, 1866-07-26
ELEsTfONs or SENATOR'S.


The bill passed by Congress 10 regulate tht
times and manner Of holding elections o1
United States Senators, IN accordance with
article l., section 4, clause 1. Of the Constitu
ton, IS one Of the most important measures
Of the session. Heretofore, each State has
has prescribed its own formula for election.
Of Senators. In some States, elections art
made by joint convention OF the two branches
Of the Legislature. In others, concurrent
vote o! the two Houses, acting separately, Ii
necessary. In some States, majority Of al
the members elected are required; while IL
Others only majority Of the members prcs
cnt are necessary. In States where the joint
convention system exists, disputes frequently
arise Is to what Is joint convention. In In
diana, 4 few year ago, when the Republicans
had u majority Of the Senate, and the Demo
Gratis a larger majority Of the House, the ssn'
ate refused to 60 into Joint con-
vcntion for the election of Senators.
Being required TO do so, however,
for the purpose Of receiving the Governors
Message, the presiding officer, who WIS =
Democrat, declared the Convention adjourn
cd to the next day when IN election would
be held for Uulted States Senators. On the
following day the Democratic members came
together and elected Jesse D. Bright and
Graham N. Fitch un1ted state. Senators
The Republican members pl,sen,cd thcm.
selves entirely, and always held that no law.
ful election had been held. A controvarsr
somewhat similar aroee In Iowa. crow,or ~
OF Senator Harlau's election IN 1877. .,d
another has lately. arisen rrovfnr mn =, the
manner OF Mr. Stocktnn,s r1action :, W.
Jersey.
To correct these CT ,1s. and IN ovo;a ~.
frequent controversies and 1oranc,cs ,rh5e,,
nrise in the representation, IF s,otae IT, -
United States Senate, Congress lss .,.sa.s
bill providing tAat the Lerielatpre .,sssu ~ 80,
stalc, which sha1l be chosen next precedtn,r
the expiration Of the time for which ,nv ca.,1
ator was elected to renrcspnt mia c,sto T.,
Congress, sha1l, on the second Tnesasv at,as
the meeting and orpauiy,tion 4ba-aet ~
coed to elect a Senator In t.onorese ~ 49,
Of sucl Senato. going ont ~ o1f7ce :, .he eSe ~,
loving manner: Each Hon,a .,,s11 a,,..,., s..s ~
rseo roce vote Of each member nrcsan, rn.' ~
one person for Senator IN Eaan- .Aute
said State, and the name q, he $3.50 ~ noul ~
soted Tor, who shall harc m,;o.;t"
VI tle whole number of votes cast i
eaen House, shall be entered IN tha ;ans
''el Q! eeh eec House by The ClcrE ~ -sao.at..
thereof hnt r. s1tha. r.. Se4 VI secretary
such majority to any person ~ s.ta 49, ~ ~. ~
fact shall be entered on tbe ion@s; S A.
twelve O'Clock meridian of The dsr fo,,or,a. H.. -.
that On which the pnoceedlncs nre rcon,saa "
take place, as aforraafd thr 1nem,,sss W 49, ~
two Houses shall convene in ;o,nf as.sm,,.
and Tie iou,n,1s of each r1nr:S ~ s a,,.r noy' sea'
read ana f. tn. sanos n..so,, taa1, Ss ]usa oe
cpivea ma,o,,tr ~ r., ~ naan nN.u 1a'e ". r.
Honse- snc,, rc.s,r .lan ~ s...a su.Ss - sasu su,
elected Senator - rn,-ssaa. sa,s s.a." - Ivy
CONGRESS NJ Tho 11n1ted So. ny. ~ 49, t. ~ ~
same ncrson sh.1l ~, s,ara - -aes,,.as ~. tas
itv nj thc xotos =, a.a,, 49, =. r. Au a.tga.
Unusc sha,, how fa,,sI - 4s,.e Sas,na -. s.ue
q. reou]red by this act t,,s ia,nt "sser.hss
shall then nroeaefl to choose hv a ~ 49, ~.
vote Of each me,nl,er nrcscnt - ner.on -. s,e ~
purnose aforesaid md the narson 1,..1.. ~. sAe
majority of al Inc votes of the sa,a ;o,nt 80
maiority Of ali the mc,nfnrs a,.a4
ed to both Houses hcInp r,r.,ent snd ~o,;n~ ss
shall be declared du)v eIcc,ed and n oasan.
perkou shall recc,ve sucb majority IN ~ 49,.
dav. fhc fofnt oes.,,1,,, sbo1i ,,o.4 -. .S.