Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-12-09

NOW, ii appeared Inere was CIanBt lOI TIE
purpose Of avoiding the Joint rules.
Senator Wright said some one was talking
10 him when the senator from West Virginia
Davis asked the question. He understood
him 10 inquire if there was any great change
in the organization of the committees and
he answered in the negative.
Senator Morton said that perhaps there was
no legal proposition that could be started but
what could be argued favoraby. 1t was per
fectly plain to him that there were no JOINT
rules, as the senate had Withdrawn from
them, and it had a perfect right to do so. He
quoted from various authorities III support OF
his argument, and read from the record the
views heretofore expressed by the senators on
the Democratic size of the chamber. He
said that, in his opinion, the entire purpose
Of his friends on tie other side in maintain
ing that Joint rules were binding now was to
maintain the twenty-second joint rule, rela-
tive to the count of the electoral vote, which
had been condemned as wicked everywhere.
Senator Merrimon said he would not be 50
uncharitable as to say that the Republican
side desired to get rid of it for purpose.
Senator Morton said he had been trying to
get nd Of the twenty-secOnd joint rule for
years past.
Senator Bayard spoke of the twenty second
joint rule as being the only one Objectionable,
and read from his remarks at the last session
in favor of a law regulating the counting of
the electoral vote instead of dealing with the
subject by joint rule. He commented at
length on the Joint rules, their object and
their origin, and said he must adhere to the
position heretofore taken by him, to the effect
that the Joint rules Of the house and senate
were as much within their control as other
rules, and might be terminated by each house
at their discretion.
Senator Edmund5 quoted at length from
his remarks when tins matter was before the
senate at the last session, and also from the
remarks Of Senator Merrimon at the same
time, to show that the senator had changed
his opinion.
Senator Merrimon said that at the last ses-
sion he had not given the subject much atten-
ton, but after he had heard the arguments of
other senators he had reflected on the matter
and had changed his opinion.
Senator Edmunds, resuming his argument,
deferred to the question before the house of
representatives at the last session. Abiding
to the late Speaker Kerr, he said that although
he EdmundsI disagreed with him on the sub
Ject of general politics, long and pleasant
friendship existed between them. Mr.. Kerr
had departed this life from his career of use
eminent in that great party. He was rated
not only as an honorable, patriotic citizen, but
having large views asa statesman. Continu-
ing his argument, he commented on the Joint
rules and sald they were simply standing or
derS OF each house of congress. He argued
that each house had a perfect right to retire
from such
After further debate by Senators Merrimon,
and others, the uuestson bein0 on
an appeal Of Senator Merrimon from the de-
cision of the chair, the decision was sustained
yeas, so; nays, 4, as follows:
Yeas-Alcon, Allison, Anthony, Bayard,
Blaine, Booth, Boutwell,, Bruce, Burnside,
Cameron Wis. |, Chaffee, Christiancy; Clay
ton, COckrell, Conkling, Conover, Cooper,
Cragin, Dawes, Dennis, Dorsey, Eaton, Ed
munds, Frelinghuysen, Hamilton, Harvey,
Howe, Ingalls,, Herman, Logan,
NJ 'Creery, NJ MDonald, M'Millan, Mitchell,
Morrill,, Morton, Paddock, Patterson, Price,
Randolph, Sargent, Sherman, Spencer, Tel
Ter, Woodleigh, Wallace, West, Window
and Wright. Total, so.
Nayes- Maxey, Merrimon, Whyte and
Withers. Total, 4.
Senator Cameron PAL, who would have
voted yea, was paired with Senator Sauls-
bury, who would have voted nay; absent or
not voting: Senators Barnum, Bogy, Davis,
Gordon, Hamlin, Johnston,
Jones Fla. Jones Nev.] Kelly, Key, Mari
wood, Oglesby, Ransom, Robertson. Thorn, |
Thurman.
Senator Withers introduced bill for the
relief of owners and purchasers of land sold !
for direct taxes in insurrectionary States. t
Referred
The senate took up joint resolution pro-
posing an amendment to the constitution |
Of the United States in regard to the count of |
the electoral vote, and it was read. Before |
with the consideration thereof, |
the senate went into executive session, and
when the doors opened it adjourned until
Monday.