New-York tribune., 1873-12-17

the DAY. After the vote another motion was
made 60 adjourn and long before this time darkness
was creeping over the hall and the cas had TO
he lighted half-hour consumed in the roll
call but the spirit was upon the House and adjourn
mout was refused Subsequently direct vote
had MIR. RaSson's amendment, and II
passed, with a ringing vote-172 10 II
amid olappine of hands. A motion to reconsider
was made, but it yielded to adjournment after a
session OF over sx hours Whether the House will
now pass the Committees bill amended will
probably be known tomorrow.
THE LOUISIANA SENATORIAL CONTEST.
DIR. MORTON MAKES STRONG ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
or MR.. TINCIBACK-nE STATES THE LEGAL
ASPECT OF THE CASE. AND WISHES TO FsTAB-
IIsH DANGEROUS PRECEDENT-THE sCBJRCT
POsTPONED.
iBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUHR.l
WASNNGToN, Dec. lG. - Senator Morton made
probably the strongest possible presentation, to-day
in favor of admitting Mr. Pmchback TO a seat IN
the Senate. His evident desire to push tins case
forward as rapidly as possible and to got vote
upon il before the holiday recess aroused not lit
tie opposition on both sides of the chamber Mr..
Morton protests that the testimony taken last Win
ter has nothing whatever to do with the present
case but he comes before the Senate with no report
from the Committee TO whom the credentials were
referred TO offer in its place and papers or docu-
ments for the information of Senators, and asks
them TO act at once one of the most important
questions ever before the body
The personal claims of Mcmillan and Pinchback
are Of little comparative moment The question,
Which Legislature or candidate for Governor was
legally chosen sinks ont of sight, and the greater
question, whether under the laws of the United
States as they now stand, the Presidents action in
recognizing one of two contesting State Govern
ments is binding upon each House OF Con-
gress until act, IN which both Houses
and the Executive cOncnr, DEGREES other
wise, hides all Others. This is the position
that Mr. Morton takes in the Pinchback case.
Given the fact that the President has acted under
the law of 1885, and, either by proclamation or by
calling out the militia or military to put down the
insurrection against the Government lie chooses to
recognize has given his support to one of the two
contending parties, according to M. Morton, it is
not Tor the Senate alone ask the question whether
he has made that decision properly or not, even by
refusing 10 receive man who claims seat on lis
foor and who holds credentials frolp the recognized
Government.
This Quetion followed out TO its legitimate con
clusions wOuld lead to some startling results. For
instance suppose that man l. not candidate tor
the Governoyship of a State, and does not receive
single vote but sets up fraudulent claim 10 the
Office and calls upon the President 10 sustain him.
II the President should consent to do and should
issue his proclamation 10 that effect, and then, by
the employment of the army, place him in posses
sion of the Executive Office. person appearing at
the bar of the Senate bearing credentials signed
by this man. and the seal of the State,
must be seated, and the Senate, according
TO Mr.. Morton, would have no right before
that was done to ascertain whether the Presidents
decision had been properly made or to investigate
in ady vance any of tie circumstances attending the
Senatorial election. The supposition IL of course
rather violent one, but il is only degree worse
than the facts in the Louisiana case. This may he
the law, for Mr. Morton made strong speech to-day
to it 10 be So but the Senate has not for many
wears had il staring il in the face in such striking
light aud will not off hand before the holidays,
add its Endorsement by seating Mr.. Pinchback.
Mr. Morton in closing, said that he had the doe
ulnents.ry evidence to favor the most unheard-of
frauds by the Fusionists Of Louisiana in the last
election. Those who are most familiar with the
Louisiana case have doubt that both parties III
that State did all the cheating in 1872 that it was
possible for them to do but the Republicans have
supplemented their election frauds with usurpa-
tions that presage more danger to the liberties of
the country than the most abe-bodied baIlot-box
stuffing After Mr.. MOrtons speech, the resolution
was postponed and the Sherman financial resolution
was again taken up with Mr. FentOn on tue floor.