Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-12-07
FORTY.FOURTH CONGRESS.
Proceedings of the Second Session.

SENATE.-Dec. 4.-The Senate met
in WashinSton at noon to-day. The rew
Senators from Colorado, Chaffee and Teller,
Blaine Of Maine, Price of West Virginia,
Jones OF Florida, and Randolph Of New Jer-
sey were sworn in. The Colorado Senators
drew for their respective terms, Chaffee Sc.
one. Senator Edmunds offered resolution
(which was laid on the table) inquiring into
the election in South Carolina, Louisiana and
Florida Senator Ingalls, offered a resolution
recommending q convention to revise the
constitution, to be held at Columbus, Ohio,
next May. After appointing committee, to
HOUsE.-Dec. 4.--The House met at
noon, and was called to order by Clerk Ad-
ans. The Speakers chair was draped in
fort was made by the Republicans to swear in
the new members from Colorado, before elect
ing Speaker, but the majority refused. The
Democrats nominated Samuel J. Randall of
Pennsylvania and the Republicans J. A. Gar
field OF Ohio for Speaker. The vote stood:
Randall, l6l; Garfield, 50; Chas. G; Will
ans, 1; VIM. R. Morrison, !; Geo. +. Hoar, !.
Mr.. Randall was declared elected, and was es-
corted to the chair by Messrs. Cox and Nc
Crary. Mr.. Randall then spoke as follows:
Gentlemen Of the House of Representatives.:
Called to this position because Of the death
OF the late Speaker, Mr.. Kerr, of Indiana. l
only express the universal sentiment in say
ing he was good and great man, whose pub
lie and private life was characterized by
purity, patriotism and answering integrity.
Nobody can more completely appreciate than
l do the high honor Of presiding over the de-
liberations OF the representatives Of the Amer
lean people, and tor this mark of your esteem
and confidence return my profound and
heartfelt acknowledgements. In the dis
charge of the important duties assigned to
me shall endeay0r to be absolutely fair and
upkolding the constitutional prerogatives Of
the body, shall at the same time protect
each and every member in the rights and
privileges to which he may justly be entitled.
In the use Of the parliamentary power OF the
chair, it will he my duty and my pleasure to
give the true expression in tn the apRGimf. apRnMs
and wishes Of the house upon every
question presented, believing myself, as
really am, no more than the voice of the
House ITSELF We stand in the presence OF
events which strain and test in the last de-
gree our form of government: Our liberties,
constrained by so many sacrifices in the past,
people to our Centennial anniversary, as one
among the nations Of the earth, must Ike MAIN
tanned at eve:y hazard. Applause The
people look confidently to your moderation {;
to your patient, calm, firm judgment and wis
dom, in this time fraught with so many evils.
Let us not, beseeech of you, disappoint their
Just expectations and their keen sense ofright,
but by vigilance prev mt even the slightest
departure from the constitution and law, fof-
getting in the moment OF difficulty that we
are adherents Of party, and only remembering
that we are American citizens, with country
to save which will be lost if unauthorized and
| unconstitutional means on the part of the ex-
ecutive officers be not irowned down at once
with relentless and unsparing condemnation:
Objection was made to swearing in Butts OF
S. c. and Bedford of Colorado, and resolu-
ton was offered instructing the judiciary
committee to inquire and report whether Col
| orado has been admitted as State
Of the Union. The resolution was
adopted by vote of 142 to 90. Among the
l6 Democrats voting against it were Wells
of Missouri, Cox and Holman. Mr.. Hew-
| lit submitted q resolution tor the
appointment of three committees to investi.
gate the action OF the retuI ming boards South
Carolina, Louisiana, and florida. Mr.. Nc
Crary had the floor and refused to yield tol
the Introduction of the resolution. The ques-
ton of the admission Of Mr.. Butts, OF South
Carolina, was referred to the committee on
elections. After much skirmishing Mr.. Hew'
tits resolution for the appointment OF these
investigating committeet was then aSopted:
| The following committee to visit south Car'
olina was appointed: Messrs. Say!er, ABBOTT
Stenger, Eden, Jones of KY, Phillips OF MO.
Banks, Lapham and Lawrence.