New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-07
WASHINGTON.
THE ALABAMA sENAToRsHIP.

MR.. SPENCER TRIES TO SNEAK IN-MR BAfAhD
OBJECTS, AND TIE SENATE DEBATES rhE
QUESTION ALL DAY-rHE DISCUSSION To
CONTINUE TO-DAY.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON March 6.-rhe Senate went as de-
Hberately to work to-day as though IL intended 10
sit all Summer. Senator Spencer of Alabama, WHO
was requested by the party managers not to present
himself 10 be sworn in Tuesday lest there shouiu
be an objection and unpleasant debate while INC
particular business of the day the Inaugural
waited attempted to sneak in this morning uhoo-
served. Soon after the Senate met Mr. Stewart Oh
Nevada moved that his colleague Mr. John T. JoheS,
receive the oath of office, and he and MT. feIIy VI
Connecticut were sworn in. Mr.. Cragin OF We"
Hampshire then moved that the oath be also admin
istered 10 his colleague Mr. cambridge Wadleigh'
Az Mr. Cragn led the latter to the Nlce-r resluen'
chair Mr. Spencer. who was standing within the par
and looking about in a guilty uneasy way rs tnouen
he felt he had no right there, stepped mp oehlnu
them and a. Vice President Wilson began to read
the oath held up his hand. Mr.. Bayard who was
watching this performance. at once asked IL IL was
proposed to swear in Mr.. Spencer He had not heaIu
his name called and he objected TO ms taxing ni'
seat until his credentials and those OF DE- oSheo'
who contests the seat were examined ana repo''o"
upon by a Committee of the Senate Mr. spencer III
a very sbeepish way retired behind the screen that
stands before the door leading To the senators IOOoS
and soou reappeared in the rear OF the Chamber.
A discussion which lasted till o'clock and was
NOT then exhausted ensued in which most OF the
Administration Senators favored giving MI spencer
the seat Mt once and allowing Mr. Sykes TO contest.
The Democrats led by Mr.. Bayard and Mr. Thur
man. and the Liberal Republicans, led by Senator
Schurz and assisted by Mr.. Howe. maintained that
il was only fair that the credentials Of both should
90 10 the Committee on Privileges and Elections
The Administration men, such Senators halhilh'
Morton aud Conklng, asserted that II was custom
airy in the Senate always 10 accord 10 tne
person bringing the Governors eeruhcale'
and having therefore PrimG tdcie case the
contested seat. In reply 10 this was clted the
case of Senator Godthwaite. who only Two
wears ago presented himself from Alabama
with a certificate signed by the Governor OF tna'
State. He was known TO have been chosen by the
legal Legislature, no other body of men pretending
IN act in that capacity and his right 10 the seat was
contested by nobody but, the objection Oh MI
Sherman who called attention TO the memorial oil
some colored men, VINO asserted that they had been
unjnstlv depr we'd of their seat the Legislature
the credentials with the remOnstrance were referred
IN the Committee on Privileges and Elections anu
Mr. Goldthwate kept out of his seat for long tle'
Other cases were mentioned, and il was shown tnat
il was the common practice OF the senate 10 relei
credentials regular in form to a committee when any
question in regard TO the light any applicant Ior
seat
Mr.. Bayard also said that the Governor OF Ala
bama held his office by virtue of canvass made oy
the Legislature which elected Mr. Sykes and not by
that which chose Mr.. Spencer; that he had recoS-
nized the former body the Legislature ds J"e'
though he had afterward sent communications 10
the other body. and that the Legislature which
had aflv pYIg
debate throughout was conducted on the Admins
tration side with considerable partisan feeling ex-
cept on the part of Mr. Howe, who took a common
sense view of the matter This was wholly without
cause as the question was not az all whether Mr.
Spencer should have the seat or not, but whether
his right to il should be investigated. The discus
sion will be continued tomorrow.