Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-02-28

supplied.
Mr.. Sherman offered resolution td
authorize the recognition Of the indie
pendence of Cuba, and authorizing the
President, whenever in his own opinion
Cuba shall have established an indie
pendent government de .factO according
to the law Of nations, to recognize its in
dependence. Referred to the Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs.
The bill to incorporate the Masonic
Mutual Relief Association passed.
Joint resolution donating condemned
cannon for the erection of monument
to Gen. Mcpherson. Passed.
Mr.. Cole offered the following joint
resolution, and asked to hav it laid on
the table:
Be it resolved, That the President OF
the United States be requested to COM
municate to the great powers of Europe,
the grave concern with which the United
States would regard any interference on
the part of those powers favoring the
perpetuation of the Turkish supremacy
in the Islands of Greece.
Mr.. Nye: That is all over now.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont: I think it is
time to proceed with the business for
which we came here.
The Senate resumed consideration
of the bill to strengthen the public credit.
Proceedings I'm the HOuse.
Mr.. Epson, of Michigan, argued against
giving Mr.. Jones, Of Louisiana, q seat on
the ground of his not having received a
sufficient number of votes.
Mr.. Blackburn, of Louisiana, favored
giving the seat to Mr.. Jones on general
principles of right and justice.
Mr.. Maynard took the same view.
After further discussion a substitute
offered by Mr.. Blackburn, reciting that
Mr.. Jones is entitled TO the seat, was res
jected.
Resolutions were reported from the
Committee on Elections, setting forth
that Jones is not entitled to seat from
the Second District Of Louisiana, were
adopted.
Mr.. Epson called up the contested
election case of Menard VS.. Hunt from
the Second District Of Louisiana.
Mr.. Maynard asked unanimous consent
that J. Wells Menard who is a negro,
| showing his certificate of election, be
sworn in as the sitting member.
Pending the consideration of the case,
Messrs. Wood and Kerr objected.
Mr.. Upson moved suspension of the
rules for the purpose of allowing each of
the contestants fifteen minutes to ad-
dress the house in his own behalf The
rules were suspended, and Mr. Menard
made his appearance about the Gems
ter Of the Republican place in the
House.
Mr.. Woodward suggested that Mr..
Menard speak from the Clerks desk.
Laughter among the Democrats
Mr.. Van Horn, Of New York, OBJ
jected to this.
The Speaker said The gentleman,
having no seat of his own on the floor
could speak from any place he pleases.
Menard then addressed the House,
referring to the fact that Hunt had not
taken testimony within the time provided
by the act He said that if Mr.. Hunt did
not know the laws of Congress, he was a
very poor subject to be sent to Congress.
The point was deemed q good one and
caused some amusement. he went on
to argue the details of the question in an
easy, quiet and good humored style,
which attracted attention and apparent
sympathy of members. After speaking
about quarter Of an hour he obtained
leave to print the remainder of his re-
marks in the Globe. After he resumed
his seat many members approached and
congratulated him in friendly manner.
Mr.. Maynard suggested that as the
action of the House in the case of Men
ard and Jones showed that there was
a vacancy in the district and as the gen.
| tleman who Just addressed the House,
Mr. Menard, held a certificate and had,
| therefore prima facie right to q seat to
be sworn in, and allowed TO hold the
seat pending the legislation. He asked
| the unanimous consent TO refer such
| motion.
Mr.. Upon declined TO yield the floor.
Mr.. Chandler appealed to Mr. Epson
to let Mr.. Maynard make that motion.
Mr.. Epson declined to do so, adding if
he did, the gentleman from New York
would be found voting against it.
Mr.. Chandler persisted in the effort
to have the motion made.
The Speaker said the gentleman from
Michigan was entitled to the floor and
must be protected in his rights.
Mr.. Chandler intimated that gentle
men on the Republican side were always
protected by the Speaker, while those on
the Democratic side were not.
The Speaker said that the gentleman
from New York was not just, Tor he had
his own rights protected by the Speaker
on every occasion.
Mr.. Chandler said he had appealed tc
the Speaker when questions Of Veracity
were passed between members, and that
the Republican members had been pros
tected and Democratic members had beer
punished.
Speaker" The remarks of the
gentleman from New York are not re.
speetful to the Chair, nor are they true.'
Mr.. ChaHdler-"Very well, sir; will
leave that question to be decided by the
record :" upon which he went on to ar,
que in support Of the action Of the com
mittee.
After further discussion the House pro
ceeded TO vote on various propositions.
A vote was first taken on the resOlu
ton of the minority of the Committee OF
Elections, declaring C. s. Hunt duly
elected, aud it was reiected-yeas Al
nays 1876.
The vote was then taken on Paine:
amendment admitting members to seats
in the House. The amendment was re
iected-yeas, 81; noes, 100.
Mr.. Davis moved that the whole sub
ject be tabled. Agreed to without di
vision.
A resolution was then offered to rsy
Jones, Hunt and Menard.
The question was then taken on th
resolutions, and they were agreed to.
Rev C. B. Balch, who was recent,
suSnenled from tho ITDiuarsaliat minis