Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-01-15

WAsaIxsron. Jan.9. 1857.

of corruption to consis: of Messrs. Kiisey,
Orr. Davis, (of Md. Ritch,e and Warner.
Mr.. Grow said he had had, for two or three
weeks, petition signed by 1900 voters OF
Kaasas demonstrating against the right of
Mr.. Whitfield to a seat as DELEGATE from
that territory He had been informed that
large number similar to this were on their
way, and asked to have read the petition of
Mr. Reeder setting forth the reason for con-
testing Mr.. Whitfeld's seat. Objection
being made the papers were thea, re
fered to the committee on elections. Mr..
Reedsr in his petition, denies the right of
Mr.. Viii, field to his seat and claims for him
self, setting forth reason for this assertion
He says that himself and Mr.. Whitfield
were candidates at two separate elections
when he (Mr. Reeder) received more thai );
double the number of legal votes cast for Ma
Whitfield. .
Upon full investigation of all the facts.
the House rejected Mr.. Whitfield but refus-
ed to admit Mr. Reeder. The reasons for
this are set forth in the report of the Kansas
investigation committee.
Without new legislation, and under the
same state of things, Mr.. Whitfield became
a candidate for the single session of The same
Congress, at an election held in last Octo-
ber, entirely without authority of law, in
which large majority of legal voters re-
fused to participate, preferring to recognize
a voluntary election. The persons who par
ticipated in that irregalar and unauthorized
election were small number Of the voters
of the territory, and less han those who vo-
ted at the voluntary election in Oct. 1855
and only that Mr.. Whitfield had been admit
ted to and now occupied his seat in the
House, it was without the semblence Or col
OF OF law. Other reasons are a.so stated
In conclusion, he contends that If a vIianta-
ry, irregular election, uHauthorized BY the
State, is an insufficient title to u seat, Mr.
Whitfield should be rejected, aud as his ad
mission would seem to Indicate that the
House are disposed to reconsider their de-
cson upon ibis point. Mr.. Reeder cIaiss
10 be entitled to . seat in preference 10 the
said Wnit6eld, inasmuch as he was elected
for the whole Congress, at an election more
formal, more legal, and by larger legal
vote, than that { October 1855, and that s
admission is asked for b. petitions from
large number oi the citizens of Kansas now
b.;vre the House. All matters of fact SIT
forth IN the petition, il is n-cess.ry. in tne
opinion of the House, to prove. Mr.. X ed
er offers to establish by Competent evidence
before The House or aLv committee appoint
cd Tor that purpose.
Mr. Washburn. Of ILL.,, asked, but did not
obtain leave to present and have received
the petition of large number OF the citizens
of Iowa, charging fraud upon the Dubuque
and Pacific Railroad Co.. inreiusins to build
that road as provided by the act OF Congress
granting lands for that purpose.
Tue bill authorizing the payment TO the
owners of the Schooner G IrneI, OF Massa-
chusetis, of the amount of fishing bouniies
they would have been entitled to receive >,
had the voyage been completed, gave rise to
a long debate involving the property of such
bounties. The bill finally passed; yeas 80,
nays 10, when the House adjourned.
SEKArE.-Mr. Seward intro luced bill
to expedite the telegraphie communication
for the government in its foreign intercourse
1t authorizes the Secretary of State, under
the direction of The President, to construct,
for the aid of the U. s., in lying down a
submarine cable to connect the existing
telegraphs.
NJ. Seward based his argument in favor
of Hurlan's right to a seat on the groun.,
that, while the legislative acts require the
concurrent votes OF the two branches OF
the legislature, the act o. choosing U. S..
Senator was no legislative act, but merely
an additional duty which has been devo lved
upon the members of the legislature. When
they performed this duty it was in joint con-
vention, the ind viduali,y of the two houses
being merged and lost in tn j'int body.
Mr. Stuart took the position that the cleo
lion was unconstitutional, and the report oil
committee on judiciary to thct eife't was well
founded.
Messrs. Brown and Hale favored the claim
of the setting member
Messrs. T"ucey and Douglas apposed it.
No question was taken.
On motion of Mr.. Bell. OF N. H.. resolu-
tion Was adopted requesting the Pres dent
Gf il WIS not Inconsistent with the public
inlormati, N as may be on file in he D-parI-
ment oil State relative to the interference q
the Island OF Aves, in the Carribe IN ,ea, OIL
the Venznelan government with Amar;c n
citizens who were rightfully in the oecu1ancy '
of said Islands IS they believed, and were
engaged in collecting guano there rom, the
said government having forcbly elected th.'
said American cit zens from their law, u
employment, and also To communicate what
me lsur"s have been taken Gf any) Dy The
government % the U s. To obtain redress
from the government o! Venezuela. AL
iourn d iii M)lisy.
HaUsE The House passed twenty-one
private bills and was about .ffrrtinr an ad-
jou. nmen: when Mr K-.sey in;roduced
subj. C. which cau.ed mach excitement He
presented it as question OF pririI, g; tir,,
causing it To be read at the Clerks tab Q
an editorial from the New York Times OF
the 9th inst, which charged members of
Congress and lobby agents with gross cor
ruplion, mentioning the Minnesota land
bill in the con nectiou, ard saying evidence
can be produced to carry conviction To every
honest heat. The criminals should be
driven from the high places which they
have dishonsred.
The committee OF. territories have prepar-
ed a report adverse to the petition OF the
citizens OF Carson Vail v, asking for the
annexation OF that portion OF Utah territory
to California. One of the reasons for the
refusal is that California is too large already
and it would be made more unwi deiy by such
an extension of its boundaries. The COM
mittee believe that some measure Of winde
scopa is necessary to effect cure of the g.
evils o. which the citizens Of Carson Valley
complain, viz: Mormon expressions; and ac-
cordingiy recommended the passage oil the
bill now on the calendar Tor the prevention
,pd nunis bmant nc hiuamy 1h;s ,h,,, IN |