Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-12-05
The Opening of Congress.


SCENES AT THE OPENING-THE LOTTERY
FOR SEATs-BUTLER TEMPORARILY
WITH THE DEMoCRATs-ALEx. FL. STE
PHENs ON THE FLooR-CIvIL RIGHTS.
&c. sc. &c. SC.
The forty-third Congress assembled at
Washington Oh Monday last. All the old
officers of the house were reelected, though
the Democrats gave complimentary vote
to their own men, voting for Geo. c. We'd
derburn, the manager of the Richmond
Enquirer, for clerk. A letter to the Bal
timore ''Sun" describing the scene, says:
The two persons who attracted the most
attention in the Senate to-day were Vice
President Wilson and Senator Sumner
Both of them seemed to be in as good if
not better condition than when leaving
here last spring. Mr.. Wilson occupied his
chair as presiding officer during the whole
time of the session with the exception of a
few moments when he called Mr.. Carpen-
ter to take his place. This was taken as
be deposed as president pro tenn.
Mr.. Sumner was early in his seat, and
brought in with him large package of
bills, which, as soon as he obtained an op-
portunity, he offered. Among them was
of course the supplementary civil rights
bill. The attendance of Senators was very
large for the first day of a session, there
being only twelve absenteeS out of the sew
! enty-three members Among those who
| were absent were Senator Hamilton of
Maryland, and Mr.. Bayard. Mr.. Pinch
back, the colored applicant from Louisi-
ana for seat in the Senate, was very busy
circulating around, but none of the repub-
lican senators seemed to be particularly
anxious to have much to say to him, al
| though he claims that he is certain of
enough votes to secure his admission. Sen
ator Brownlow was one of the early ones
on hand, being supported into the cham
| Der by his body servant. He appears deter
mined to fulfill his threat of living long
enough to keep Andrew johnson out of
the Senate. Mr.. Conkling evinced an I'M
usual degree of cordiality in meeting his
associates, but showed some reserve when
| the question of the chief justiceship was
mentioned. AS heretofore intimated in
| that Mr.. Conkling's own decision was the
only thing that stood in the way of his
| taking this position. The nomination for
the position will probably be sent in to the
Senate tomorrow, Attorney General Will
liams being the man.
| HOUSE GOSSIP.
The roll call in the House to-day devel-
oped the presence of two hundred and sew
enty- eight members, an unusually large
proportion, and to those familiar with the
appearance of the House in other years the
number seemed extraordinarily large. The
appearance of the House is, however de-
| cided improvement. The new desks are
4 ~, nd rrfxr
cheerful look to the surroundings. The
members assembled in large numbers at a
very early hour, and were too much busted
with greeting to discuss just then the great
and grave issues before the country.
After the House had been organized by
the election of officers, and the members
had been sworn in, Mr.. Merriam created a
slight ripple of excitement by Directing to
| the Utah delegate, Mr.. Cannon, on the
ground that he had been and continued to
| be guilty of practices in defiance of the laws
| of the United States. He found but few
supporters for his resolution, however, as
both democrats and republicans held that
| it would be a dangerous precedent to es-
tablish to refuse seat to a member who
had prinaa .facie right to it on the bare
charge, unsustained by proof, that he had
been guilty of immoral practices.
THE DRAWING FOR SEATS.
The drawing for seats created as usual a
vast deal of amusement. Those who sue
| ceeded in drawing good locations are of
course, satisfied with the proceedings,
while the unfortunates who are compelled
to skirmish along the outer line would not
object to new deal. MI. Dawes, being
the oldest member, was permitted to retain
his old seat, while MI. Stephens, of Geor-
gia, was, on account of his physical feeble
ness, permitted to select the seat in the
main aisle, Immediately in front of the
Speakers desk. General Butler was not
called until nearly the last, and failing to
find seat among the republicans he went
to the democrats, amid the cheers and mer-
riment of members on the floor aud spec
tators in the galleries. After the drawing
had been completed. however, he found
a seat to the extreme left of the Speaker
beside Mr.. Walls, of Florida, and chose
that in preference to the one with the dem
ocrats.
| THE LONG ROLL.
This business having been completed
some consideration was given to contes.
ted election case, during which the roll
was called twice, occupying over an hour
as with the increased membership it re.