The Morning herald., 1876-03-04
Decline Oi honesty in the United
States,
Xiv CONGRESS.
By American Press Association.
.. fen0ie.
WAsHINGTON,N \

The credentials of James B. Beck as
Senator from Kentucky, for the term COM
mencing March 4, 1876, were read and
placed on file.
The Pinchback case was then taken up
and Mr.. Edmunds took the floor.
The Senator from Indiana, he said had
admitted that 1t was pertinent and proper
to make this inquiry, for he had twice made
the motion to refer the credentials for ex-
animation.
Mr. Edmunds then said as the inquiry
must be made into the character of this
Legislature, what were the circumstances
which attended ,its organization, assembled
on the order of United States Judge with
the United States Marshall and soldiers
with crossed bayonets, allowing none others
to enter. 1t might be that the members of
this Legislature could not have been elected
if all the people who wished to vote flor
them had been allowed to cast, and he be-
lieved they would have been, but the con-
stitution of Louisiana requires a majority
of these that might ,have been cast. He
then said the constitution of Louisiana did
not confer upon any returning board power
to certify the election of Legislature ex-
cep. from possession of certain papers, and
certified to the election of this Legislature
had not a single one of those papers. The
certificate made up of election OF members
OF this Legislature, was in defence OF the
statutes.
Mr.. Morton replied at length to Mr.. Ed
mund's construction Of the law, and said
that Pinchback's exclusion was being at
tempted here to-day, in violation OF the
fundamental principles of law, which had
always guided the action OF this Senate
The Senator from Vermont had admitted
that Kellogg was Governor OF Louisiana.
The credentials of Pinchback were signed
by him. They we're the same kind of ere
dentials exactly, as every Senator now on
this floor had presented and been sworn IN
on. To exclude Pinchback was to trample
down the fundamental law and all the pre-
cedents in this body.
Mr.. Frelinghuyson said that he should
vote for Pinchback. He had voted for
new election in 1878, on the report OF {
committee, but he had Investigated thu
matter and was satisfied Kellogg was legal
ly elected Governor of Louisiana. Aftel
| further discussion In the matter the Senate
adjourned.
House.
At the expiration Of the morning hou
Mr.. Bright moved to go into the Commit
tee of the Whole on the private calendar
Mr.. Ward, of New Jersey, raised question
of consideration in favor of the Hawiia1
Treaty Bill. The question was put upol
the motion of Mr.. Bright, and it was agreed
to. The House then went into the Com
mittee of the Whole, on the private calsn
dar, Mr.. Beebe, of New York, in the chair
A large number of bills were considered ant
ordered printed to be reported to the House
A number of relief and pension bills amend
ed in the Committee of the Whole wer
passed in thej House as amended. Or
motion of Mr.. Randall it was ordered tina
the session Of tomorrow be devoted to de
bate on the Hawiian Treaty. There wa
also about sixty relief and pension bill
passed, which had been agreed to In tht
committee without amendment. All thos'
were on the calendar at the beginning o
the days session. =,
Mr.. Banning from the Military Commit
tee offered resolution calling for copies
all orders, instructions, letters, telegram
and papers at the control of the RESPECTIVE
departments, relative to the Court of In
ouiry into the conduct Of Gen. O. E. Bah
cock. Adopted.
On motion of Mr.. Holman, the Hous
then at 5 P. M. adjourned.