The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1877-02-15

little is asked Of the United States to do,
may receive favorable consideration.
THE SECRET SESSION..
The electoral commission vas in secret
session from 10 a. n. Till half past eight
this evening continuously with the e1cep-
ton OF two short recesses. Almost the en-
tire time, until nearly the close of the ses-
sion, was occupied with debate, in which
every one of the fifteen mem bers Of the COM
mission, by Turks, participated. Two CT
three OF the justices, and several Of the SCI
aiorial members read
EL.BoKAIELY PEEPARED OPINIONS
upon the NAN points at issue, and the DIS
cussion is understood to have been, from It's
commencement 10 its close, of extraordinary
power and ability. The question Of the ell
igibility OF Humphreys was not made the
subject of much discussion, nor was any
vote taken concerning il. At one
stsge OF the proceedings, however,
Senator Thurman offered reso-
luton declaring that there were no suffi-
cienI evidence offered TO show thst Hum
phress was not a shipping commissioner on
the 9TH day Of November. This resolution
Was criticised by several Republican MEN,
bers, on the ground that 1t might carry an
implication that il Humphreys had been
such a commissioner on the 9Th OF No
vember, his vote would have been
invalid and void. The resolution was not
urged, there seeming to be practically a
unanimity OF opinion that Humphreys
resignation was
LEGAL AND EFFECTUAL,
being rendered and accepted before the cleo
ton. About 6 O'Clock this evening, the de-
bate being ended, Senator kdmunds sub
mitted q resolution d, claring, in substance,
that the four Republican electoral votes Of
Florida should be counted and embodying
also various reasons for such declaration.
Representative Hunton offered the
FOLLOWING AS SUBSTITUTE.
certificate No >, to-wit: Wilkinson Call.
J. E. Yonee, Robt. Bsliack and Robt. L.
Hilton are the fous persons Who were duly
appointed electors by the state of Florida
on the 9Th DAYS of November, and that
their votes, as certified by ssch certificate,
ara the votes provided i,r by the CoUsti-
tuition Of the Uniied States.
This substitute was rejected by the iol-
lDeifg NOtf. 1STs-- ApbpNt, nay
Clifford, Field, Hun,cn, Payne and Thur
man. Nays-Bradley, Eimund+, Frtling-
huysen, CARTE ID, Hoar, Miller, Morton an
Strong
Mr. Edmunds then withdrew his resou-
ton, and Mr.. Garfield offered the follow
ing which was adopted by the foregoing
vote reversed.
Resolved, That the four persons, to-wit,
Frederick G. Humphreys, Chas. w. PeaIce,
Vim. H. Holden, and hos. W. Long, were
duly appointed electors OF President ard
Vice-PresideIt for the state of Florida, and
thai the votes cast by the aforesaid four
persons are the votes provided for by the
Constitution Of the United States.
The vote N detail on the adoption OF This
resolution was as follows: Yeas-Bradley,
Edmu uds, Freiing huysen, Garfield, boar
Miller, Morton and Sirong. Nays-Ahbol,, !
Bsyard, Clifford, Field, Hunton, Payne and !
Thurman.
Ga motion of Mr. Garfield, Messrs. Ed
munds, Bradley and Miller were appointed |
a committee to draft the report of the de- |
cision Of the commission with brief state |
,nent of the reasons therefor, TO be signed |
by the members agreeing therein, and 10 be
to the joint session OF the two |
houses as required by the electoral act.
The argumentative resolution previously
offered and Withdrawn by Mr.. Edmunds
was adopted by the committee of three
with a few verbal changes, as their report,
and about eight o'clock p. m. it was signed
BY the eight members Of the commission
who had voted for the adoption OF Mr..
Gorfe!d's resolution.
THE FORMAL DECISION
as reported TO congress is very brief, but its
complete lhraseology is withheld from
publicity tonight from considerations OF
etiquette, az it is to be transmitted to-mor-
-ow a. m. TO the President of the senate
Inder seal, to be BY him Immediately laid
before the joint session OF the two houses.
lis points, however, can be accurately
tated as follows:
First. The commission exerci,irg the
,oweIs of both houses under law, ard hav-
ng examined all the certificates and papers
eferred TO them, find that they have no
to hear evidence GtueRdi, or in
,ther words, 10 hear evidence out of the
certificate of the Governor OF the state of
Florida, founded upon the determination
Il the cauvassing board OF the state as to
Is vote.
Second. The commission would not con-
ider as evidence any act Of the legislature
II courts in determining who the state has
appointed as electors after the day the said
lectors gave their vote.
Third. In regard to the alleged inelisi-
'ility of +. c. Humphreys. there was rot
efficient proof that he held Office on the
tn Of November.
DFJryFprD tn CAV
Tie secretary of the commission will to-
morrow morning deliver TO the Speaker of
ne house the formal ratification signed By
he president OF the commission, that their
ecision has been communicated to the
resident pro ten. of the senate. There.
pom in compliance with the electoral act,
be two houses will again meet, and the
ecision will be read and entered on the
,urnal of each horse, and the vote OF Flor
Ia will Immediately be counted for Hayes
nd Wheeler, unless the objection
eing made in writing by at least
We Senators and five members Of the
ouse OF representatives,, the two houses
hall separately concur in ordering other
Use. 1t being known that the two houses
ill not go concur, it is not thought likely
rat any objection will be made to the i'm ,
lediate counting Of the Florida Republic :
an votes, as this would be an unnecessary !
aste Of time.
SECRETARY MoRRILL's CONDITION
somewhat improved to night, and such is
) to give encouragement for recovery.