Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-02-24
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
Foty.FlM COngrM..SscOnd Regular session
"WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1870.
SENATE.


Alaska.
Mr.. Cole offered a resolution directing the
Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds
TO inquire into the expcdlency Of making
provision for the erection OF public buildings
In San Francisco for the use OF the Govern
mont; which was adopted.
Mr.. Cole sald Il would be a matter Of
great economy aud convenience TO have
these buildings erected, and II was under
stood that the people OF California would
donate the ground.
Mr.. Spencer offered resolutions instruct
Ing tho Committees on Naval and Military
Affairs to Inquire Into the expedloney Of
abollshlng the Naval Academy at Annapo-
lis, and the Military Academy at West
Point, aud tho substitution, by assignment
to duty at various colleges throughout the
country Of naval and military officers as In
structors In navigation and naval warfare,
and In military tactics, or the Inauguration
OF some other system calculated TO relieve
the Government Of large expense, and en-
Rhlo all who desire II to secure an education
Or the army and navy at their own expense.
The resolutions were adopted.
Mr.. Ferry called up the message Of the
President returning without his approval
the bill for tho relief Of Rollln White.
Mr.. Ferry briefly reviewed the case, and
expressed the opinion that the objections Of
the President should be sustained.
Mr.. Carpenter said this was not bill for
the extension Of the pistol patent Of Mr.
White, as seemed to be supposed by General
Dyer, but merely to provide that he should
have another hearing on his application to
the Commissioner Of Patents for Rn ex-
tension.
Mr.. Cragin made some remarks In favor
Of Mr.. White, and said lie should vote for
the bill.
Nr. Wiley also advocated the bill, and
the matter was further discussed by MossrI.
Buckingham and Morrill,, OF Vermont, aud
others, and was then laid over.
Mr.. Wilson presented credentials Of II. r.
Reyels, Senator elect from Mississippi, which
we're read, aud the Vice President stated II
there was no objection Mr.. ReTels would
come forward and take the oath OF Office.
Mr.. salisbury, at this particular stage,
would submit that the certificate BY tho
military officer and provisional governor that
this man had been elected, Is not at eertl-
1cate.
Mr.. Stewart said tho certificates OF tho
Virginia Senators had been signed by tho
provisional governor, aud this had been the
case with most OF the Senators OF the recon-
structod States.
Mr.. salisbury said there was no evidence
from the Legislature Of Mississippi that this
man had been elected. 1t was not, In form
or substance, such a certificate as this SEN
ate should receive. No such ofiicer as q
provisional governor is known to the Constl-
tuition or the laws OF the United States, and
no such officer can give q certificate.
Mr.. Drake said the objection OF the Sena-
tor from Delaware had no force. The act
OF 1855 did not say the ratification must
come from tho Legislature, but that 1t must
be the duty OF the Governor to certify the
election. In proof of this assertion, Mr.. d.
read from the act Of 1866, providing for the
manner OF electing Senators. The great
81 NJ
have nothing To do with any inquiry as to
the status Of the provisional governor.
Mr.. salisbury said we all know that the
Governor Is named Alcorn, and Is not mil
itary officer. Yet this certificate is signed
by military officer, General Ames.
Mr.. Drake asked whether the Senator had
any Official information that Mr.. Alcorn had
been inaugurated.
Mr.. Salisbury replied that he had not.
Mr.. Drake then your objection falls to the
ground.
Mr.. Trumbull said the Senator from Mas
sachusetts Mr.. Wilson, had here the record
Of the official action Of the Legislature. This
certificate was not as full as Il might be, but
the certificate was not OF paramount i'm.
porLance. In fact Senators had been sworn
In without any certificate. He remembered
we'll that Senator from Kentucky had once
been sworn In here In the absence of a cortl-
1cate, but OF course his election was known,
Just as In this case. Mr.. I. suggested that
the record Of the election by the Legislature
be read, which was accordingly done.
Mr.. Davis thought the papers wero ln-
formal and insufficient altogether, and that
the objection Of Mr.. Salisbury was valid,
and the law read by Mr.. Drake did not bear
upon II at all. In all his recollection tho
uniform usage OF the two Houses was where
q member who presented himself was chal.
lenged, he was obliged to produce tho legal
evidence Of his election before he was sworn
In.
Mr.. Stockton said by reference to the
army register he found the name OF Adelbert
Ames as brovet brigadler general, and com.
mander Of the Fourth military district, and
he found the name OF Adelbert Ames signed
rs provisional governor to this certificate.
Now, the Constitution guarantees to every
State republican form Of government,
and yet this certificate Is sigued by mill
tary officer.
Mr.. Wilson said General Amcs had been
appointed provisional governor Ia accord
ance with law.
Mr.. Stockton asked when Mississippi was
entitled TO representation In Congress.
Mr.. Wilson. This very morning.
Mr.. Stockton. Then the Senator admits
that Senators were elected before tho State
was entitled to representation.
Mr.. Wilson. Certainly and this has beer
tho case with all Of the Senators from thos'
States.
Mr.. sumner. And from tho Territories.
Mr.. Thayer stated that In the case OF Ne.
braska, himself and his colleague had been
both elected aud the certificate OF the Gov.
ernor issued to them In advance Of the I'D
mission Of tho State.
The question was then taken on tho 70
ccption of the certificate and the papers II
tho case, when 1t was decided to receive
them.
Mr.. Stockton then offered o resolution re
ferrlng the credentials of II. Il. Reyels ant
AdelbOrt Ames to the Judiciary Committee
to inquire into the validity OF their election
to ascertain whether they are citizens Of tn
United States, or of the State of Mississippi
and whether at the time Of the election Gen
eral Ames was not q military official in tn
service Of the United States.
Mr.. Pomeroy objected to prevent consld
Grafton Of the resolution. II included mat
ters not before the Senate, as the creden
tlals OF General Ames had not been pre-
scented.
Mr.. Stockton knew, of course, that tn
credentials OF Gen. Ames were to be pre-
seuted, and he desired to speak to the Who'll
subJecti and he would say that he fol
nothing personal In this matter, but he cor
Edered there were grave questions connecte
with the matter, and he thought II not al
reasonable that the Judiciary Commute
should investigate them. lie had heard 9ei
Ames spoken OF as one OF the most gallar
officers, but II he was not eligible under n
Constitution and laws, this should be asce
tained. Could Gen. Amos make himse
eligible by reslgnlng his army eommlsslo
after he was elected Gen. Ames had Il
residence In Mlssissippli he went there b.
cause he was ordered TO 60. He (Mr. B.
did not know, but heunderstOOd that neilh'
was Mr.. ReVels citizen Of Mississippi
Now II the Senate once establishes the prir
clple that military officer temporarily don
lcled In State Is eligible TO election as
Senator Of that State, Il will DO departln
very far from the principle drst laid down
the election OF Senators. Althe asked WI
that this question Of constitutional Ia
should be investigated by the Judiciary Cor
mlttee.
Mr.. Wilson hoped the case Of Mr.. ReTu
would DO decided on Its own merits, and n
complicated With the case Of General Anne
There was no dodbt about Mr.. ReVels. /