Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-12-05
The Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tiOnS Of the Senate, and Three Spe-
cial Committees in the House, to
Investigate the BulldOzing.
Joint Resolution introduced in the Sem
ate Recommending a National Con-
VentiOn to Amend the COnstitu-
tiOn Of the United States.
Organization Of the HOuse-RandaII
Elected Speaker, makes a Telling
and Patriotic Speech-PremOni-
tory Skirmishing by the
Radical Members,
SENATE


| WASHINGTON, December 4.-The interes
Of the public in the opening proceedings Q
the senate was not so great as that In tn
house, though the galleries were well file,
before noon, Many Democratic senators wer
in their seats before the body was called t.
order, but the Republican senators, being il
caucus, did not occupy their seats until few
| minutes before twelve o'clock. A change il
| the arrangement of the desks to accOmmo
! date the new senators from Colorado, and t.
| give the senators who occupied seats unde
the gallery more desirable ones, was made b7
| placing three desks upon either side of tht
fourth or last platform. Seats on the Repub
| lican side were assigned to Blaine, and Chafft
and Teller, the new Colorado senators, and on
| the Democratic side to Price, the new senator
! from West Virginia; Jones, of Florida, and
Randolph, of New Jersey.
When the senate was called to order the
new members were sworn in, and the two
| from Colorado drew for their respective
| terms. Mr.. Chaffe secured the long term,
ending March f. 1879, and Mr.. Teller the
short term, ending 1877.
Committees were appointed to notify the
President and the house that the senate was
ready for business, and recess taken until
one clock.
W llCli lllt Stlldlt ItCtSStluDlcu, CcildOOI
Edmunds submitted the following resolution,
which was read, ordered to be printed and
heo on the table:
WHEREAS, 1t is provided by the second
section of the fourteenth article of amend
ments to the constitution of the United States
that representation shall be apportioned
among the several States according to their
respective numbers, counting the whole num-
Der Of persons in each State, excluding In
dlans, not taxed; but when the right to vote
al any election for a choice of electors for
President and Vice-President of the United
States, representatives In congress, the execu-
tive and judicial officers of a State, or mem
bers OF the legislature thereof, is denied to
any of the male inhabitants of such State,
beng twenty-One years of age and citizens of
the United States, or in any way abridged,
except for participation in rebellion or other
crime, the basis of representation therein
shall be adduced In the proportion in which
the number of such male citizens shall bear
to the whole number Of maze citizens twenty
one years of age in such State and
Whereas, it is alleged that in several of the
States, and particularly in the States of South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisi-
ana and Mississippi, the right of the male
inhabitants In said States, respectively, being
of the United States, to vote at the late cleo
tons for electors for President and Vice
President Of the United States and for repre-
sentatives in congress and for executive and
Judicial officers OF such States and for MEM
bers of the Legislatures thereof, has been de-
MED or greatly abridged; therefore.
Resoired, That the committee on privileges
and elections, when appointed, shall be and
is hereby instructed to inquire, and report as
soon as may be, first, whether In any of the
elections In said States, in the year of 1875
or 1876, the right Of any portion of such IN
habltants and citizens to vote as aforesaid has
been IN any wise denied or abridged; second,
to what extent such denial or abridgement
has been carried; third, by what means such
denial or abridgement has been accomplished;
fourth, by whom has such denial or abridge-
ment been effected; fifth, with what motives
and for what purposes has such denial or
abridgement been carried on; sixth, by what
authority, or pretended authority, has such de-
nial or abridgement been exercised.
ReS0lred further, That the said committee
has power to employ such number of stenC-
graphers as shall be needful, and to send for
persons and papers, and have leave to sit dur
ING the sessions of the senate, and to appoint
subcommittee, with full power to make the
inquiries aforesaid, and report the same to the
committee.
Resolred further That said committee, in
order to the more speedy performance of its
duties, have power to provide for the taking
Of afhdavits on the subjects aforesaid, before
any officer authorized by the laws of the
United States to take affidavits, and tOreceive
ard consider the same.
Resoired further, That said committee be
and is hereby instructed to inquire into the
eligibility to office under the constitution of
the United States Of any person alleged to
have been ineligible on the seventh of No
vem5er last as electors of President and Vice
President of the United States; to whom GER
tiicates Of election have been or shall be Is
sued by the executive authority of any State
as electors; and whether the appointment of
electors, or those claiming to be such, in any
of the States have been made either by force
or other means otherwise than in conformity
with the constitution and laws of the United
States and the laws of the respective States;
and whether such appointment Of any such
electOr has been IN anywise unconstitutional
ly and unlawfully interfered with; to inquire
and report whether congress has any cOnsti-
tutiOnal power and, if so. what extent there
Of in respect of the appointment or election
Of electors of President and Vice-President
Of the United States, or over the returns or
certificates of votes of such electors; and that
said committee have power to send for per-
sons and papers, TO employ a stenOgrapher,
and have leave to sit during the session of the !
senate.
Senator Ingalls, intrOduc d the following
ONT resolution, which was ordered printed
md laid on the table:
Joint Resolution recommending a Convention to
revise and amend the Constitution Of the United
States:
WHEREAS, Article FIVE of the constitution !
empowers congress to call a convention for
proposing amendments 10 the constitution on
NE application Of the legislatures Of two-thlrds
If the several States; and whereas, it Is ap- !
parent there are important defects Of the sys- |
am Of the Federal government which render |
ne situation Of the United States at tins time |
delicate and critical calling for an eXertion |
q the combined virtue and wisdom of all the |
people; therefore be it
Res0'red, That in the opinion of congress, !
4 convention Of delegates from the several |
states should be held for the sole and express |
purpose Of revising the constitution of the |
nited States, and reporting such alterations
and amendments IN the nature of an entire !
rs shall. when ratified as pro-
gided IN said article FIVE. render the Federal !
constitution adequate for the preservation and |
support Of the Union
Second-Ihat, in the opinion OF congress, !
zach State should be represented in such con-
yention by As many delegates as It Is entitled
10 in the serate and representatives in con-
yress, two of said delegates from each State
to be chosen by the legislature thereof, and
lae TO be elected from each congressional
district by qualified voters thereof, at such
time and places as the legislature may pre-
scribe, and that no person holding an Office
Of honor, trust or profit under any State, or
underline United States, should be eligible as
delegate to said convention.
Third-Ihat, IN the opinion Of congress,