The New York herald., 1876-03-24
The Ghost Of the Mississippi InVestlga
ton Stalking Abroad
COUNTING THE ELECTORAL VOTE
The Legislative Executive and Judicial AP
preparation Bill.
THE PAY OF ARMY OFFICERS.
SENATE.
wAsHiSGroS, March %, 1874


WASHINGTON, March %, 1870
Various petitions we're presented and bills intro
duced, which were appropriately referred.
Nj MORTON, trepl OF Ind, gave notice that on next
Monday he would ask the Senate to take up ard dis
pose OF the resolution 10 investigate alleged frauds In
the recent elections in the State OF Mississippi.
Mr. WRIGHT trep) OF Iowa, said he would ask tn,
Senator from Michigan (Mr. Christancyl to call up and
press for consideration the motion to reconsider the
vote on the bill fixing the salary OF the President
Mr. CnRisrIASoY (repl OF Mich, SAID he did not care
to call up the matter He had given such notice the
other day because he thought OF the friends Of
the measure wanted to say something more on the
subject lie had interest in the resolution only "a
give Senators in favor of the another chance
to speak.
Mr.. WRIGHT said he would OF urge the matter,
but he thought IL should be called up speedily and dis
posed or
The morning hour having expired the Chair laid be-
fore the Senate the unfinished business OF yesterday
viz The bill to count the OF President and Vice
President.
THE ELECTORAL
Mr.. MERRIMoN, (dem.) OF N. c., proposed to amend
the second section so as to make 1t read;-"Such re-
turn shall be counted, which shall be duly authen
Gated by the authorities recognized by and In
harmony with the United States, provided by the
constitution" Ho said It was be regretted that
meagrc a debate upon this question had come down TO
us from those who had discussed It in times gone by.
He felt justified In taking the ground that the presid
ing officer of the Senate was not the proper person 10
decide which was the true and valid return. lie con-
tended that his amendment hxlng the lawful State
authorities the proper persons TO decide which ID
the lawful and valid return was the proper doctrine
and was that which could meet the approval Of the
country II Congress decided way and the Pres
dent the other let them take the views oil the Pres
dent
Mr.. MORTON said the amendment still left the quos
tion open TO be decided which the govern.
mont recognized by the United States, and be would
ask the Senator from North Carolina who would do.
eide that question If the two houses and did that
not bring the right back where the bill leaves
IL without this amendments
Dir. MERRIMoS said there always would be one gov
ernment IN n State which would DO in harmony with
and recognized by the United States
Mr. MORTON said the question would arise which
government had been recognized by the President and
by the United States. One party would say that the
President had recognized such party by certain act
and the other party would say that that
ognition at all This state Of affairs came up repeat
edly the Louisiana and was liable TO come VI
again and then the Senate and tho House would bs
called upon in the end TO decide which was tho lawful
government and consequently which was the true and
valid return.
The question was taken Mr. Merrimons amend.
ment, and it declared lost
Mr.. RANDOLPH, (em OF n. j., then proposed the fol-
lowing amendment additional sections TO the bill:-
ITO insure each State the count Of the electoral vote,
except shall be rejected as provided for IN section
of this act il Is declared the duty OF each house OF
Congress TO record its vote by yeas and nays upon
ali oncstons as TO which are the true and valid returns
of State; nd IL shall be tho duty OF the presiding
officer of eacn house to Immediately forward TO the
other and detailed roturn OF such vote. Should
II then appear that the houses have failed to
as 10 which tho and valid returns they shall
Immediately reassemble and the President OF the Som
ate shall those returns valid which shall
have received a majority OF all the votes cast in both
houses OF Congress- considered If in JOINT meeting
assembled should it that the aggregate vote OF
both houses equally divided upon the question, then
and IN that only the President OF the Senate
shall give the casting vote
The amendment was lostAYeas ~ nays 81
The bill was amended its phrascology without
altering its meaning, and the question recurred on the
passage OF the bill
Mr. EATON. (dem.) OF Conn, said he should vote
against the bill because he opposed TO any such
Legislative tinkering and did not think Congress had
any power To do this thing. good deal had been
said about party question, and this question ought ia
be dyested OF pnrty tactics entirely. For one ne be.
eved that constitution perfect now and needed
no tinkerng
Mr. CAMERON dem.) OF Pa, said the Senator from
Connecticut not able to go on with his speech to-
day and he would move that the Senate 20 into OK
ecutivc session.
MIR MoRros earnestly desired the Senate to finish
the bill as IL would be completed in few minutes
alter the Senator nom Connecticut should conclude
Mr. HAMLiS trep OF Me-, asked the Senate TO lay
aside the pending bill and take up the Post Route bill,
ana the Senate agreed
In commencing its consideration 1t was ascertained
that the Post Route bill had been sent TO the printers
with the pending mcndments, when Mr.. Cameron pre-
his for executive session. and at ten
minutes past three O'Clock the Senate went into
tive session, and at quarter past three O'Clock adj