by members agreeing there.
on and to be transmitted to the joint ses-
sion of the two houses as required by the
act.
The argumentative resolution previously
offered and withdrawn by Mr.. Edmunds
vas adopted by the Committee Of three
With few verbal changes as their report,
Ind about eight o'clock it was signed by
he eight members of the Commission
Who had voted for the adoption of the
Garfield resolution.
The formal decision, or report to Con-
,ress, is very brief, but its complete phra-
eology is withheld from publicity to
light from consideration of etiquette, as
/ is to be transmitted to morrow morning
o the President Of the Senate under seal,
o be by him Immediately laid before
he Joint session of the two houses.
bstraet Of the Report to be Sent to Congress.
Hts points, however, can be accurately
tated as follows.
First-The Commission exercising the
overs of both houses under law and
aving examined all the certificates and
apers referred to them find that they
ave no authority to hear evidence alinN-