The New York herald., 1870-02-24
FORTY-FIRsT CONGRESS.
Second Session.
SENATE.

WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
Messrs POAERoY, trcp.) OF Kansas, and ANTHONY,
Tep) OF r. l., presented petitions for extending The
suffrage to women.
TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT FOR ALASKA
Mr.. HOWARD, rep) Of Mich, from the Committee
on Territories, reported, wirh amendments the bill
for territorial form OF government for Alaska
PROPOSED ADJUSTMENT OF THE NAVAL AND MIL
TARY ACADEMIES.
Mr.. SPENCER, rep.) OF Ala. onered resolutions in.
structing the Naval and Military Committees to In
quire INTO ana report upon the expediency OF aboi-
ishiny the Naval Academy at Annapolis and the Mil
itary Academy at West Point, and the substitution
by assignments to duty various colleges through
out the Union, OF naval and military ofcers In.
sructors In navigation. naval warfare and military
tactics. or the inauguration Of some other system
calculated to relieve the government Of large ex-
pense ana enable all who desire TO secure an edI-
cation ior the army or navy at their own expense,
which was agreed to.
PISTOL PATENT CASE
On motion Of Mr.. FERRY, Fep.) OF Conn.,, tho
message OF the President veLong the Dill for the
ller OF Rollins White, relative 10 the extension OF
pistol patent, was taken up, and Mr.. Ferry made
argument against the bill and IN support Of the
Mr.. CARPENrgR (rep.) OF Wis, said the real aues-
ton at issuelswas whether the case should be de-
cded by the Commissioner OF Patents, 10 wnom the
law gave authority, or py the CHIEF Of Ordnance,
VINO mad passed upon IT,.
MIR. CRAGIN, uep) OF N H., rected the facts oilthe
case and the reasons why the bill should pass.
After further discussion the bill was laid aside
CREDENTIALS or SENATOR REyELs, FROM mIssIs-
SIPPI.
Mr.. WILSON, rep. OF Mass presented the creden.
tials OF II. r. Reves Senator elect from Mississippi
when swere read. The paper was a certhcate OF
election Tor the term ending In 1871, and was signed
by General A1nes, Military Governor or Mississippi.
MIR. SALISBURY, ldem.) OF DEL, inquired II the
paper was any evidence Of the election OF the person
referred to.
The CHAIR said II any objection was made to the
administration OF the OaJn 10 Mr.. Reves the ques
ton whether the oatn should be administered would
be submitted to the Senate
Mr.. SALISBURY SAID that before the question Of
administering the oath came up other questions
might have TO De settled. AT tins particular stage
he submitted that the certificate OF military ofcer
that this man had been elected TO the Senate OF the
United states was not Such certificate was re-
Qulred by law.
Mr.. STEWART, (rep.) OF New, remarked that the
certificate OF election Of various Senators from the
reconstructed States mad been signed by the proyi-
siona Governors.
Mr.. SALISBURY proceeded TO argue that admis-
sion to the Senate could only be claimed upon wand
election by valid Legislature In the present case
there was no evidence enanating from tue Legls-
lature that they mad elected any one, bur simply u
certificate from an individual, styling himself q
military officer and provisional governor, that the
Legislature had done certain acts. lie denied that
any PROVISIONAL governor could send comm unlca-
tlonlto tins body, for such an officer was unknown
to The constitution.
certified copy or the proceedings the election OF
senators 0i the United states Dy the MISSISSIPPI
Legislature.
AR. DRAKE (rep Of Mo-, remarked that the OBJ
Jecu0n was without force, as the act or Congress
required the Governor 01 the State certify TO tue
election OF Senator, but dd not say the evidence
sh0nld come from the Legislature. rhe conmuni-
nlcau0n before the Senate IRON the Governor OF
Mississippi, provisional though ne might be called
furnished the very evidence required by the c0nst
tution The great seal Of the State the paper was
sufficient for the Senate for the right OF Governor
TO use that seal could not now De Inquired into but
in the present case must lie acce pied as fact.
mr.. sAuLsBukI referred 70 the newspaper ar
nouncement ol the election OF person named Al
corn as Governor OF MISSISSIPPI. Therefore, taking
the ground OF the Senator iMr. Drake) this paper
did not show the signature OF the new Governor
Mr.. DRAKE replied, III the absence OF Official IN
that the newly elected Governor mad not
been installed. The Senator (hr. Salisbury could
not lnsst that the ONCE oi Governor mad changed
hands.
