New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-08
NETWORK. SATURDAY. MARCH 8. 1878
WASHINGTON.
THE ALABAMA SENATORSHIP.

The ALABAMA SENAIOhShlf.
TIE SENATE IGNORES ITS USUAL COURSE, AND
ADMITS MR.. sPENCER-THE VOTE ALMOST A
STRICT PARTY ONE-MR. SYKES PLACED AT
A DISADVANTAGE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THR TRlBUsRI
WASHINGTON, March THE Senate stultlhed
itself and reversed its recent precedents by admit
ting Geo. f. Spencer TO a seat, to-day, as Senator
from Alabama, without referring his credentials 10
a committee. Many Senators who have considered
the question of Mr. Spencer's admission impartlally
and without partisan bias, doubt very much the
wisdom of the practice in the Senate, OF late years.
Of refusing to seat a man who comes with regular
credentials, and of whose lege election there can be
no honest doubt, on the remonstrance OF persons
who do not pretend that there is any contest for the
place. but they hold that men of both parties should
be treated alike.
The Last two instances Of this injustice were IN the
cases of Senators Goldthwaite and Ransom. In the
former case some colOred men, who complained that
they had been unjustly excluded from seats in the
Alabama Legislature demonstrated against Mr..
GOldthwaite's admission On motion OF Mr.. Sher-
man, the credentials with the TemOnstrance were
referred to the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
TONS and Mr.. Goldthwate was kept out OF his seat
for months. Here there never any pretense that
the Legislature was not legal one, that any one
else had been elected to the place by any body OF
men. The case of Ransom was equally strong
The Legislature of North Carolina at
first chose Mr.. Vance Mr.. Abbott, his
opponent received only about one-thrd of the votes
of both Houses. The Senate refused to remove Mr.
Vances political disabilities and treated the case as
though no election had been held. The next year.
Mr.. Vance having resigned any supposed claim to
the seat, the Legislature elected Mr.. Ransom, who
came to Washington with the certificate Of the Re-
publican Governor Of the State. Mr.. Abbott re-
monstratod that, as he had received all the votes
cast at the first election for any eligible candidate
he was entitled to the seat, although less than
majority had voted for him. He held no certificate
from anybody. and appeared only as petitioner Tor
the seat. The Senate referred Mr.. Ransoms ccrtih-
cate and Mr.. Ransom's remonstrance to the Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections, and Mr.. Ransom was
made to await an investigation
In Mr. Spencer's case there were two bodies In the
State, each claiming to be the Legislature. The one
meeting at the State House had possession of the
election returns canyassed the vote for Governor
gave him his certificate and received messages from
him. A quorum was present at its meetings, and all
of its members held certificates Of election from the
Secretary of State This body voted for Senator
and elected T. w. Sykes, whose certificate was
signed by the officers of the Legislature, but not by
the Governor. The Republicans who were elected
10 the Legislature, and some who claimed
to be- but did not get certificates, seeded and set
up Legislature of their own in the Courthouse at
Montgomery They also received communications
from the Governor who had changed his mind as to
which body he would recognize. and they chose Mr.
Spencer to represent the State in the United States
Senate. After both elections had taken place. on
the advice of the Attorney General, the two bodies
came together, and the Administration Senators
asserted in debate to-day, that the men who formed
the Court house Legislature made up the majority
of the fusion body though it is not pretended that
they all had certificates Of election at the time
the vote for United States Senator ways taken.
Uunder these circumstances Senator Bayard OF
Delaware asked, not that Mr. Spencers claims
should be passed upon at once and he be denied his
seat. but simply that the certificates OF both Mr.
Spencer and Mr. Sykes should go to Committee, IN
accordance with recent presidents and that neither
should be sworn in until the Committee could re-
port This is the course that has been taken when
Democratic Senators have asked for admission, but
the Senate refused by almost party vote to ac-
cord Mr.. Spencer the same treatment. he received
the oath of Office and Mr.. Sykes will have to CON
test for the seat at an Unfair disadvantage