Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1863-12-08
THE VERY LATEST
TELE GR A p II.
CONGRESSIONAL.
x1IyIIIth Congress.-.Flrst Session.

HousE.-At noon Mr.. Etheridge called
the House to order He said he would
proceed to call the roll of members, and
of such members, only, whose creden-
tials showed they were regularly elected
in accordance with the laws OF their
States and the United States.
The Clerk then read the roll of men,
bers from Maryland and West Virginia,
Oregon, Missouri and Kansas.
Mr.. Stevens, of Virginia, desired that
the credentials of those whose names
were not on the roll be read.
The Clerk said that he had placed on
the roll all the names of those whose
credentials bore evidence in accordance
with the law passed by this House in
March last
Mr.. Washburne asked whether there
were any contestants of seats.
The Clerk replied that there were
three or four from Missouri, one from
Virginia, and one from Kectucky, as he
recollected.
Mr.. Stevens repeated his request.
Mr.. Stiles, of Pennsylvania, asked for
the reading of the act of March Sd.
The act was read, as follows:
An actregulating the duties Of the Clerk
of the House of Representatives. an
preparing for the organization Of the
House:
BE IT ENACTED, &c, That before the
meeting of the next Congress, and of
every subsequent Congress that the Clerk
of the next preceding House of Repre-
sentatives shall make the roll of the Rep
resentatives elect and place thereon the
names of all persons, and of such per-
sons only, whose credentials show that
they were regularly elected in accord
ance with the laws of their States re-
spectively, or the laws of the United
States.
At the request of Mr.. Stevens, the
Clerk read the form of the credentials of
the Maryland members which he had
ruled out for informality.
Mr.. Dawes offered a resolution, that
the names of the Maryland delegation
be placed on the rolls of the House, and
moved the previous question, which was
seconded.
Mr.. ]. c. Allen moved to lay the reso-
luton on the table.
The question was taken on Mr.. Allen s.
motion to lag Mr.. Dawes resolution, and
was decided in the negative-yeas "A,
nays "a. Applause from the galleries.
Mr. Dawes demanded vote on his
resolution, which was adopted, followed
by applause.
So the names of the members from
Maryland were placed on the roll
On motion Of Mr.. Pike, a similar
course was adopted in regard to the
members from Kansas.
On motion of Mr.. Stevens, the same
course was adopted with regard to the
names of the members from Western
Virginia.
The Clerk said the resolutions, as he
understood them, were in accordance
with the laws of Virginia, and brief
conversation ensued as to the legality of
the credentials, when the question was
taken and the resolution agreed to, so
the names of the members from Virgin
la were entered on the rolls.
Mr. Stevens then asked that the Gre
dentials of the Louisiana members,
Messrs. Beal, Coltman and Baker, be
read Their credentials stated that the
election was in accordance with the Con-
stitution and laws of Louisiana, and that
the said election was held on the I'd of
November last. The credentials of the
Louisiana members are signed by l. L.
Ribble, Governor of Louisiana.
Mr.. Stevens moved that the names of
of the Louisiana members be stricken
from the roll.
Mr.. Brooks said that the House
could elect Speaker without the names
of these gents from Louisiana being
stricken off the rolls.
Mr. Stevens protested against their ad-
mission, but in order to facilitate the
organization, he would withdraw his mo-
ton for the present, and again offer it
when the Louisiana members were
sworn in.
The credentials Of the members from
Virginia were read at the instance of
Mr.. Lovejoy, and resolution offered
that their names be entered on the rolls.
Mr.. ]. c. Allen raised point that the
credentials were certified to merely by
county clerks. He moved to lay the
resolution on the table.
Mr.. Washburne moved that the House
proceed to the election of Speaker, uird
Uoce, which was agreed to.
Mr.. Washburne nominated Mr.. Colfax
Mr.. Pendleton nominated Mr. Cox Mr..
Ancona nominated Mr.. Dawson Mr.
Guitar nominated Mr. Mallory. Mr.
Steele of N. Y. nominated Mr. Stebbins
Messes. King and Blair of Missouri, were
also placed in nomination.
Messrs Pendleton, Dawes, Wadsworth
and Pomeroy were appointed tellers tc
conduct the election.
The House then proceeded to vote
with the following result:
Whole number of votes, 1874. Mr.. Col
fax, 101; Mr. Cox, AZ; Mr.. King, 4
Mr.. Mallory 10; Mr. Stebbins, s; Mr.
Dawson II; Mr.. Blair, 2; Mr.. Stiles l
The Clerk declared Mr.. Colfax dul,
and legally elected The announcement
was greeted with vociferous applause.
Messrs Dawson and Cox were ap
pointed committee to conduct tn
Speaker to the Chair.
The Speaker, on taking the Chair, de
livered a BRIEF eloquent and patriot
address, which was received with gener
al applause.