Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-03-03
DAVIS Tor KY ON THE RAMPAGE"


the senator elect from Mississippi, on the
Esd ult., was the occasion of lively
debate in the Senate. The following is
en- abstract of the discussion:
Mr.. Wilson presented the credentials
of III. r. Revels, Senator elect from Mis-
siss:ppi, which were read. The paper
has the certificate of election for the term
ending in 1871, and is signed by General
Ames, military Governor of Mississippi.
At this particular stage he submitted that
the certificate of q military officer that
this man had been elected to the Senate
of the United States was not such a Ger.
tificato as is recognized by law.
Mr.. Stewart remarked that the certifi.
Gates of election of various Senators from
the reconstructed states had been signed
by the provisional Governors.
Mr.. Salisbury proceeded to argue that
this admission to the Senate could only
be claimed upon valid election by q
vote of the Legislature. In the present
case there was no evidence emanating
from the Legislature that they had cleo
ted any one, but simply the certificate
from an individual styling himself Mill.
tary Officer and Provisional Governor,
that the Legislature has done certain
acts. He denied that any Provisional
government could send communication
to this body, for such an officer was un-
known to the constitution.
Mr.. Wilson had read the certified copy
of the proceedings in the election of
Senators of the United States by the
Mississippi Legislature. ,ni ..ao,.s
SIR. Drake remarked that the objection
was without force, as the act of Congress
required the Governor of State to GER
tify to the election of Senator, but did
not say the evidence should come from
the Legislature. The communication be.
fore the Senate from the Governor of
Mississippi, provisional though be might
be called, furnished the very evidence
required by the constitution. The great
seal of state to paper was sufficient
for the Senate, for the right of Governor
to use that seal, could not now be ill.,
quired into, but in the present case,
must be accepted as fact.
Mr.. Salisbury referred to the news
paper announcement of the election Of q
person named Alcorn as Governor -
Therefore, taking the ground Of Senator
Drake, this paper did not show the
signature of tie real Governor Of Mis-
sissippi. sa# .-'"
Mr.. Drake replied that 10 the absence
of official information that the newly
elected Governor had been installed in
office, the Senator (Saulsbury) could not
insist that the Office of Governor had
changed hands.
Mr.. Trumbuli said under the law the
Governor was required to give q certifi-
cato of election. Strictly speaking, the
present certificate was defective in not
giving the facts of the election in detail,
but instances had occurred in the Senate
in which members had been sworn 10
without presenting certificate Of adnis-
sion. Senator Davis was an instance of
this kind. He then called for the read
ing of the papers submitted by Mr.. VIII
son.
The papers referred TO, which detailed
the meeting of the joint convention of
the Legislature, ut which, out Of 119
votes, Mr.. Revels received 81, were read.
Mr.. Wilson said the papers included
the certificate of the clerk of the lower
House of the correctness of the journals,
similar report of the proceedings of the
Senate, aud certificate signed by the
Secretary of State and Provisional Gov.
ernOr.
Mr.. Davis considered all the papers
Informal, and insufficient as testimony OF
election, and claimed that in signing Gre
dentials Gen. Ames had been guilty of
an understandable assumption of power.
Mr.. Stock ton objected to the creden-
tials that they were signed by a military
commander, which was evidence that
they came from state rot having a re.
publican form of government; and be-
sides, the persons in question were elect
ed before the State was admitted. Z ;
Mr.. Wilson hoped there would be no
further objection to administering the
oath to Mr.. Reuels. ..,
The Senate then decided, without di
vision. to receive the papers presented
by Mr.. Wfson.2 1uTFnv
Mr.. Stockton offered resolution to
refer to the Judiciary committee the ere.
dentials of Mr.. Ames and Mr.. Revels,
and instructing them to report whether
either or both of said parties had been
citizens of the United 8 tates for the pc.
riod of nine years, and were inhabitants
of Mississippi, at the time Of their e!ec-
ton, in the constitutional sense, and
whether said Ames was not several
mouths prior, and at the time of his cleo
ton, commissioned officer of the United
States and commander of Mississippi,
under the reconstruction acts of Con.
gress, and whether be has since resigned.
Mr.. Pomeroy said the credentials OF
Mr.. Ames had not been presented, and
therefore could not be referred.
Mr.. Stockton modified his resolution 60
as 10 omit reference to Mr.. Ames, but
proceeded to discuss the question presen-
ted by the case of both gentlemen.
At