Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-02-16
The Joint Convention.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10,

- WASHINGTON, Feb. TO-
The joint session of the two houses for
the purpose OF counting the electoral vote
resumed at one o'clock this afternoon, Act.
lug Vice President Ferry called the conven.
ton to order, and said the two houses had
separated on an objection to the count of
the electoral vote of Florida, and the objec.
tion had been referred to the Electoral Com
mission, as provided by law The commits
sion having madea decision, they had again
met to concur in or differ from said decision.
The report of the commission was then read
The decision is that the persons named in
the certificate Of Gov Stearns are the lawful
electors, aud their four votes are TO he
counted for Hayes and Wheeler. The
ground for this decision is as follows: .,
That 1t is not competent under the Constitution
and law as Y existed at the date Of the passage of
the ELECTORAL act TO go into evidence behind the
papers opened by the President Of the Senate in
the presence OF the two houses to prove that other
persons than those regularly certified BY the Gov
ernor Of the State of Florida according to the de-
termination and declaration Of their appointment
by the Board of State Canvassers. prior to the
time required for the performance OF their duties
had been appointed electors or counter proof 10
show that they had not; and ali proceedings of
the court or acts OF the Legislature or OF the Ex
ecutiYe OF Florida subsequent TO the casting OF
the votes of the electors the prescribed day are
inadmissible Tor any such purpose 81 Hai .
AS 10 the obie ction made 10 the eligibility of
Humphreys, the commission Is of opinion that
without reference TO the question Of the effect OF
tue NOlc OF M llenglDle eectOF the evidence dORa
not show that he hold the odiee Of shipping Com
pointed.
The Commission has also decided. and does
hereby decide and report, that, AS a Consequence
OF the foregoing and on the grounds before stated
neither OF the papers purpOrting TO be certificates
OF electoral votes OF Florida numbered and 3 by
the commission, and herewith returned, are GER
uncates, or the votes provided for by the Consti-
tuition ofthe United States, and they ought not to
be counted as such. fl go
Thia ranOrt yyaa efornad I,v, Trat;oo. aFt,.-
Strong and Bradley, Senators Edmunds,
Morton and Frelinghuysen, and Representa-
tives Garfield and HOar. ID -af.-f
The presiding officer asked IL there were
objections TO the count of the vote, Repre-
sentative Field IN. " said there were, aud
presented objections, signed by Senators
Jones Of Florida, Cooper, Barnum, Herman,
salisbury, cDonald; Representatives Knott,
Field, Holman, Tucker Thompson OF Massa,
chusetts, jerks, Finley, Sayler, Ellis, Morri.
son, Hewitt of New York and Springer, as
follows:
l.. Because the commission had decided that the
votes cast by Messrs. Pearce, Humphrey, Holden
and Long are the true and legal electoral votes
when the votes OF hessrs. YoDge Bullock and
Hilton are In truth and fact the true and lawful
votes OF the State.
2, Because the commission refused to receive
the evidence that Peance St al. not appointed
electors as required by law, but were deslgnAted
as such electors by the Returning Board
3. Because the decision was made in pursuance
OF an order which had been previously made by
SAID commission that would limit the evidence 10
be taken. 5000 ...-
4. Because the commission excluded all evil
dence taken oy the two Houses OF Congress as to
frauds, ETC.. in the late election In Florida
D. Because the said decision excluded ali evil
dence looking 10 prove that the certificates signed
by Stearns as Governor, and by the members OF
the Returning Board, were procured by fraudu
lent conspiracy .U'.r.. '.U tl
6. Because the commission refused to recognize
consider the acts OF the courts OF Florida or 10
take testimony as to the fact they had decided
that hessrs Pearce et a. not entitled TO GER
uHeates as electors OF Florida; which decisOn
was rendered. In case hwfully made up and OF
which said court had jurisdiction. .-iIh N. .
z. Because the commission excluded all evil.
denee 10 prove that the State OF Florida by all the
departments Qf It's governments, executive legis-
lAtiye ana Judicial has repudlated the certificates
OF Stearns and the board. fik
b. Because 10 cOnnt the vote OF Pearce et di
would be In violation OF the Constitution OF the
United States.
The two houses then separated TO con.
slider the objections,