The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-12-12
EVTE1CJMGESEs second SECESSION
WAsHIAaYoN. December III; 1876.

| tttsi:t ..5 Il ~ SENATE. q +. 81
Mr.. Bogy desired to present for the pur-
pose of having It printed the report OF five
Democrats invited by the Returning Board
Of Louisiana to be present at the canvass OF
votes. ~ .fs sz5.5 = -;
Nr. Hamilton asked II it was addressed
to the Senate.
Mr.. Bogy replied "NoD;; nor was the re-
port OF the other committee.
Mr.. Edmunds said II Dir. Bogy turned
the paper into petition it would be proper
to print it. zltl5s 80
| Mr.. Bogy said he would have the paper
read as part Of his speech. BE finally de
cided to present it In the form OF a petition
tomorrow. Il covers 5000 words.
The ciairmen OF the subcommittee on
Privileges and Elections were empowered
to administer oatlls. Mr.. Boutwell, was. ex-
cused from serving on the committee.
The petitions of General Joseph E. john
ston and General N. Bonham for the re-
moval OF political disabilities were pre-
scented. .a. -. 49,,
The Senate then resumed the cousidera-
ton of the unfinished business, being the
+ Joint resolution of Mr., Edmunds proposing
an amendment to the Constitution OF the
| United States SO as to have the electoral
vote for President. and Yice-President
counted by the Supreme Court, and the
amendment OF the Judiciary Committee
authorizing the electors to vote Uiud uoGe
iEstead Of by ballot was agreed to. -: I.
Mr.. Morton opposed the clause providing
the court shall in the discharge Of the duty
disregard errors Of form and be governed
by the substantial right OF the matter. He
argued that this clause would give to the
Supreme Court boundless jurisdiction.
It would authorize that body to do almost
nything-perhapst to go and count the votes
| in the State of Vermont. Such iurisdic-
ton should not be conferred upon any tri-
I.bunal, az it was dangerous. - i
| Mr.. Edmunds said the object OF the
clause was not to authorize the Court to ex-
ercise boundless jurisdiction or 60 any
where to count the votes OF citizens, but 1t
was to authorize the Court to do exactly
swhat all courts do in matters which they
are called upon to try, and that was to dis
regard forms and decide the substantial
right of the matter.
He then explained ut length the pro-
visions Of the JOINT resolution proposing
the amendment to the Constitution, and
said it was not device, as some OF the
newspapers had intimated, to swap horses
| in. crossing stream. It was introduced by
him in the Senate on the 22d of March last
almost year ago-and reported fayorably
| bv the Judiciary Committee, with amend
ments, on the 18th of May following-befoI c
either OF the presidential candidates were
nominated.
He then referred to the proceedings OF
the convention which framed the Constitu-
ton, and said he had been unable to find
anything in the debates OF the convention
! 4 1sfr1,f ln n
Constitution in regard to the count OF the
electoral vote in the presence Of the two
houses of Congress. The extent OF the
power of the presiding officer az to the
count was not defined. In referring to til:
last section OF the proposed amendments
making it applicable to the present con-
test, ii ratified in time, Mr.. Edmunds
said he did not share in what was said by
parties, who should not have made use OF
such expressions, that there was danger OF
any civil convulsion by force. There
would not be such trouble unless it was
| forced by the men who care more for what
they can make out of war than they do fol
the peace OF their country. II the two
houses of Congress could not agree in re-
gard to the last election it did not follow
| that the wise men and patriotic men would
| think they must fall back on their musllcts
He did not think the good sense OF this
nation, with its lovefor law, was going to
allow any dispute as (which OF the two
men voted for last November should appoint
postmasters and sign commissions during
the next four years. There would be found
somewhere in the Constitution way tc
settle it peaceably.
! No action was taken. Mr.. Oglesby was
appointed on the Committee on Privileges
and Elections Uice Boutwell,.
The Senate passed the House bill appro-
priating S21, 900 to defray the expenses Of
the special committees Of the House to in.
vestigate the recent elections in South Caro-
lima, Louisiana, and Florida, with all amend
ment appropriating $4,000 to defray the
expenses of the Committee on Privileges
and Elections i'll making the investigation
authorized by the resolution OF Mr.. Ed
munds. -. $3.50
The Committee on Privileges and Elec'
tons Of the Senate agreed to take up the
Oregon investigation, as proposed in Sen.
ator Mitchell's resolution.
This investigation has been referred tc
subcommittee consisting OF Senators
| Morton, Logan, and Herman. Governor
Grover and the Secretary of State OF Oregon
will be summoned. The programme tele
graphed Saturday is in all other respect:
adopted.
The committees for Florida, South Caro-
lima, and Louisiana leave for South Caro-
lima on their labors to-day.
| The Judiciary Committee OF the House
considered the representative from Colora
do this morning, and will take action to-
morrow. Wi ..
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Under the usual Monday morning cal
the Speaker proceeded to call the States anC
Territories for bills and Joint resolutions
and resolutions of State legislatures for re-
ference only. Under this call the following
among others, were introduced and re
ferred: ., ~.
By Mr. Games: To reduce postage on let
tiers. [The bill proposes that after July i
1877, the postage on all letters, except droI
letters, shall be two cents per each hal
ounce. It was referred to the Committee
on Post-O Offices and Post-Roads.j
By Mr.. Cox To regulate the compensa
ton of letter-carriers, graduating the pa!
according to length Of service. -, :
By Mr.. Davy: To amend section 'l0lo,
Revised Statutes, so as to permit commits
| sioners of the circuit courts Of the United
States to take bail for the appearance o.
parties accused before them from time tt
time until the final disposition Of the case
BY Mr.. Darrall: To apply the next pro
ceeds of the sales of the public lands to the
education Of the people. 4
By Mr.. Hunter: To authorize the Secre
tary Of the Treasury to purchase silver bull
lion, and to authorize the same to be coinee
into silver: dollars. each to be OF the same
value and fneness as the silver dollar au
thorized to be coined by the act Of 1869
and the same to be a legal-tender in the pay
ment of all debts, public and private, ant