Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-12-05
FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS,
SECOND SESSION,
TUESDAY. December A

TUESDAY, DEFENDERS
SENATE--At the opening Of the session
to-day, Senators Morton, Jones, and Alcorn
were present.
The Senate was called to order al ~ O'Clock
and opened with prayer by the Chaplain
message from the House was received
notify Ing the Senate that the House was or
business.
A statement Of the property under the care
OF the Commissioner of Public Buildings and
Ground Grounds was placed before the Senate. and
Mr.. Morton submitted a resolution. which
was ordered printed and to lie on the table
ana referred TO committee on privileges and
elections when APPOINTED, providing for an
amendment to the Constitution for the cleo
lion OF President aud Vice President, SO that
these officers shall be elected by the voters of
the congressional districts, the person receiv-
Ing the highest number of votes in each dis
trict TO receive one vote for each district; the
person receiving the highest number of votes
in state to receive in addition two votes for
the state at large; the person receiving the
highest number of votes at large to be Presi-
dent, thus doing away with the electoral col
Mr.. Wright submitted a resolution in rela-
ton in relation To districting the state of
Iowa. Laid on table till committees are
appointed.
Mr.Morton laid before the Senate compila-
ton prepared by Mr.. Mcdonald, chief clerk of
the Ser ate, showing the manner of counting
year 1873 which he said had been prepared
with great care, and he moved that 10 OO)
copies be printed for the use of the Senate
Mr.. Thurman thought the number was I'M
ecessarlly large, and after further discus
sion Mr.. Morton modified his motion To pro-
vide that the usual number of so be printed
winch was adopted. lie then moved thai
$500 additional copies be printed, and, debate
ar sing. IL was laid over.
Mr.. dmunds called up his resolution sub
mitted yesterday in relation To the denial and
hrl tot gfnat fslf
CT The Southern states and asked its present
OnsideratiOn.
Mr.. Bayarl said he was not present yes
ferday, when the resolutions were intro
duced, and was not aware of the import of
them in time TO give them proper cOnsid-
Grafton. He hoped the resolutions might lay
over till some other time, if the Senator from
Vermont could consent TO such an arrange
ment.
Mr.. Edmunds said the state of the country
and its affairs were such that il seemed
necessary, and he hoped il might be done, to
have them taken up and passed this very
day. He was sure il need not and probably
would not take up much of the time of the
Senate.
Mr.. Bayard, replying, said that this would
be nothing more nor less than a contest over
the election of all who have been elected in
The late contest. and would take up great
deal of the time of the Senate, and if they
were To commence in this way they would be
compelled TO sit here the whole year round
and inquire into acts of intimidation; for
anything could be construed into an act of
intimidation, and that would form pretext
for such resolutions as this, and nothing
else would or could be ACCOMPLISHED.
He was proceeding to argue the merits of the
resolution when Mr.. Morton raised the point
that 1t was not competent to discuss the
merits of question on a mere motion to
take up for consideration.
The Chair sustained the point, when Mr..
Hayard disclaimed any intention of infring-
ing upon the rules of the Senate, but the
Importance OF the subject had Betrayed him
Mr.. Edmunds SAID, without taking up fur
fher time, he would call for the yeas and nays
upon tax ng up the resolution.
The yeas and nays were ordered, and the
motion 10 take up prevailed, the Senators
from Colorado on this, the first roll call, vot-
ing with the republicans.
The committee TO wait upon the President
appeared, and Mr.. Anthony, reported that
they had waited upon the President and in
formed him that the two Houses Of Congress
Were organized and ready TO receive any COM
municatiOn from him, and the President had
replied that he would Immediately comm H.
DlCate with the House In writ ing.
Mr.. Edmunds said he wished To change the
resolutions in a few particulars, and added
the words: "and that said committee be au-
thorized TO extend this inquiry TO the ele =
tons OF 1874"
davits read, 'depOsitions;" also, whether
Congress has any, to read whether Con-
gress, or either House thereof" has any
constitutional power, &c, and then pro ceeded
when message, in writing, was received
fIOm the President ry Mr. Grant, his private
secretary. at one O'Clock and ten minutes.
Mr.. Edmulds said the importance Of these
resolutions demanded their consideration
al d passage, and il this committee was
charged with the duties contained in these
Te oiutions he hoped they would be able to
show cOrclusively whether all the charges
of Intimidation and OutIages which had SO
often appeared in the newspapers, and which
had so often been repeated in some speeches
and denied in others, were really true or had
any foundation In fact, or whether they
Mr.. Conkling asked that the resolution
mi Sht be laid aside informally for the read
ing OF the Presidents message, when Mr..
Thurman renewed the request of Mr.. Bayard
that Mr.. Edmunds would consent TO lay
them over 10 some other day.
Mr., Edmunds declined to consent to Mr..
Humans request, but yielded for the read
ing Of the message, and the Secretary, Mr..
Gotham, proceeded, at LIS O'Clock, to read
to the Senate the eighth annual message Of
President Grant.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
reading OF journal Of yesterdays proceedings
occupied half an hour.
Mr.. Plaisted, Me-, rose to a question of
privilege, and called attention TO an error in
the Journal. He was recorded as not having
voted on the resolution offered yesterday by
MI Hewitt, OF New York. He did vote, and
This would have changed the result, as the
resolution was adopted by a bare two-thirdS
The Speaker said he was informed by the
clerks that Mr.. Plaisted was not recorded as
having voted, and the names were reas,a out
very carefully.
Mr.. Banks, Mass, moved TO correct the
Journal in accordance with Mr.. Plaisted's
suggestion.
Mr.. Holman, Ind, contended that in a roll
call the Journal was made up at once.