The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-22
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE.
GRANTS POSSIBLE SUCCESSOR
Insincerity of Republican Professions
on the Currency.


son, the Republicans have been in peck
of troubles about the successor of Grant,
should he die. Last March at the extra
session, by a combination of rank Republi-
can infationists, mostly carpet bag sena-
tors from the south, Tom Ferry, lumber
man, of Michigan, was chosen president
pro tenn, of the senate The law provides
that in case of the death or disability of
both president and vice president, the
president, pro tenn of the senate shall be
president, and in case there be no presi-
dent pro tenn, then the speaker of the
house. Since Wilson's death the party
managers have been contriving how to get
ridiof Tom Ferry, the inAationist, and put
man in his place who would be president
10 case of Grants death. They finally
gave out that Ferry having been elected
at an extra session of the senate, and when
congress was not in session, there might De
a question as to whether he could hold for
the full congress without some further
action
Mr.. Edmunds submitted the following:
WHEREAS, Since the last session :of the senate,
the vice president of the United States has deceased
heI efOre,
Resolued, That on the 7th of Januar Snext at
O'Clock, afternoon, the senate will proceed TO the
election OF president pro TEN.
Mr., Edmunds said he offered this reso-
luton, and would like to have it lie oyer
and be printed in order that, during the re
cess, senators might look up the precedents
and consider the important question which
has been suggested in the newspapers and
otherwise in respect to the speaker of the
house of representatives and the president
of the senate in the event of what, in the
course of life, was probable contingency.
| The resolution was referred to the commit
tee on elections and privileges. This &C.
CURED last week on Friday.
Sunday it was reported that the Demo
Gratis would, on Monday. offer resolution
to elect Mr.. Thurman, and when the senate
met, on Monday, there was thoroughly
soaI cd hot Of Rep~hlio~-s an .hat body
Mr.. Edmunds arose and said ne desired to
state, before offering the resolution which
he proposed, that in regard to the resolu-
ton offered by him last Friday touching
the president of the senate, there had
been some discussion, and upon further
I'eonference with senators he thought there
should be no question of doubt as to who
is president of the senate between this
date and the day of the meeting of con.
gress after the holiday recess, He there
fore offered the following:
ReSOlUed That Thos, W. Ferry, senator from the
state of Michigan be president of the senate uDtl
January Z, 1876, and until fresh appointment
shall be made.
The chair, Mr. Anthony, (Rep) announc
ed that the question was on the passage OF
the resolution.
Mr.. Salisbury Dem. said he did n de
sire to interpose any objection to this reso
luton, but it seemed to him that it involv
ed questions already before the committee
on privileges and elections. The resolu
ton assumed that the senate had no presi
dent, and he merely wished to call the at
tention of the senator from Vermont t
that fact,
Mr.. Edmunds said he had drawn thu
resolution so as not to assume that fact
The resolution did not declare whether o.
not MIR. FERRY was president, it merely de
clared he should be. If Mr.. Ferry is o
d is not president of the senate, then he vii
$ be until the time named by the passage 0
: this resolution.
Mr.. Bayard DEM offered substitute
declaring Mr.. A. G. Thurman presiden
r of the senate until January 7, 1876, or I'm
Z til fresh appointment shall be made, AM
upon this demanded the yeas and nays.
The substitute was rejected; yeas 81
It nays "a, strict party vote. Messrs. ALI
" son, Paddock, Wadleigh, Cragin and Cam
erOn OF Pennsylvania, who would hay
voted against the substitute were paire
- with Mcssrs. Merrimon, Ransom, Kelly
:, n orwood and Stephenson, who would hav
IL voted for it. The original resolution sui
a! United by Mr.. Edmunds was then adopt
4 ed.
is The Democrats came within votes {
? electing Mr.. Thurman as the successor
" Grant. And now the Republicans, afte
l. their Scare, are congratulating themselve
II on their narrow escape.
" A Washington special to the Chlcag
II Journal says
~ There is considerable talk to-da
. among the Republicans at the narrow e,
e. cape yesterday from the election of Sem
tor Thurman as presiding officer of tb
senate. 1t seems that Senator Edmund
r offered his resolution declaring Senate
It. Ferry the president without consultatic
with his colleagues, and without pollir
RS the senate to see whether enough Repul
IL licans were present to pass it. By sen,
ing messages huriedly through the Capltc
and summoning the absent Republican
s. the resolution was passed by three maio
* ity. For few minutes the Republican
!. rs were greatly alarmed"
u The Chicago Post and Mail speci
p. says:
by calling the absentees, and by CO.
- centrating upon Ferry, they elected hi
Il, IL by only three majority, The Republican
ot here congratulate themselves upon the
to narrow escape.
as The Chicago Times special says:
be WASHINGTON, Dec 2O.-But thr
rs votes stood between Senator Thurma
=. and the presidency of the senate to-da
e' The Republicans. distressing the situatio
p forced Edmunds's proposition conceruir
We the pro TEN chairman of the senate to a
We ton rather than leave the question unse
=. tied dnring the recess. The situation h
III been full of alarm to the Republicans al
they reluctantly confirmed the infiationi
er Ferry in the vice presidency rather tn;
re leave doubt for the Democrats to wo
. on in the event of Grants death during Il
'"' recess. The vote stood 81 for Thurm;
as to "a for Ferry. There was thrill of e