The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-12-15
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.


called up his resolution requesting the President
to inform the Senate under what authority and for
what purpose troops were sent TO Petersburg. Va.
on the day of the recent election. After
a long debate, participated in by Messrs.
withers, Thurman, Morton, Edmunds,. and
Logan, the resolution adopted
in a slightly modified form. ri. The Chair laid be-
fore the Senate message from the President of
the United States inclosing the report Of Senator
sherman and other members Of the committee
which visited New Orleans, together with accom-
panying testimony In regard to the recent
election in Louisiana, and moved that it be
debate followed, the Democratic Senators
Directing to printing the communication Of
the committee and the accompanying afiidavits.
Edmunds moved to take up the Joint resolution of
which he gave notice yesterday, proposing an
amendment to the constitution of the United States
in relation to counting the electoral vote. Merri-
mon objected, and read the 2lst joint rule, requr-
ing that bills, resolutions, etc., not acted upon at
the close of the first session of Congress shall be
| taken up and acted upon at the beginning Of the
second session. If adjournment had taken place.
He raised the point Of order that the joint rules
were in force, and unfinished business from
the last session should be taken up. The Chair
overruied the point of order, and that the joint
| rules were not In force. .... Merrimon appealed
from the decision of the chair, and proceeded to
address the Senate but soon yielded for q motion
| TO adjourn, and the Senate adjourned.
Heuse.-The Speaker laid before the House
| message from the President transmitting q letter
accompanied 10y the testimony addressed to him by
| Hon. John Sherman and other distinguished ciri-
in regard to the OF the vote for elect
ors in Louisiana. The Speaker, after review of
| the rule on the subject, decided that the paper
In question was in the nature of information
and step toward correct legislation
aid therefore It must be read. The Clerk
| the paper. When IL was finished, Mr.. Wood, OF
New York, rose and expressed surprise at such
4 a
| dented. but remarked that this a marvellous
and extraordinary time. The exception which
| he (Wood) took TO IL was that the President
| should have transmitted in such an unauthorized
| way an unauthorized document Of mere partisan
and ex parte character, and his first impulse had
been to that the communication be returned to
| the President. He should simply move that the
| message of the President and the accompanying
documents be laid on the table. [Applause.l Mr..
Hoar said that his side of the House desired to de-
| bate the subject. The motion, however, was I'M
debatable, and it was adopted-yeas, 1853; nays, 90
party vote.
THURSDAY, Dec. 7.-Sendte. Senate in
| obliged in another long political debate the
proposition to print the Presidents special Message
and the accompanying report of the Republican
| Visiting Committee to Louisiana. Thurman
| led the debate on the Democratic side, and was
answered by Messrs. Morton and Sherman. II
was finally decided, 40 to Is, TO print
all the dispositions accompanying the report.
Mitchell, Of Oregon, offered resolution that the
Committee Privileges and Elections be instructed
10 investigate the facts attending the action Of the
ing certificate Of election to one Of the Tilden
| electoral candidates :. Howe, of Wisconsin,
| introduced bill TO restrain unauthorized persons
from assuming to act as electors for President and
Vice President. Paddock introduced a bill
| for the free distribution of public documents
| printed ordered printed -. Cameron wis
| introduced a bill concerning commerce and nav-
cation, and the regulation OF steam vessels and
| sailing vessels.
House.-McCrary, of Iowa, introduced a
| joint resolution providing for the appointment
| Of a committee of five members and five Senators,
to decide upon some rules governing the counting
| of the electoral vote, to
prevent any trouble. The resolution was re-
ierred to the Judiciary Committee. The Pension
about 500 or some So 900 otO less than last
colorado Legislature against the re-
| the member-eect from that State. Referred .
| Wood IN. Y.) asked leave to offer a resolution
calling the President for copies Of ali orders and
| executive departments of the Government, to any
military or civil officer with regard to services OF
the army in Virginia, South Carolina, Louisiana
| and Florida. Kasson objected.
FRIDAY, Dec. S.-Senate. moved
to take up the joint resolution proposing an
| amendment to the constitution Of the United
States in regard to the count of the electoral vote
| by the Supreme Court Merrimon objected, and
read the 21st joint rule, providing that unfinished
business left from ono session shall not
| be taken up for action until the lapse Of six
days of the beginning of the sub
sequent session. He made a point Of order that
under that rule the joint resolution could
| not be considered now. The Chair FERRY over
| ruled the point, and announced that the joint
rules were not in force Merrimon appealed from
cussion the Chair was sustained, only four votes
being recorded in the negative, namely: Maxey,
Merrimon, Whyte, withers-all Of them Southern
| Senators.
House.-The House passed Mr.. Hewitt's resolu-
ton calling upon the President for information re-
garding the use OF troops in the Southern states
Baker, ofIndiana, introduced q bill proposing an
amendment to the constitution, forbidding the
| consumption payment Of any claims for loss or
| damage growing out of the loss or destruction
| of property during the late rebellion .
| The Pension Appropriation bill was passed. ..
President for copies of the instructions sent to
| and the reports from the military officers in the
South since August. .LeMoyne offered the
| following resolution: "Whereas, Serious
| differences of opinion may arise be-
tween members Of the two houses OF Con-
gress to their jurisdiction and powers in joint
session In counting the electoral vote, and the
questions involved being questions Of law Re-
solved That the Senate be requested 70 appoint
committee to act with committee of five to be ap.
pointed by the Speaker of the House In presenting
TO the Supreme Court such questions as either OF
said committees may deem important In this
crisis, and asking the members of the Supreme
Court to give Congress an opinion thereon"
MONDAY, Dec. 11.-Sendte. -Edmunds called
up his proposed amendment TO the constitution, pro-
vidng that the Supreme Court shall open and count
the electoral votes Morton signihed HIS opposition
to this amendment, regarding IL as dangerous The
matter was discussed at length by Frelnghuysen.
Edmunds, Merrimon, and Morton. Merrimon
gave notice OF an amendment he would Of
fer 80 as TO make any Justice OF the supreme
Court ineligible TO appointment 10 any Office
under the United States and also ineligible 70 lie
elected President or Vice President until the exprs-
ton Of four years next after he shall have ceased
TO be such Justice. Ordered printed Bayard
offered resolution calling upon the Attorney Gem
eral for statement Of the number Of Deputy
United States Marshals employed throughout the
country at the recent election. Laid over
sherman presented petition from
Gen. Joseph Il. Johnston, asking the re-
moyal Of his political disabilities. Referred
bill appropriating $4,000 10 defray the expenses
OF the Southern Investigating Committees was
passed. Bogy, Of Missouri, presented the report
of the Democratic committee which attended the
sessions OF the Louisiana Returning Board, and