The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1876-12-12
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WooDsFIEID MONROE CoUNTY OHIO TUESDAY DECEMBER
patient, calm, firm judgment and wisdom

patient, calm. firm judgment and wisdom
in this time frsught with so many p-rils
Let US not, hese, ch Of you, disappoint
their just expectation and their keen
sense of right, but by vigilance pre-
vent even the slightest departure from
the Constitution and laws, forgetting in
q moment OF difficulty that we are adhc-
rents Of party. and only remembering
that we are American citizens with a
country TO save, which will be lost il un-
authorized and unconstitutional acts on
the part of executive officers be not
frowned down at once with unsparing
condemnation.
The closing words were delivered with
great force and emphasis, and were loud.
ly applauded on the f1or and in the gal
| leries
The oath Of Office was then admins
tered to the Speaker by Mr.. Holman, who,
| in The absence OF Mr. Kelley, is the Old.
est member in consecutive service.
The oath OF Office was administered
by the Speaker to. Mr., Stephenson Geor
gia, who had not presented himself q,
the last session, and who remained in
his seat while he took the oath, and tc
the following new members, elected to
ill vacancies: Warner Of Connecticut
Frye of Maine, Humphreys and Carr o
Indiana, and Stanton Of Pennsylvania,
Objection was made to the swearing ir
Of But z of South Carolina, and Bu!osd
of Colorado. In relation to the latter
Mr.. Springer offered a resolution in
structing the Judiciary Committee to in
qnire and report at as early a day a:
possible whether Colorado is State il
the Union, and directing that until sucf
report is received no person claiming tc
be representative from Colorado shal
be sworn mas a member, 4.aT
Mr. Banks argued in favor OF the i'm
mediate swearing in of the member from
Colorado, and sent to the Clerks desl
and had read the proclamation Of ths
President, in compliance with Law, de
claring Colorado State in the Union.
Mr.. Hoar characterized Mr. Spring
er's proposition as utterly idle and futile
and pointed to the facts, as matters o
history, that the territorial government
of Colorado had ended and State gov.
ernment-legislative, judicial ard exc
cutive-had taken its place, and that the
Senators from lila. State had already ta
ken their seats.
Mr.. Hurlbut argued to the same effect
and held that there would be as much
right to challenge the status OF Illinois
as that Of Colorado. ,a, ~
Mr.. Wood, OF New York. argued tha
as the House had the unquestioned righ
to inquire into the election Of its mem
bers. that right involved in this case mol
only consideration IS to the regularit,
of the credentials Of this person, but al.
so as to what constitution be come, lte
represent. When the House adjourned
Colorado was territory. and it was the
right and duty of the House to inquire
Wheeler it had beer converted into q
state in pursuance to the Constitution
and laws. a,-.;..s.. s,z
Mr. Springer defended the propriety
of his resolution, remarking that delay
in the admission of member would
work no injustice to Colorado, whose
population was smaller than that of any
Congressional district, and yet claimed
two seats in the Senate, one in the
House and three votes in the electoral
college This gentleman might wait, az
representatives of other States have
been kept waiting around the halls ot
Congress. unless the Judicial Committee
of the House should pass him on ques
ton. Toe s4g asr.4
After some preliminary votes the
question was taken on Mr.. Springer't
resolution, referring the credentials o.
the Colorado members to the Judiciar,
Committee, and it was adopted, yeas IL:
nays 9s. The Republicans voted solidly
against it, as did the following Demo
Gratis: Messrs Blount, Cox, Durham
Hartzell, Holman, Keha, LeMoyne, Nor
gan. Neal, O Brien, Rea, Savage, Steven
son. " atterson, Wells OF, Missouri.
Mr.. McCrary presented the, creden
tials of Mr. But,zt of South Carolina
remarking that .r,as q decision Of th,
question, opposition being made, woult
consume time, be offered to yield th,
floor for motion to adjourn Mr.. Hol
man was about to make motion to ad
journ, but at request he withheld tht
motion to allow a resolution which tina,
gentleman desired to offer to be read
for the information OF the House. Mr.
Conger objected to the. readingrrbut q.
the Speaker ruled that single objec
tion would prevent the resolution being
considered at this time, pending McCra
ry's question of privilege, the resolu
tion was read. It provides for the ap
pointment of three select committees
one of fifteen members, to proceed t
Louisiana, one Of six members to pro
ceed to Florida, and one of nine mem
bers to proceed to South Carolina to in
vestigate the action OF the returning O.
canvassing boards in the recent elections
in those states, and to report all th
facts essential to ah honest return of tn,
votes of electors for President and Vice
President and to fair understandin,
thereof by the people, and whether tn
Electoral votes of these states should.h
lcoanted The committees are to hay
power to send for persons and . papers
to take testimony, to appoint subcom
mi.tees, with like powers. and to emplo
stenographers, clerks and messengers
The Speaker asked Mr. McCrar
whether he would yield to have the res
1olution offered. 9dl &gala9l: ls-a
I Mr.. McCrary sal he would not
i. Mr. Hewitt asked whether he coul
not move TO suspend the rules an
adopt the resolution ~ Rte
\ The Speaker replied that he could nc
. as the gentleman from Iowa had th
. floor on question of privilege. s't5f
Mr.. Hamilton, of Indiana, asked NJ
McCrary t0yield fora resolution al
+ pointing Saturday next for eulogies o
the late Speaker Kerr, expressive OF hi
> unblemished character, his eminent Sc
vices and his impartialisy as q presidin
lofficer.
, Mr. McCrary declined to yield unle,