The Portland daily press., 1873-12-02
Fort; Third Congress-First Session.
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. list.
The Senate was called to order at noon by
Vice President Wilson
After PRAYER b; the chaplain, Mr.. ingalls,
presented the credentials CT Robert Crozier
to fill IL e vacancy caused by the resignation
of Hon. Alex. Caldwell. Crozier was sworn
in by the Vice President. Tho Senate decided
to meet daily at II o'clock until otherwise Or
dered.
Committees were appointed to inform the
House and the President that the Senate was
in session.
Tha announcement of Mr. Casserlys resigna-
ton was read,
A large number of bills were introduced,
including one by Mr.. Conklin relating to GER
tain money appropriated for members of Con-
gress.
The following bills were presented by Mr..
Morton of Indiana, repeating the sections of
the bankrupt of 1867 as provided for involun-
tary bankruptcy; by Mr.. Trenron of New York,
to revise the customs laws of the United States;
by Mr. Window of MINI joint resolution
proposing an amendment to the constitution of
the United States, providing for the election Of
U. S. Senators by the people; by MIR. Morrill,
of VT, resolution instructing the Financial
Committee to enquire into the expediency of
reporting bill providing for free banking and
the resumption of specie payments to take eff
feet Jan. LIST, 1875; by Mr.. Ferry of Mich, a
resolution instructng the Finance Committee
financial arrangement.
The Vice President laid before the Senate
the resignation of Rev. DR.. Newman, chap
lain.
Mr.. Sumner presented a bill to prevent kid
mapping; also resolutions favoring arbitration
in all cases of grievance between nations.
Mr.. Pratt of Ind, presented a bill fixing the
pay of congressman at $4,000 and actual travel
ling expenses and 5000 per annum for postage.
Mr.. Edmunds of VT, presented the Senate
judiciary bill for the distribution of the Geneva
award.
that all volunteers under the Presidents proc
lamation of May Sd, 1861, actually mustered
into service before Aug. 9th, 1861, and accept
ed under said proclamation shall be paid the
full bounty of 800 promised in said proclama-
ton.
Mr.. Sumner presented bill authorizing
compound interest notes as substitute for le-
gal tenders
The Senate, at quarter before one took re-
cess for half an hour, at the expiration of that
time the Senate re-assemhled.
Mr. Edwards said it was evident they could
not get the Presidents message to-day on &C.
in members and organizing the House; there
fore he moved the Senate adjourn until IL o.
clock tomorrow, which was adopted.
HOUSE.
The House was called to order at noon by the
Clerk. Mr.. Mcpherson. The galleries were
crowded
The Clerk called the roll by States. When
be reached Louisiana he said there were only
two unchallenged certificates from that State
Messrs. Morey and Darrell. AS to the other
three districts and the members for the State
at large, there had been two conflicting sets of
papers read, both issuing from competent aq-
thOrity. One set was signed by Gov. Warm0th
and the other BY acting Gov. Pinchbeck The
clerk had therefore declined to enroll any of
them. The 9th district of Indiana papers were
not in accordance with the law, and. therefore,
there was no person enrolled for that district.
For four seats from Arkansas there had been
but two certificates presented, those OF Messrs.
Lyndon and Hines. In regard to West Virgin
ia there was peculiar complication, arising
from the uncertainty as to the proper time
for holding the election. There had been two
elections held on two different days. and differ
ent persons elected from two of the districts.
In the other district the same person has been
elected on both OCCASIONS aud therefore the
Clerk had enrolled that person, Hereford, but
had not enrolled any Others.
The roll having been called, 27S of the 292
who are entitled to seats answered to their
names.
The House then proceeded to the election of
Speaker
Mr. Maynard of Tennessee, nominated JAS
G. Blaine of Maine.
Mr. Niback of Indiana. nominated Fernando
Wood of New York
Mr.. Holman of Indiana, nominated Sam'lS.
Cox of New York, but Mr. Cox said he was
not candidate for The position
The vote resulted as follows: James G. Blaine
100; Fernando Wood n; s. S. Cox IL; Heyster
Clymer 1; Alexander Stephens l.
Mr.. B,aine was ther,upon declared By the
Clerk to have been duly elected Speaker for the
Add Congress.
Messrs Maynard and Wood conducted Mr..
Blaine to the chair.
On taking the chair, Mr.. Blaine said:
Gentlemen Of the House of Representatives.
The vote this moment announced by the Clerk
is such an expression Of your confidence as calls
for my sincerest thanks. To be chosen Speaker
eff the American House of Representatives is
always an honorable distinction; to be chosen a
third time enhances the honor more than
three fold; to be chosen by the largest body
that ever assembled in the capitol imposes
burden of responsibility which only your indul-
gent kindness could emholden me to assume.
The first occupant of this chair presided over
House of sixty-fve members representing a
population far below the present aggregate of
the State OF New York. At that time, in the
whole United States, there were not fifty
thousand civilized inhabitants to be found one
hundred miles distant from the flow of the At.
lantic tide. To-day, gentlemen, a large ma
jority of you come from beyond that limit and
represent districts then peopled only BY the In
dian and the adventurous frontiersman. The
National Government is not yet as old as many
Of its citizens; but in this brief span of time,
less than une heightened life, it has puder GODS
good providence, extended Its power until
continent is the field of its empire and attests
the majesty IF its law.
With the growth of new States and the
resulting changes in the centres of population
new interests are developed, rival to the old,
but by no means hostile, diverse but not antag
onistic. Nay, rather are all these interests in
harmony; and the true science of Just govern
naeut is to give each its full and fair play, OPP
pressing none by undue exactiop, fayoring none
by undue privilege. 1t is this great lesson
which our daily experience is teaching us, bind
ing us together more closely, making our mu-
tual dependence more manifest, and causing us
to feel, whether we live in the North or in the
South, in the East or in the West, that we have
indeed but lone country, one constitution one
Destiny
Mr. Dawes of Massachusetts, senior member
of the House, administered the oath of office
to the Speaker who thereupon proceeded to
swear in the members, commencing with those
from the New England States.
About fifty members from the Southern
States who Could not take the oath of Office
known as "iron-clad," took the modified oath.
Prominent among them was Mr.. Stephens of
Georgia.
The next business in order was the election
of Clerk.
r. Maynard of Tennessee, offered resolu-
ton covering all the elective officers of House.
and naming tie following: For Clerk, Edward
Mcpherson of pennsylvania; Sergeant at Arms,
N. G. Ordway of New Hampshire; Doorkeep-
err, o. s. Buxton of New York; Postmaster,
A. j. Sherwood of Michigan; Chaplain, Rev.
j. 6. Butler of District of Columbia,