Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-03-16
SPECIAL SESSION OF THE SENATE.
TUESDAY. March I6.


The Vice President laid before the Senate
the report of the Commissioner of Agricul-
ture for the year 1874.
On motion OF Mr.. Anthony, it was ordered
that $50 extra copies of the report be printed
for the use of the Senate.
Inc resolution for the admission of Mr.
P1nchback was then proceeded with.
Mr.. Alcorn said that he, as one of the mem
bers of the Committee on Privileges and
Elections, had signed the report made in 1874
in favor of ordering a new election. AT this
time, however, he regarded the question of a
new election as postponed indefinitely. The
house OF Representatives, the popular
branch OF government, had recognized the
Kellogg government as the legal government
OF the state, and the arbitration now in pro-
gTess DID far to result in the adjustment of
all the pending difficulties, as it was organ
lzed with the consent OF both the contending
parties.
Mr.. Dawes said his impression was that
Mr.. AlcOrn was mistaken in the construc-
ton put by him on the resolution passed by
the House. He (Mr. d. had voted for that
resolution but he did not understand it, nor
ala he think II was understood by the House
TO recognize the kellogg government as the
legal government OF the state. AS he under-
stood it the House hal purposely avoided
passing upon the legal questions at issue, but
1T recognized Kellogg as being in possession
OF the government, without expressing itself
upon the question of the right in the author
1ty by which he was installed.
Mr. Alcorn said that the action of the
House was a practical recognition of the le-
gality of the kellogg government and was
SO understood by the American people. He
then said that he should vote for Pinchback;
that he thought things were tending toward
peace in Louisiana; that Pinchback was q
representative of his race, which was in the
majority in Louisianai that he came with
the credentials signed by governor who
had been recognized as entitled to his office.
He should vote for his admission, believing
that he would be justified before the people
for so doing.
Mr. Edmun,ls CO "a tho raoso, oi ,a,, h1, N.
AlcOrn, that this claimant should be admit
ted because he was representative of his
race, was the most weighty reason that had
been adduced in his behalf. If the Senate
this might be a sufficient reason why the
claimant should be admitted, in order that
there might he cOl0red senator on this floor
To represent his race. But, unfortunately,
the Senate was bound by the constitution
and the laws, and must decide according 10
them. Our mission is To decide whether the
claimant was legally elected. He then read
from the constitution of Louisiana, prescrib-
ing that the returns of the elections shall be
sent to the secretary OF state, and by him
transferred TO the legisla ure The constitu-
ton of Louisiana meant that the original
papers expressing the will of the people on
the day OF the election SHOULD be canvassed,
and not any paper or set or papers made up
afterwards by body of men Unknown TO
the constitution of the state. He asked
was there any Senator on this floor
who would assert to the contrary E?
The constitution OF Louisiana on this point
was almost the same as the constitution OF
the United States in reference to the electoral
vote. What would be thought of a states
man who would attempt to have a law passed
providing that returning board, appointed
by the President, should canvass the vote for
President and Vice President, and that the
President should declare the election on their
canvass instead OF on the returns sent to him
according to the constitution. 1t was the
duty of the Senate in deciding upon this case
TO ascertain whether the claimant was
elected Senator by a legislature, the men,
bers of which had been declared elected on a
canvass of returns as provided by the con-
stitution, or on returns canvassed by an in
termediate body unknown to the cOnstitu-
ton,