Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-12-15
NEWS OF THE WEEK.
CONGRESSIONAL.

In the Senate, on the 5th, Morton Ond.)
, submitted joint resolution proposing an
amendment TO the Constitution to provide
for the election Of President and Vice Presi-
dent by direct vote of the people. Re-
ferred, The Presidents message was read
and ordored printed. Edmunds' resolution
of the 4th was modified by its author 30 as
to authorize the committee to extend It's in
quiry TO the election of 1874 In the States
named. Thurman (Ohio) and Bayard (Del)
opposed the resolution. After long dis
cussion, however, 1t was adopted by a strict
party vote. Merrimon On. C.) introduced a
bill to change the time Of holding the Presi-
Dental election TO October-the Electoral
College to meet in January. Adjourned. =.
-,I Ia the House, in consequence of two
members not having their votes re-
corded rs they had voted on the Southern
committees resolution of the previous day, a
new vote WAS taken, by general assent, result
ing in favor of the appointment of the COM
mittees. The Presidents message was read
and ordered printed. The select committees
were announced: On Louisiana-Morrison,
jerks, Mcmahon, Lynde, Blackburn, Meade,
House, Phelps, New, Ross, Townsend of
Pennsylvanis, Danford Hurlbut of Illinois,
Crapo and Joyce On Florida-Thompson
Debolt, Walling, Hopkins, Garfield and
Dunnell. Adjourned.
In the Senate, on the 9th, the standing com
mittees we've announced. Withers (va) in
troduced a resolution calling on the President
TO inform the Senate whether U. s. troops
were stationed at Petersburg, Va, Nov. Z,
the day of election; II so, under what au-
to 60 ,lok
debate followed, participated in by Withers,
Logan, Thurman, Morton, Sargent, Johnston,
and Edmunds. The resolution was agreed to-
message from the President was re-
ceived, inclosing report OF Senator
Sherman and other members of the committee
who visited New Orleans, together with ac-
companying testimony in regard TO the
Louisiana election. Senator Sherman said
the testimony, in his opinion, established
not only the fairness of the canvass and it's
strict conformity TO the law, but also its JUS
uce. The proof Of intimidation, terror, burn
ing, whipping and murder committed in pur-
suance Of an organized plan to prevent the
election of the Republican electors, and the
return of the Democratic electors, was
so full and complete that the public mind
woud believe that any other finding of
the board would have been a reproach TO
our civilization and an utter overthrow in
Louisiana of the freedom of elections. Mr.
Bogy (Mo.), a member of the Democratic
Committee in New Orleans, said he believed
the election in Louisiana had been orderly
and without intimidation. The motion to
print the message was further discussed by
Conkling, West, Stevenson and Eaton, and
vi of 10 tha TNnr D.4u
Edmunds called up his resolution proposing
a constitutional amendment Objection was
made, and without reaching vote
the Senate adjourned. In the House
the Presidents message transmitting
the report of Senator Sherman in
regard to the Louisiana election was
presented and read. Wood On. " expressed
surprise that such message he'd been sent
by the President. By giving to it his official
sanction he made it one of the records of the
Government. He Wood said it was an un-
authorized document of a mere partisan and
e1-pdrte character. On his motion the mes
sage and accompanying documents were
laid on the table-153 to 9O-a party vote
Adjourned.
In the Senate, on the Tth, the communica-
ton Of Carl Schurz and others in regard to
proposed constitutional amendment to
transfer to the Supreme Court the power to
count the electoral vote and declare the re.
suit was presented and laid on the table The
Committee on Printing, to which the report
OF Senator Sherman on Louisiana was
referred, reported in favor of printing the
documents. A lengthy discussion ensued,
participated in by leading men of both par
ties, the Democrats objecting to the printing
of the report until the Democratic report
was presented and printed with it. The
report was finally agreed to-40 to 13-five
Democrats voting with the Republicans.
Mitchell (Ore.) introduced resolution that
the Committee on Privileges and Elections
he instructed to investigate the facts attend
ing the appointment of electors in Oregon.
Ordered printed and laid on the table. Howe
(Wis) introduced bill to restrain unauthor-
lied persons from assuming to act as
electors for President and Vice. President of |
the United States. Adjourned =. In the
House the Pension Appropriation bill was
reported. 1t appropriates $3s, 1853 900. Nc
Crary Qowa) introduced resolution that |
joint committee be appointed to prepare and |
report such measure as shall harmonize |
all differences as to the proper mode of can
vassmg the electoral vote, and as to the |
manner of determining questions as to the |
legality and validity of returns. Referred TO |
the Judiciary Committee The protest of |
the Colorado Legislature against the refusal |
OF the House TO admit Belford TO his seat |
was presented ana referred. A resolution |
appropriating $4,000 for the expenses of
the Southern committees was adopted. Ad- |
iourned
In the Senate, on the Sth, the resolution |
directing an investigation as to the appoint |
ment of the Democratic elector by the Gov
ernor Of Oregon was referred to the Com |
mittee on Privileges and Elections The bill |
to provide for issuing silver coin and TO |
make the silver dollar legal tender was re- |
ferred to the Committee on Finance. Ed |
munds (Vt) moved to take up the Joint
resolution proposing a constitutional amend
ment to the Constitution in regard 10 the
count of the electoral vote by the Supreme
Court. Merrimon IN. C.) objected. He
made point that under the twenty-Rrst
joint rule the resolution could not then be
considered. The Chair Terry Of Michigan)
overruled the point and announced that the
Joint rules were not in force; besides, this
subject was covered by Senate rule. Merri.
mon appealed from the decision. He in
sisted that the joint rules were in force
and 1t was not competent for the Senate to
abolish them without the concurrence Of the
House. They had been in force since the
existence OF the Government and nothing
had ever been said about their readoption
until the last session of the Senate. Morton
llnd.) said II was plain to him that there
were no joint rules, as the Senate had with
drawn from them, as II had right TO do.
Bayard Del) was Of the same opinion. Aft
cr debate the decision Of the Chair was
sustained-5O to 4-the latter being Maekey,
Morrison, Whyte, Withers. Cameron tPa.)
who would have voted yea, was paired
with salisbury (Del.). An executive
session was held aud the Senate ad-
iourned.., In the House Baker Qnd.)
bill proposing a con
'titutional amendment forbidding the as
sumption or payment Of any claims for loss
DR. damage growing out OF the loss or de-