MI. TRuhBULI, rep.) Of H., said under the law
the Governor was required 10 give certificate OF
election. Strictly speaking, the present certificate
was detective In not recltng the facts Of the cleo
tiOn In detail; but instances had occurred In tue
odt presentna any certeae. he admission OF
Senator Davis was an instance OF this lie then
called Tor the reading OF the papers submitted by
Mr. WILSON,
The papers referred TO, detailing the meeting OF
the JOINT Convention OF the Legislature, al whicn
out Of ll9 votes Reyels received 81, were read.
Mr.. WILSON gaid lne papers included u certificate
OF the Ccrk OF the lower House TO the correctness
OF the Journals, similar report OF the proceedings
OF the Senate, and certificate signed Dy the Sece
tary or State ana provisional Governor.
Nj. DAVIS, (denl.) OF KY. considered oil the papers
INFORMAL anu Ul tile
ton. lie admitted that members were often al.
mitted TO seats without the production OF any re-
turn, and this was true OF his own qualification;
but this was only because the party was not chat
lenged. The practice was uniform that when
challenged the party claiming seal must
unless 1t was produced he could not take mis- seat
He canned tnat IN the sense made OF by the act
OF Congress and constitution no man could be
Governor oil State VINO mad not received a majority
OF the votes OF the people OF The State tor that posi-
tion Therefore IN assuming 10 acI Governor
General Ames Was guilty OF an unwarranted usurpa-
tion OF power.
Mr. STOCKTON, (dem.) or N. j.. said by reference to
the Army Register he had discovered that General
Adebert Ames there designated as preyeL brig adler
general and military commander OF the Fourth Mill
tary District, was the same gentleman whose name
was appended TO this paper which purported TO oe
a credental OF Senator vi the United States Con-
ccdiDg the assumption of republican senators, that
the duty Of the government was 10 guarantee 10
ana thar only those lately repellious States
which could show republican forms or gov
eminent were entitled TO representation ne
credentials OF . Senator from Mississippi depended
entirely FOR verlficaton upon the signature OF
Of the TACT that the credensss aid nos parpor 10
come from state which, IN the meaning Oi the law.
had republican form OF government. Another
sent Mississippi was that they had oeen elected
before the State was aamitred ID REPRESENTATION.
Mr.. WILSON hoped there would be no further oojec-
tlon to administering the oath Of olca TO Mr. ReveT
believing this TO be exactly similar to Oil other cases
YhI these Senators SsiS admitted there would bs
no question as TO Mississippi being republican IN form
and also republican in TACT In answer 10 the last
objection stated by the Senator mr. Stocktonl ne
would say that In nearly every case the Senator'S
admitted IRON the reconstructed States were elected
prior to the formal representation OF the States an
u61fress.
The Senate then decided, without division, TO
receive the paper presented by Mr.. Wilson.
Mr.. STOCKTON offered u resolution TO refer 10 the
Judiciary Committee the credentials oi Messrs.
Ames and Kevels. claiming seats as senator's e.ect
from the state OF Mississippi, and instrVctny tnem
to inquire and report wneLher either or b0tn nf said
parties had citizens Of the United states for the
period 0f nine years and were inhabitants o MiSsis
spp at the time or their election, In the constttu-
ticnal sense and whether said Ames was not several
months PRIOR ana az the time or his election conf
mlssioned oicer OF tue United states and Military
COMMANDER IN MISSISSIPPI under the keconstfuc-
uon acts VI Congress, and whether hc has since
resigned.
Mr.. P0MEROY, (rep.l OF Kan., said the crcden-
tlas OF General AMes had not been presented ana
therefore could not referred.
MI. STOCKTON modified his resolution. 80 as to
omit the reference to General Anes, but proceeded
10 discuss The questions presented by the cases Of
both gentlemen. lie SAID that the gentleman who
had signed the certificate OF election for Mr.. Reyels
claimed 10 have been also elected by the Mississippi
Legislature for the other uncxpred term. lie dis
claimed any motive OF personal anilnosity toward