The Portland daily press., 1876-12-06
The Meeting Of Congress.
Exciting Scenes-The Attitude of the
President-A Batch of Rumors.

Washington specials say that the crowd
which focked to the Capitol to see the opening
of Congress has never been excelled in mum.
bers From eleven o'clock n the morning nm
to late hour in tha afternoon the corridors
and passages of the vast building were blocked
up with the mass of human beings. The gal
leries on both sides were filled to overflowing
and remained 70 until the aG journment of the
houses On the Senate side there was an un
usually full attendance of Senators Most os
the Democratic Senators were in their seats
some time before the opening of the session,
but the Republican Senators, who had been en-
gagged all the morning in caucus entered the
chamber in body minute FOR two be fore the
time for the opening of the session Mr.. Blaine
and the two Colorado Senators had been in
vted TO participate in the c2ucus IN advance of
being sworn in Handsome boquets were
placed on the desks of Mr.. Blaine, Mr.. Dawes and
one or two other Senators. Mr.. Blaine went in
with Senator Hamlin, and took temporarily the
uacaDt seat of Senator Howe, which is only one
seat away from that of Mr. Conkiing. The
first business was the swearing in .of the new
senators, Mr.. Blaine and the two Colorado SEN
ators, both of whom are striking looking men
advanced together aud took the iron-clad oath
Mr.. Rice of West Virginia, the successor of the
late Senator Caperton, then came forward and
took the modified OATH He was lieutenant
governor of Virginia under the Confederacy.
Some comment Was made on the fact that no
opposition came from the Democratic side in
the senate to the wearing in of the Colorado
the Democratic senators on this point, but they
came to the conclusion that it was not worth
while to raise the point in the Senate, only to
have it overruled, and that all that was to be
gained would be consummated by the action of
the House.
To an impartial observer the Republican side
of the House would appear at disadvantage
in the matter of the resolution for the appoint
ment of committees to investigate the electious
in Louisiana, South Carolina and Florida,
They placed themselves in the attitude of OBJ
structing an inquiry presumably desie ned to
throw light where light is desired above all else
ii st now by the people of the country. Of
course they had q reason for their action. They
made the point that the resolution asserted BY
Implication the right of Congress to go behind
the act of the electoral colleges, aud this right
they deny, and will continue to deny to the end.
This right admitted, the House can get the cleo
IlOu tutO us OWN uduuS w Wutu tQo VObeS are TO
be couuted, and the result is easily fOreseen
The resolution, as originally drawn by the
Democratic managers, contained clause in-
sfructing the committee to inquire and report
whether the electoral votes of the state in ques-
ton should be counted. This was clearly open
to the objectons just stated, and in order to OBJ
tain the support of the independent Republic
cans whose votes were necessary to carry the
resolution through, it was stricken out, for it
must be understood that Professor Seelye and
kk,ap n Ina, nkaI r,.st~ l.
admit any more than Messrs. Hoar and Kasson
the right of Congress to 90 behind the act
Of the electoral college. They differ from the
main body Of their party only in the opinion
that the resolution as it now stauds does not
assert that right Upon the other important
act of the House the reference of the Colorado
case to the Judiciary committee for the consid-
Grafton OF the question whether Colorado is
State, unbiased judges express the opinion
that the position of the Democrats is absurd to
the last degree. All that the House can do is
to ascertain whether Colorado is state in fact,
and of this there is no more doubt than that
Massachusetts, is state. The Democrats pro-
pose, however, to inquire whether the act under
which Colorado became sta,e was consttu-
tional anu that is clearly question for the
supreme court and not for Congress to deter
mine This ridiculous scheme for getting rid
of the ell ctoral vote OF Colorado was vigorously
opposed 10 the Democratic caacus, and will
undoubtedly meet the fate it deserves
1t is pretty generally acknowledged on all
sides that Rsndall's first days occupancy of the
chair has been notable failure. His speech,
particularly, was und gnifed and uUbecoming,
The Boston Advertiser special says the posi-
ton assumed by the Presideot respecting affairs
Ia South Carolina has produced a curious state
of feeling in Washington. Certain prominent
Repnbl cans of the Morton and Logan stamp
are not pleased, aud begin 60 fear the President
has yielded too much 10 his conservative ad-
visers. In full, they do not hesitate to de-
clare their helipf thai Grant has stuOnn hack
them" Monday Senator Patterson received
dispatch from Governor Chamberlain stating
that he feared be would need the aid OF the
United States troops, and asking that orders
be sent 20 RGger to give more active support
80 the state government. Patterson la d this
despatch DefcIe several Senators, aud Messrs
Logan aud Morton had an Interview with the
President 90 the subject. OF the result no
other infor nation Can BE- gathered than that
ihe two Senators came away very much dissat-
fed. Mr. Hewitt had another interview with
the President Monday and showed hun the
resolution prepared TOR intsoduc ion il the
| House. 1t Is SAID that the President expressed
his entire approval of 1T, saying that be hoped
there would be q thorough invest CATION in the
| doubtful states. At that time the resolution
| embraced the clause concerning the e!octoral
vote, which was sub5equ5 ntly stricken ou..
| Mr.. Hewitrs expression of couidence IN the
| Presidents integrity aud patriotism have
drawn upon him the diSpleaSure OF the eXtre me
| partisans of his side. Others, however, believe
| Hewitt is striving TO create an impression that
| the President is favoring them more than he
really is. They are doubtless partly right. 1t
| s certain that Hewitt has succeeded in making
certain Republicans seriously jealous.
The Boston Post special says the real issue of
| the Colorado question was not SO much to de-
| bar the Representative of that state from his
| seat as to make precedent as to the power OF
| the Clerk of the House. Clerk Adams failed
to call the newly elected member from that
state. because he had no official notification
that Colorado is State True, he had the Ger
tificate of the Governor that Belford was elected
Representative, but he had no other evidence
at hand that Congress would ratlfy the consti.
tuition of the new state, and hence could not
assume what Congress would or would not do
The Republicans were anxious to have the
name of the Colorado member called because il
would establish precedent that the Clerk is
bound to place the name of every person on the
roll who may present. him with the certificate
of the Governor of a stare 1t is anticipated
that the next House will be uncomfortably
close and the Democrats wish to establish The
power of the Clerk to place the roll tht
| names of such candidates as he may deem t(
have legal certificates. For instance, in Soutt
| Carolins, Chamberlain issues certificates which
may be antagonized by certificates issued b,
Hampton until the organization of the Hous,