The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-03-04

cred and Icharged as third class mail
matter. The other provisions authorize
the writing Of brief form Of presenta'
ton, or Of brief description on books
and magazines or any other articles
mailed as third class matter, and allow
insufIiciently prepaid matter to be car.
ried to It's destination in cases where there
has not been an evident intention to un'
der pay, provided that double the def.
cheney shall be collected at the other end,
When the sender is known, he is to be no.
titled and required TO make full payment.
Mr.. Morton submitted q resolution ap-
propriating $4,000 out Of the contingent
fund Of the Senate to defray the expenses
OF the investigation into the facts attend
ing the election Of Hon. Geo. Z. Spencer
as U. s. Senator from Alabama, now be.
ing made by the Committee on Privileges
and Elections. Agreed to.
nELKNAP IN THE SENATE.
At l o'clock the committee Of the
House Of Representatives, composed OF
Messrsy Blackburn, Clymer, Robbins,
Bass and Danford, appeared at the bar OF
the Senate and were announced by the
Sergeant-at.arms, French. Upon being
recognized by the President pro tenn OF
the Senate Mr.. Clymer said:
Mr.. President-ln obedience to the Or
der OF the House OF Representatives we
appear before you and in the name OF the
House OF Representatives and Of all the
people OF the United States OF America
we do impeach VIM. W. Belknap, late
Secretary OF War Of the United States
OF high crimes and misdemeanors while
in office, and We further inform the Sem
ate that the House OF Representatives
will in due time exhibit articles Of i'm
parchment against him and make good
the same, and in their name we demand
that the Senate make an order for the ap-
pearance OF the said Wm. w. Belknap to
answer.
Mr.. Ferry, President pro TEN OF the
Senate, said: Mr.. Chairman and gentle.
men Of the committee, the Senate will
take order in the premises. The commit
tee then retired.
When the committee from the House
appeared in the Senate there was great
sensation in the galleries, which by this
time was packed, and upon the floor were
many persons having the privilege there:
OF. The presiding officer was compelled
TO demand order in the chamber before
recognizing the committee, Mr.. Clymer
and the other members Of the committee,
when entering the Senate and being re-
cognized in front OF the desk, when he
spoke as above in n distinct and clear
though very solemn tone.
THE PINcHBAcK CASE.
After the committee retired Mr.. Ed
wards, who had been speaking in opposi-
tion 10 the admission OF Pinchback, re-
sumed his argument. He said there was
no such thing as priuld jaeia case before
the Senate. The constitution compelled
the Senate to Judge OF the election OF this
man as well OF the certificate he present.
ed. The Legislature which elected Pinch.
back may possibly have been the legal
Legislature Of Louisiana, but it did not
come before the Senate with that boon Of
peace and equality which might have
been under other circumstances. He
then referred TO the frauds in Louisiana
at some length, and said the admission OF
Pinchback in the face OF all the facts
would inilict blow on our constitution
which would last it to its grave. The
Senate was bound to come to result
which he would be glad to have otherwise.
He (Edmunds) did not think that the
Senators could excuse themselves from
facing this question by the idea that the
lapse OF time had healed the case Of its
iniirmities. Ifit had inGrmities in 1878,
it had infirmities nov, and fatal intirmi-
ties. It was fact that the body which
elected the claimant was not the body it
pretended to be. He could not allow any
hopes Of party or party affection to draw
him away one hair from the spirit OF the
Constitution and letter Of the law. II
they were given up there would be moth
ing else to rely on. The Senate should
pause before taking the first sad step in
making Senators instead Of deciding on
the legality Of their election.
Mr.. Morton said that from the begin
ming OF this question he had been governed
by political aspects and consequences,
and he would continue TO be SO fear
lessly. In 1872 the Republican majority
in Louisiana was from 10000 10 10000.
1t was then that conspiracy was formed
to overcome that majority by violence.
The great question before the Senate to-
day was whether that conspiracy should
be success. He believed it was not a
success, but to refuse to admit Pinchback
would be declaration that 1t had been
successful. Witness what took place at
Colfax in cold blood. Look at the mur-
ders at Coushatta and the frequent muir
ders in the State from time to time. He
next referred to the Wheeler adjustment
and said the Democrats had violated it,
Now they proposed to realize the results
of murder, violence and fraud which had
begun as far back as 1866. II the Senate
should reject Pinchback il must declare
there was vacancy and the present
Legislature would have right to
fill it. The Democrats understood this
and when Pinchback should be rejected
they would demand the admission OF
Eustace. The rejection OF Pinchback
would be confirmation Of the bloody
scheme inaugurated in that State towards
the trampling down OF every precedent Of
the Senate. To satisfy the people Of this
country that such action was just would
be an arduous task. The recent history
Of Louisiana showed that while the de-
mocracy kept no faith with the Repub'
licans they had recently attempted to de-
stroy Mr.. Kellogg by impeaching him on
the most frivolous grounds. The Senate
knew what they were doing in Mississippi
and would it give them .aid and comfort.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen said he proposed to
vote against the amendment Of the Sena'
tor from Vermont (Edmnnds)
Mr.. Bruce spoke in favor Of seating
Pinchback, lie said: When he entered
on the discharge Of his duties in the SEN
ate on a question which had already been
elaborateiy discussed is was not necessary
for him to make any extended remarks.