The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-06
CONGRESS HARD AT WORK.
norm SENATE AND mo USE COEsID-
ERIN1 INJECTION TOPIJS.

mtttccS SOuth-Ihp SruNte's Acfl0u on VIZ
Edmuuds's Props~it iou-I roOp- in NtrEtnia.
WAsIINGroN Dee o. In the Senate. Mr..
Morton ulep. IndJ submitted JOINT resolution
proposing an amend ucnt 10 the COnstituiion of
the United States 80 as To provide FOR tho cleo
ton Of President aud Vice President Of the
United states 10y the direct vote oi the people,
which was read. and 1t was ordered that 1t lie
on the table until tie api ointment u commit
tees, and then be referred 81 tie Committee On
Privileges and Elections. Mr.. MORON SAID the
resolution was identical with tue proposition
reported by the Committee on Privileges and
Elections two years ago.
MIR. Spencer tleu.. Ala) introduced a bill to
establish the Territory Of the Black HIS. and
rivide for the temper ~ government thereof
Laid on the table until committees shall be au-
pointed.
dir. Eimunds Ctsep. VT moved to take no for
consideration the resolution submitted ny him
yesterday. ordering an inquiry into the late
election IN South Carolina. Florida, Louisiana,
Miasissipp Georfil. ard Al hama.
MIR. Baysrd dem. DclJ said the subject mat
tiers to which his resolution relates were Of the
great ST importance to our system Of govern
meni. as they not only touched forms Of rcpup-
hcan government In various states but also pro-
posed IT, inquire a. to the eligibility OF Presi-
dental electors. lie would be glad to have a
fun discussion - the origin AID powers under
which II WIS proposed th,t this committee
should act. lie hoped the Senator from Vermont
tNIr mundD would allow the resolution to
PISS over for the present, there were many
Senators who desired to be heard upon 1t, and
some time should be given for prepa ration for
the discusson.
Mr. Edmunds said personally II would give
him great pleasure to accede to the request Of
his friend from Delaware. but the condition Of
public sfairs was such that tho inquiry proposed
Nv the resolution SHOULD De ordered at once. aud
his object I'm calling II up was 20 have II passcd
to-day. In view uf he inquiry proposed In
otter qu rter.. he thought the senate 81 the
IL spent much time in discussing this question
Ia advance Of the report of the committee.
THE PITH OF WHAT THEY MEAN.
Mr.. Bayard repIed thrt II was perfectly plain
certain sites To- tie Federal Union. 1t opened
up anew the pow sul Congress to make inquiry
into the domcstic IN ifs OF states. He then 10
viewed the rovisiOns OF BE resolution, an1 de
MED that the senate had any power TO make the
inquiry. lie quoted IRON the Constitution in
support Of Ms views. and. resunins. saiu ~ every
ttats of this Uuinn votes were both received
ara rel -cted wrongfullv. Eir ~ were commit
ted, men hid their votes changed bV induce.
ments Of "a pccuuiary nature by the r0mi.e ct
Office or employment. Al these things had
cured and would occur again. aud II the Senate
should ssers ne power asserted in this resolu-
tiOu there va Id ue no END To ihicTtntuarie M
puiries ~ Congress into the do e-iic aGifs of
States. IL was not withiu the irt 90 me ming
Of our form ct governments Tor CONGRESS to cx-
er iae ant such over. and tbs senate should
pause before committing itself to this fesoiu-
lion. 1t invited the senate to a never G Iding
Llsk, the settlement II contested elec ion cases
OF President and Wee Preslue mt. Rcur >chta-
lives IN Jun.tess. ,xecutiye AID judicial OH era
OF States, and men,ter. of SAFE LEGISLATURE
The exercise uf such bower was incompatible
OF senator's. lie thought the resolution was
rpnf es-ion Of he wort ulessness Of CONGRESS
.iondl action curing toe It eleven Years IN t.
gard to the states named Ia It.
Mr. Morton Qtcr.. lnd) raised the point OF
order That the constitutional power # Cong ess
nm HF 3 liz ar 10 II tst4 .aF.t
discussed On a motion 10 take II ny. The point
Ma sustained 10y the Cnair,
Ar. Btyard rcph,d mat he did not mean 10
tiscuSs tuc merits Oi the resolution
The mot IN ueidg to take no the resolution. II
Eote.
