The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-01-19
FORTY.F0URTH CONGRESS
WASHINGTON, January l8.
SENATE.

tials of Jas. b. Eustis, claiming q seat a
Senator from Louisiana, which he sent u
:he clerks desk and had read. The docu
ment consisted of long extract from
the proceedings Of the Louisiana Legs
lature.
Before it was finished Mr.. Conkling
inquired who certified to those papers.
Mr. Thurman replied that the paper!
were voluminous and it was not necessary
to read them. They were certified to by
the Speaker and Clerk of the Louis
lana House of Representatives and the
Senators who presided at the joint meet
ing.
Mr.. Conkling said the act of Congress
states that the credentials of one claiming
a seat in this body must be certified BY
the Governor of the State. He argued
that the papers just presented in the
Senate did not present aprind tae'd case
and not being credentials authorized by
the statute he submitted that they ought
not to be read as such in the Senate.
Mr.. Merton sad he was not in the
Senate when the papers purporting to DC
the credentials OF Mr.. Eustis were read
Hs asked that the matter be LAID over
until to. morrow morning.
Mr.. Thurman said these papers should
eptltle Mr.. Eustus to seat. de did not
ask to have him sworn in then, but on y
asked to have his case referred. to the
Committee on Elections.
Mr.. Conkling argued that the papers
presented were irregular, and were papers
upon which the Senate could not act, us
il was a prin,a fdcia case.
Mr.. Thurman denied that the papers
were irregular, unless it was the absence
of the Governors certificate, and that
he submitted, was not an lrregu-
larity. The act of Congress had
been strictly complied with in the elec.
ton of Eustis. The papers showed that
a majority OF the aggregate number OF
members of the two houses were present,
and also that the majority of those men,
bers voted. The whole question before
the Senate would turn on the act rs to
whether or not vacancy existed In the
Louisiana Senatorship. If the Senate
would decide that Pinchback was enti-
tlsd to scat, there would be an end to
these papers, but on the other hand, It
the Senate should decide that Plnchback
was not entitled to seat, then the
claim of Eusts must be considered.
Mr.. Thurman suggested that the papers
be printed in the Record, as if they had
been read in the Senate, and the matter
be laid over until tomorrow SO that the
Senate could 90 on with the morning
business. Agreed to, and the papers
we're ordered printed in the Record aud
laid over until tomorrow.
The Chair laid before the Senate the
memorial of the Democratic-Conserva
Convention of Louisiana, held January
5th, 1876, concerning elections and the
condition of the State OF Louisiana. Re
ferrcd.
Mr.. Goldthwaite said he found n,his
desk pamphlet in
The Spencer Case.
He felt some delicacy in presenting
it to the Senate, asi,'it was made
up of newspaper testimony at best. lie
asked, however, that they be referred to
the Committee on Privileges and Flee
tiors, which Committee had charge OF
the case Of Spencer.
MIR. Harvey introduced bill to ex-
tend tue provisions Of the act to settle
the account between the United States
and the State OF Mississippi, approved
March 3, 1875. TO other states,
Mr.. Harvey explained that the object
of the bill was to adjust the claims OF
certain States in regard to their per cent
age on the sales of public lands, &c.
Mr.. Edmunds submitted resolution
requesting the President to communicate
to the Senate his note in regard to pub
lie interest, or copies of any correspond
encc had under his authority with other
governments in regard to the Centen-
nal. Agreed to.
Mr.. Cragin called up Senate bill to Sc
cure the attendance and payment of wit
nesses before military courts, and sub
mitted an amendment giving to every
court-martlal the same power to punish
witnesses for refusing to testify as that
now held by the circuit courts of the
United Staaes; provided that the action
of such court martial shall be subjected
To to revision on writ of habcas corpus
by any circuit or district court Of the
United States.
Mr.. White moved to amend the
amendment so that no imprisonment im-
posed on civilians should continue for
more than two months.
After some discussion he modified the
amendment so rs TO provide that such
Imprisonment shall not be longer than
that imposed on soldiers or sailors TOR
similar offences.
The amendment of Mr.. Cragin, as
amended BY Mr.. W White, was agreed to
and the bill as amended passed.
senator Davis Resolution.
The morning hour having expired the
Senate resumed the consideration of the
resolution submitted by Mr.. Davis on
Wednesday, to appoint special com,
mittee to investigate the books and &C
counts of the Treasury Department.
MIR. Boutwell, said when he addressed
the Senate on Thursday last he stated
the general principles by which he sup
posed full explanation to the argument
of Senator from Yves: Virginia Mr.. Da-
v,.l could be given. He Boutwell, bad
no disposition 20 oppose the examination
called tor By Mr.. Davis. He was in IA
vor of such examination by special
committee or one of the standing CON-
mi,tees of the Senate. There was not
the least foundation for the sugges-
tion that the books of the de-
psrtment had been changed, and If
the Honorable Senator had taken
pains to examine the process of keeping
the accounts in the department, he would
have seen that il would have been Sc
difficult TO change the records after they
had been made that it might be said tc
be sn impossibility. He Boutwell,,
found that the details in figures were &c
voluminous that it would not be eI'
pedient to publish them TO the extent
required, and they would fur
nish upon the whole very
little OF the information demanded
he would, therefore, confne himself Il
the general statements and leave
i, to the committee TO explain
in full the details. The first defnit'
... r.Jo hx SanStnr Davis wa.