Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-02-18
Congress.


and he moved that the oath be administered,
: Mr. Trumbull said he had placed in his hand
by special messenger from that State, the pro
test of the Senate against the legality of the cleo
ton of Mr.. Fitch; and also protest signed b
!. thirty. four members of the House OF Represent
atives of Indiana to the same effect.
The matter was debated until o'clock, whe
a motion to refer the credentials and protest
to the Judiciary Committee was disagreed +
and Mr.. Fitch was sworn in.
House-The House passed, by vote of ] i
against As, Mr.. Ohapman's bill for the construc
ton of wagon road to the Pacific as heretofor
noticed.
The question was stated on the motion of Mr.
Barbour to suspend the rules to enable him II
introduce q resolution from the Judiciary Com
mittee-that John G. Watrous, United State
district Judge for district of Texas, be impeach
ed of high crimes and misdemeanor.
Mr.. Letcher said that there were serious char
ges and he demanded that the report of til,
committee in the case be read. The report say.
that the specific charges made against Judge
Watrous of corrupt combinations for the deter
mination of suits in his Court and of having
acted with partially and in disregard of all the
rules of law and the rights of litigants.
Several members thought Judge WatrouS
should be notified of the proceeding The sub
Iiect was postponed until Saturday week.
Mr. Kelsey, from the special committee, made
report that James w. Simonton had again
been summoned before the committee, and his
responses were such as to render it unnecessary
to examine him any further. Under these cir.
cumstances the committee do not desire longer
to continue him in the custody of the sergeant.
at arms and therefore report a resolution that
he be discharged. The resolution was adopted.
MISUNDERSTANDING Pearce gave notice
of his intention to introduce bill providing for
the time and manner of electing Senators OF
the United States by the Legislatures of the sew
eral States.
Additional documents were received from
the President relative to the proclamation
of martial law in Washington Territory by
| Gov. Stevens.
Mr.. Rusl; moved q reference of the credentials
of Mr.. Fitch and the proceedings of the Senate
and protest of the members of the House of
Representatives of Indiana, relative thereto to
the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Toombs
desired that the papers be referred to select
committee. After some discussion they were
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary Mr.
Toombs desired that the papers be referred to q
select committee After some discussion they
were referred to the Judiciary.
The bill appropriating $4,000 for the survey
of the Ohio river and its principal tributaries
was taken up and advocated by Messrs. Bgler
Pugh, and Crtttenden, and opposed by Messrs
Jones of Tenn, Green and Butler.
House. The Submarine Telegraph bill. passed
by the Senate, was taken up, and referred TO the
Post Office committee.
The House then went into Committee on the
tariff bill. Mr.. Boyce, of S. c., advocated free
trade and direct taxation. Mr.. Granger, of N.
Y, advocated the protective policy. Mr.. Mill
son opposed the pending bill.
WEDNESDAY ate.--When the members
of the Senate had returned to their chamber,
from tue House, Mr.. Bigler, teller on the part of
this body made report as to the result of
counting the electoral votes for President and
Vice President, adding the fact that the electors
of Wisconsin did not assemble and cast the vote
of that State until the day after the time pre-
scribed by law.
There was protracted discussion in reference
to the vote of Wisconsin. Various resolutions
were offered but the Senate adjourned without
taking any action on the subject
House.-Mr. Barbour moved q reconsidera-
ton of the vote by which the Senate submarine
telegraph bill was referred TO the committee on
the Post Office The motion was entered prob
ably to be considered tomorrow.
Mr.. Washburne, of Maine, under the instruc-
ton of the committee on elections made report
concluding with resolution. that John W. |
Whitfield is not entitled to q seat in this House
as delegate from Kansas and moved that the
further consideration of the subject be postpon-
ed till Saturday next.
Mr. OliYer, of Missouri, moved to lay the res
olution on the table and lie made minority re-
port. Further proceedings were interrupted by
the arrival of the hour Of noon, the time fixed
for opening and counting the votes of the G.
lectors of the several States for President and
Vice-President,
She Senators, accompanied by the officers of
that body, here entered the House, the members
of the latter receiving them standing. The
President of the Senate took q seat on the right
of the Speaker, Messrs. Bigler, on the part of
of the Senate, Jones Of Tenn, and Howard, on
the part Of the House, the tellers appointed for
the occasion, occupied the Clerks desk
The President announced the object Of the
joint meeting, it being pursuant to law and in
obedience to the concurrent order Of the two
Houses
The President then proceeded to open the vote
of each State, commencing with Maine, each be-
ing read by the tellers in rotation.
The certificates from Wisconsin having been
read, Mr.. Lelcher said that he understood that
the Electoral vote of that State was cast on the
fourth instead of the third of December, as PIE
scrbed by law. He did not know what was
row the proper course to take but he desired
that the fact might be brought to the attention
of the country. The time might come when
such a state of things would conyulse the Union.
The President of the Senate said that Mr..
Letcher was not in order, while the Tellers were
counting the votes.
All the votes having been counted, the Tel
lers reported the result, with the fact that all
the returns were found regular, and the Electo-
raj votes cast on the proper day, excepting those
of Wisconsin, These were cast on the fourth
instead of the third of December.
The President said that the votes having been
counted and the result announced, the functions
of the house were discharged.
Mr. Crittenden and others protested against
the decision of the President.
While a number of gentlemen were speaking
at once, the Senate decided to retire to their
chamber.
After q running fire on points of order and
further debate involving the questions whether
or not the Convention had completed their la
bors and whether the Convention was broken
up by the withdrawal of the Senate. Mr.. Boyce
moved that the Senate be invited to return. Mr..
Florence moved that committee DO appointed
to inform Buchanan and Breckenridge of their
election.
The debate was continued until the adjourn
ment.
THURsDAY.-Senate.-M Pearce offered
resolution, which was agreed to, directing the
presiding officer to appoint committee OF three
Senators to make the necessary arrangements for
the reception and Inauguration of the President
elect
Mr.. Crittenden offered joint resolution that
the electoral vote of Wisconsin in the late Pres
idential election, being given on day different
from that prescribed by law, was therefore null