Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-03-05
HOUSE.
RoII-CnH of the New Members-Ad-
mission of the Tennessee DeIega-


RolI-CaH of the New Members-Ad-
mission of the Tennessee DeIega-
ttOn.
About 1910 P. NJ. Mcpherson, clerk
of the House, summoned the new House
to order and proceeded to call the names
of members by States. New Hampshire,
Connecticut, Texas and California are IN
represented, the elections in these States
not having been held. In regard to North
Carolina the clerk stated that he had been
requested by Rodgers, from the fourth
district, not to call his name and there
fore he did not do 50. In regard to Mis-
sissippi the clerk stated that while the
credentials were peculiar in form owing
to the fact that the elections were held
under the reconstruction acts it appeared
to BIN they met all the substantial re-
quirements of the law and he therefore
accept them.
In regard to Tennessee the Clerk stated
that the credentials presented differed es-
sentially from those presented by mem
bers of the late Congress; that they were
both vague and evasive and that the
changes made were go worded and special
as to create the belief that they were
perhaps made to produce uncertainty
he had been in doubt as to his duty con-
corning them, but had finally concluded
to give them at this time the benefit of
the doubt and accept them. The point
which had been urged that the election
was'not held on the day fixed blythe law of
Tennessee involved the construction OF
the constitution and of several laws of
that State and he had concluded not to
rule on it.
As to the third district of Arkansas the
clerk stated that the certificate presented
bears on its face evidence that it had not
been issued within the time specified by
law nor for two months thereafter. This
and other circumstances were so suspici-
GUS that he felt compelled to. reject it.
He had made these explanations because
he had observed that his like action on
previous occasions when unexplained had
| been misunderstood. The roll having
| been completed the clerk announced that
222 members had answered to their
names, the full representation being 24S.
AIlrhe Old Officers Reelected, to the
Utter Neglect of VIM. ID. Stokes.
The House then proceeded to the cleo
| ton of officers. The first ballot resulted:
| Blaine, of Maine, 126; Morgan, of Ohio,
| SO. Blaine was therefore declared elected,
and conducted to the chair, where he
| called the House to order, made an ap-
| propriate address and took the oath of
| office, which was administered by MIR.
| Dawes. the senior member in continuous
II 1rh SDooka TNrOnpaHn6 IN
administer the oath to the members. Two
members from the Southern States took
the modified oath.
MIR. Maynard objected to the swearing
in of Mr.. Wsddell, Ct North Carolina,
as being disqualified from holding office.
Mr.. Kerr objected to the swearing in
of the Tennessee members, on the ground
that the election law of Tennessee had
been repealed, and they were elected
without the sanction of law. He pre-
scented protest from citizens of Tennes
see and explained that the Tennessee
Legislature had, by one sweeping meas
ure. repealed all acts of the previous
Legislature, including the election law.
On motion of Mr.. Bingham the Ten.
nessee m embers were sworn in and theil
credentials referred to the Committee on
Elections, three taking the test oath OF
1866 and five the modified oath of 1868.
Mr.. Kerr stated his grounds for objec
ton to swearing in of the Mississippi
members and said the attempt to cleo
men for two Congresses was made fol
the purpose of preventing and forestall
ing legitimate and fair election by tn
people for Representatives in the Forty
second Congress.
On motion of Mr.. Bingham the Missis
sippi representatives were sworn in an
their credentials referred to the Com
mittee on Elections.
This completed the organization of tn
House.
Mr.. Dawes offered resolution declar
ing the following persons officers of tn
House for the Forty-second Congress:
Edward Mcpherson, Clerk; N. G. Ord
way. Sergeant at Arms; o. G. Buxton
Doorkeeper; w. g. King, Postmaster
and J. G. Butler, Chaplain. These bein
, fine officers of the last House.
MIR. Wood presented as the Democrat
candidates for the came positions tn
names ofcJames G. Berrett, District O
= Columbia; N. E. Isenber, Pennsylvania
r owen Thorn, California; Seaton Gate
: North Carolina, and Rev. 1gnatus L
, | Cooper, Delaware, Chaplain. Rejecte
| by party vote.
Il Mr.. Dawes resolution was adopted