Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-02-23
F0RTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings
WEDNESDAY. February "a

| WEDNESDAY, February %.
| SENATE.-Mr. Howard from Committee nm
| Territories, reported with amendment. bill Ia
| establish territorial government for Alaska.
Mr.. Cole offered a resolution directing the
| Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds to
| enquire int, expediency Of making provision for
the erection Of public buildings in San Francisco
for the use of the government, which was
adopted. Mr.. Cole said il would be a matter OF
great economy and convenience TO have those
building erected, and it was understood that the
people of California would donate the crounI
Mr.. Spencer offered resolution instructing the
Committees on Naval and Military Affairs, 20
enquire into the expediency of abolishing the
Academy at West Point, and the sabstitatio1
by assignment to duty at various college.
throughout the country OF naval and military
officers instructors i'm navigation and naval
warfare, and i'm military tactics, or the inaugu-
ration OF some other system calculated to relieve
the government of large expense and enable
all who desire IL, TO secure an education for the
army and navy at their own expense. The reso-
lutions were adopted.
Mr.. Ferry called up the message OF the Presi-
dent returning without his approval the bill Tor
the relief of Roliin White.
Mr.. Ferry briefly reviewed the case. and ex-
pressed the opinion that the objections Of the
President should he sustained.
Mr.. Carpenter said this wa not bill for the
extension OF the pistol patent OF Mr.. White a.
seemed to Ice supposed by Gen. Dyer, hut mere
~ to provide that he should have another hear
al
Patents for an extension.
Mr.. Cragin made some remarks i'm favor of
Mr.. White, and said he should vote for the bill
Mr.. Wiley also advocated the bill, and the
matter was further discussed bv Messrs Buek-
ingham, Morrill, OF Vermont, and others, and
was then laid over.
Mr.. " il>sDn presented the credentials OF H. r.
Revels, Senator elect from Mississippi. which
were read, and the Vice President stated that
II there was no objection Mr.. Revels would
come forward and take the oath Of office.
af ia tlar1
submit that the certihcate by the military Off
Ger and Provisional Governor that this man had
been elected is not a fit certificate.
Mr.. Stewart said the certificates of the Vir-
ginia Senators had been signed by the Provi-
sional Governor, and this had been the case
with most of the Senators Of the reconstructed
States.
Mr.. Salisbury said there was no evidence
from the Legislature of Mississippi that TINS
man had been elected. liz was not i'm form or
should receive. No such officer as Provisional
Governor is known to the Constitution or laws
Of the United States, and no such o.icer can
give certificate.
Mr.. Drake said the objection of the Senator
from Delaware had no force. The act of IsGS
did not say the notification must come from the
legislature, but that IL shall be the duty of the
Governor To certify the election. In proof of
the assertion, Hr. ID. read from the act of 1865;
providing for the manner of electing Senator'S
The great seal Of Mississippi settles the matter,
and We have nothing to do with any inaulry as
to the status Of the Provisional Governor
Mr. salisbury said We all know that the Gov
ernor OF Mississippi is .amed Alcorn, and is not
a military officer. Yet this certificate is signed
by a military officer. General mes)
Mr.. Drake asked whether the Senator had apy
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 Massa.
chusetts (Mr. wnron) had here the record .,
the official action Of the Legislature. This GER
tifcate was not as full As it might be, but the
certhcate was not Of paramount Importance
In fact, Senators had been sworn i'm without
any certificate. He remembered well thar a
senator from Kentucky had once been sworn in
mere, In the absence of a certificate, but of
course his election was known, just as i'm this
case. Mr.. L. suggested that the record of the
election by the Legislature be read. which was
accordingly done.
Mr. Davis thought the papers were informal
and Insufficient altogether, and that the objee-
non OF Mr.. Saulbury was valid, and the law read
~ Mr.. Drake did not bear upon IL all. In All
MS recollection, the uniform usage of the two
Houses was where a member who presented
himselt was challenged, he was obliged to pro-
luce the 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
rs Breyet Brigadier General and commander of
the Fourth Military District, and he found the
lame OF Adelbert Ames signed as Provisional
Governor TO this certificate. Now, the Consti-
tuition guarantees to every State a republican
signed by military officer.
Mr.. Wilson said that Gen. Ames had been an
pointed Provisional Governor i'm accordance
Mr.. Stockton asked when Mississippi was en-
titled TO representation in Congress.
Mr. Wilson.-This very morning.
&r. StocktOn.-Then the Senator admits that
he Senators were elected before the State was
entitled to representation.
Mr.. Wilson.-Certainly, and this has been the
case with all the Senators from those States.
Sumner.-And fba To
Nr. Thayer stated that i'm the case of Nebras
ka himself and his colleague hal baen h,tn
elected and The certificate of the Governor
issued to them in advance Of the admission OF
the State. "
The question was then taken on the reception
OF the certihcate and the papers in the case, and
uwas decided to receive them.
Mr. Stockton then offered a resolution refer
ring the credentials of III. X. Revels and Adel-
bert Ames to the Judiciary Committee, TO
inquire into the validity Of their election, 10
ascertain whether they were citizens of the
United States or Of the State of Mississippi, and
whether, at the time of the election, General
Ames was not military oficer in the service of
the United States.
Mr.. POmeroy objected to present considera-
ton Of the resolution. 1t included matters not
before the Senate, as the credentials Of General
Ames had not been presented.
Mr.. Stockton knew Of course that the creden-
tials Of General Ames were to be presented, and
And he would say that he felt nothing personal
in this matter, but he considered there were
we're grave questions connected with the matter
and he thought IL not unreasonable that the
Judiciary Committee should investigate them.
HOUSE.-Shortly after the House was called
to order Mr.. Banks sent to the Clerks desk and
had read despatch from Minister Curtin to
the Secretary OF State, dated at st. Petersburg,
at half-past O'Clock this morning, announcing
the death, in that city, OF Hon. Anson Burlin-
game. In communicating the despatch, Mr..
Banks said: Mr.. Speaker, although Mr.. Bur
lingame had rendered great services to the coun-
try he was not 0fhcially connected with the Gov
eminent atthe time Of his death. 1t is not proper
therefore to interrupt the proceedings Of the
House at this time by anything more than a state
ment OF the sad occurrence, yet crave the kind
indulgence OF the House to say that fitting and
proper opportunity win be presented I'm the
regular course OF business to express our appre-
citation Of his character and great services. He
wished to be remembered in connection with
these services, and promised him at the last
interview had with him that his name should
not be forgotten. The mediation between the
great and ancient empire Of the East and the
civilized nations Of the West IL one of the
grandest services which any man I'm modern
dimes has performed. That service Mr.. Burln-
game had carried nearly TO its complete success
The Empire of Russia, In which he died and
where he could but Just have arrived was the
last Of the great States which it was his dutv To
VISIT and there he was certain of soon accom-
plishing all that could have been expected and
desired by him in regard to his great mission.