New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-12-07

of Louisiana, and by statute passed by its
Legislature at its extra session held last
April. Besides, this man Spencer had ab-
solutely "foreclosed" himself by having
made himself = contestant.
Mr.. Frye, of Maine-"Is there On record,
since the election held in 1872, in the State
Of Louisiana, q single official act Of No
Emery except this single one OF signing
these certiicstes"
Mr.. Wheeler, of New York-"Not one."
Mr.. Wood remarked that the question
settled last session had been confined en-
not to the election of Governor
Mr.. Lamar, of Mississippi, remarked that
the Clerk of the House had made known to
the House the existence OF Q controversy,
not only with reference to the merits of the
question, but with reference to the prima
facie right to q seat in the House. The
House was in possession of the fact that
there was such controversy. 1t might be
very simple and very ineligible quee-
ton, but still it was question Of law as to
whether this certificate was signed by the
proper Governor or not. 1t had been crys-
talized into regular parliamentary law
that question involving the prima facie
right as well as the merits of o case should
be referred to the Committee on Elections.
Mr.. Blaine asked Mr.. Lamar whether in
the history of the House he knew of any
signed by pretended Governor who had
never been recognized a. the Governor by
any department of the United States, or by
his own State, had been referred to a com
mittee. He trusted that his friend LA
mari, with his well known moderation,
would restrain his party from placing on
the record such an outrage, not only on
an exemplar and advocate, but on the rules
of common 0ecency as well,
MIR. Lamar remarked that the question
which one of these was the pretended Gov.
ernor was the very question to be referred
to the committee.
Mr.. Blaine-Then understand the gen.
tleman to mean that this is the formal
opening of the whole Louisiana case and
not merely question as to the seat of the
members.
Mr.. Lamar-The gentleman simply un
derstands that a question which the Clerk
of the House has remitted to the House
\ whsther or not it involves the other question
as to the validity of the gubernatorial in
cumbent of Louisana-is q question which
ought not to be decided Informally on the
mere seating of member, but ought to be
formally referred to Q committee and
gravely and naturally decided.
Mr.. Blaine asked whether it was not a
matter Of history that last year, in what
was known as the Louisiana adjustment, i,
was perfectly understood that the vote Of
the House declaring Kellogg to be Gov
ernor, was final settlement, and whether
the venerable gentleman from Georgia
| (Stephens) the very Nestor of the Demo
cratic party. had not voted with the Repub
| licans in order avowedly that it might bt
q final settlement Did his honorable
friend Lamar come here now to head q
| movement TO trample on the other side OF
that agreement, and to reopen the whole
| casel
Mr.. Lamar admitted that there had beer
| q compromise last session, and that thai
compromise did acknowledge Kellogg a.
the acting Governor of Louisiana. He
| hoped that the gentleman from New York
| (Mr. Wood) would, acting on the sugges
ton of Mr.. Hoar. of Massachusetts, mOdif,
his resolution by Omitting the preamble anC
| merely referring the matter to the Commit
tee on Elections, with instructions to repor
| on the prima faeie case.
Mr.. Wood modified his resolution accord
ingly.
| sion of the House, made the following
| statement:
The controlling fac. which, in my judg
ment, required me to accept the kellogg
| certificates, was that prior to the making
| up of the roll on the fourth of March las
| there had been recognition by the Hous.
| as Governor of Louisiana, and at that tint
| he was the de facto Governor of the State
In view of his recognition by the executive
branch of the government, by all the de
partments of the government. and by tha
part of the legislative branch of the gov
eminent to which the Clerk is responsible
therefore inserted the names returned by
Governor Kellogg, without any reference tt
the political aspect of the case.
After further discussion, participated in
by Mr.. Holman, of Indiana; Mr.. Banks, o.
Massachusetts,; Mr.. Cox, of New York, and
Mr. Jones, of Kentucky, the previous ques
ton was seconded. The main question was
ordered. Yeas 135, uays 1874. The question
was then put on the resolution and it was
rejected.
Mr.. Blaine, of Maine, then moved that Mr.
Frank Morey, having presented credentials
signed in due form bv Governor Kellogg
be sworn in as member.
Mr.. Randall, of Pennsylvania, suggested
to strike out OF the motion that part recog.
nizing Kellogg as Governor.
Mr.. Blaine said he was perfectly willing
to do SO, and having SO modified it. the
motion was agreed to- without q division,
and Mr.. Morey was sworn in as a member.
Mr.. Kerr is presumed to have been
elected Speaker, about this time, although
the Associated Press agent neglects to
mention it'll
Mr.. Kerr spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the House of Representa-
tives-I am truly gratifed for the honor
you have conferred in calling me to this ex.
alrsd station. | profoundly appreciate the
Importance and delic acy of its duties. /
shall, doubtless, many times need your pa
tient indulgence. pray that you will
grant it; and with nothing but kindly feel
ing toward every member of the House, l
promise that in all my Official acts I will
divest myself to the utmost of my ability of
all personal bias, and observe complete fair
ness and impartiality toward all, and
toward all the great and diversified inter-
ests Of our country represented in this
House."
Two hundred and eighty members pres
ent.
In swearing in members, Messrs. Morey,
of Louisiana, and Goode, of Virginia, were
asked to stand aside, as they were con-
tested.
A motion to refer Mr.. Morey's credentials,
after warm debate, failed, and he was
sworn in. Mr.. Goode, after short discus
sion, was also sworn in.
Mr.. Lamar, of Mississippi, offered reso-
luton declaring the following officers of the
HOusA: Clerk GeOrge M ldAms of Kan.