M. Edmunds then modified his resolution so
"a e. authotzr tue committee g. extend ITS IN
curry t. the c.ecti Of 1874 IN the - ates named,
n. wei a. tnc elections OF lS,j ana 1870 H. also
made other utnimeut- ui v,lOai character.
and said ne VS. greatly suI prised al iar views
VI his non iaDiv friend lsuu DciaN.le tMs. Bly-
MO- touching ul' ttr"lu'ioh. lie Hrgnci That
Ionsr,ss h.d power 40 make tue iuq.lry. Inc
C1nsituiiOn declared tuAt tue rcprc-rutauon
whoie num,er Of The Inhabitants # such
State. exrest wheu III auy ctAte there was
All ubuugu ent Of the rsot 10 woke. when
tie Representation snoidd be d creusrd
Arcurdil lly. Mr.. Eiuuuds wished he cluid
believe int tie reo IT ~ tue committee wogi
show that IA tNr.1 .atr the Il nt u every ritl-
Esn to vote VA been free and unabridged. Ihe
way t. aseer la TIE truth ia 1ue Interest Of hu-
ertN ana I law was TO url tuis irQliN. | was
~ thar the senate ca t.e ~ co St.t.s. he rep
re-,ut lives " ell the state. should e-c,rt4in
"hit the real mn i1h 81 Allan. ia those Il iies
was. a TO he List RESOLUTION. in re ard To- tue
siisiaihl' II eiec'or-, bee haG see II lrintei IN
oewsp.per-, and ~ iicNed ~ To- uc uue. that
N-i wtt= 80 Zee taken u "a, ntipn tne clEihlilty
OF eject .ls, ana he Thought tue qucetl"'. -houid
he titled. lie argued That the resolution did
NJ commt tue schate TO any particular GOc-
.Tine.
Ca norton of Nr. Coukling QRsp.. N J,ho
fer luton Was lad as dc alid lAe Presidents
Message read.
SOW FOR VIRGINIA.
Mr.. Witle's dem. va submitted resoln-
lion reque.lins ihe President to ininim The
Senate % npt ih, O.npatl he with the panic ia
t,rc>t. nler wh 80 annorit. ana for Nh pr.
pusr truuts Of thr Inued state occupied Pc.
tcrsOulg. VIZ on tine ,tu N - November. ltiG.
the dai Of the election. q Jrc.inn was made
by MI. E4munds, nd the resolution was i4id
Nr. rhurman, Dem, ONO suggested tina, tho
resulu ION II the senator from Vernon. IA re-
vuid iu the inqnr, ia varlou, southern :, ties
Ne l.iu over uutu to-morrow aud prn.cd win
tue changes made.
Nr. Elnunds suii ne could not consent u 1t
going oven lie lrl 70 to ne ms duty 10 asA tbs
Senate to act upon II to-day.
Sir Thurman sad the senator from Vermont
had arsued tnal me adoption Of thi- resolution
would MT commit the Senate TO any UaTt GUAR
tnis' aud artuei that /. aid commit the Senate.
ii" cuntcnded that there mad been no Violation Of
tne tOnsthu tiuu at tne nited states b, any uf
the State, named IN the resulutl1n. ihesr ~'n cs
gave the sunrige 10 everybody, anu nothing Ia
the Constitution If either IT them, Of IN auy ut
Their etstuies atid-cd that surr4e-. uud r
recent dm"ndn nts To tn Constitution, tnure
b
uunal qut hhchtiqns tu x fudg- he Coiuied mGn
from tie b4iiut nOI. tut oil MOI do 81. Il wai
sd that I'll, qyiry cuHld be set Oh foot. IL
was entleiy outside Of, tne Constitution, aLd
based alone Oh new paper articles.
hr Edmund, snid the laws aud statutes u
several OF these states did Vye. ate 10 deny suit
fTdee.
Mr. Thurman denied that there was any such
Law In either uI the safe an tle Scnatur /. J.
munds) could not produce any -ucu statute.
TIE LAWS OF those states u TED alike on 10th
white auC cuiDred Vptcrs. Who had possess ION
Of oOutu IrOlna hnd Louisiana since the war Z
Tue kspuollcsn iHrt'. WAC had posse sion ~
AlabHmt until WITHIN the last tWO years lie
kcpuohcan p.!t,. Yet IL was cl-iiaed the rigtts
Oi Ia, colo, ed " .-.. had been Oridged. Tho
intent 81 TINS ir-' 40 u was simp.y 10 20 into
IN QGc. tpu Of tiali1LtlOu, ami furnish 30 rat
isfa,t1fy Ia 20. .-f these Returning Boa DIS
throwing ore md eleC.i1s other men thaa
those CIuscf. N. .p. le. Six - ties were in.
VOWED IN VI Co.,. r.,ru. Wa, dld not the Sen
RtOr from W.. ..t d. .eud II cNelSWhtrui HID
he never hr 40 u. iu. cmt i'lro- in the great
mHnufl ctofle. H-'ng uhtcnen un to IN" polls
aud mad t. t' Gee iH"lr einilD} eis WHO stood
al lhe Nii.Iu'. titcif
~. EiMuu . itNcr hoard bit OF one in
stance At that nfp4, md ina Wis the cas- Of I
Democratic mfuplac utcr in Conn ctirut, wna
made Ll- ehl. Nf'7t Ite the Democratic ticket
Mr.. lhuIm- - taen tho senator Is the most
ign ram man mo hNes ia New England
lLauEnterl