Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-12-20
Forty.Fourth Congress.


steps to prohibit the manufacture and sale Of al
cohoc liquors as beverage In the District Of Co
umba and the Territories Of the United States
all OF which were referred to the committee on
finance The Mitchel-Oregon resolution was
again considered, no decision, however, being
reached Mr.. Edmunds' proposition to amend
the constitution so as to have the Supreme Court
count the electoral vote was discussed, and re-
jected by vote Of fourteen to thirty-one.
In the House, the Bland silver bill was debated
and passed--one hundred and sixty-sevcn to fifty
three The following Is the bill "That there
shall be- from time to time, coined at the minis OF
the United States silver dollars Of the weight of
four hundred and twelve and une-half grains stan
dard silver to the dollar, MS provided for in the
act Of January is, 1891 and that said dollar shall
be a legaltender for all debts, public or private,
except where the payment Of gold coin is required
by law
THURSDAY, December llth.
In the Senate, the resolution to print the Presi-
dents message aud accompanying papers on the
Louisiana election came up and an amendment
offered to print and bind with it the paper u
the democratic visitors to Louisiana 4 discussion
followed involving the whole question Of affairs
in louisiana at the conclusion OF which the
amendment was agreed to and the resolution
adopted In the course of the debate, Mr.. Sher-
man argued that the authorities Of Louisiana had
done all they could to punish criminals, but a
criminal conld not be arrested ont of the parish
where the crime was committed unless proceed
incs in the parish should have been commenced
against such criminal In some Of the parishes ii
was impossible to hold q court even The truth
was the younp men Of the soutb were determined
that negroes shonld not exercise tho rights onnr.
anteed them by tho constitution. A few white
men could ride rough-shod over a large number Of
negroes Mr.. Sherman said that Southern white
men could not understand that the will Of the
negro must be respected as well as their own.
There would be peace in Louisiana. but for the
unlawful acts of the democratic clubs in that
state. II this intimidation and violence should
be successful in eecting a President now, the
same violence would soon extend all over the
United States, and our government would be at
an end lie did not want 20 SEQ a war Of races,
but it would come. unless the negroes in the
South were given the rights guaranteed them by
the constitution. lie defended the action Of Gov
ernor Kellogg, of Louisiana, aud said he was not
able to put down these disorders, but did all In
his power to do So The real trouble was in the
|
dental trouble TO organize party on the color
line, and make a man President Of the United
States who was not the choice of a majority Of
the American people. lie believed the minds of
the people, North and south, were daily going
forward to the conclusion that these crimes Of the
rifle clubs of the south must not be permitted
lie said that most of the violence occurred in five
parishes, but it existed to some extent in seven
teen parishes II the turbulence existed through
ont the whole state, he would say, No, it should
not be counted" lie argued that the object Of
this violence was to prevent the negro from eSer-
cisihg ms rights II ne lMr' Sherhanl was Gov
efhor Oh louisiana ne would PUNISH these crimes
or perish IN the attempt
! In the House inc JUDICIARY committee reported
substitute Tor MT McCr'ry 5 resolution relating
to counting the electoral vote which provides Tor
committee OF seven, to act with similar COM
mittee oil the senate, IN preparinga measure which
may remove the differences OF opinion on this
subject in order that the vote may be counted
and declared by tribunal whose authority will
be unquestioned and decision final also, for a
committee of seven to ascertain the powers and
privileges OF the House in counting the vote
adopted without division. The resolution OF Mr..
lie Moyne, of Illinois, for joint committee to
present to the Supreme Court certain important
questions relating to the counting OF the electoral
vote came up under an original ruling by the
Speaker but the House refused by seventy-seyen
to eighiy-four to consider it now The pos'-otiicc
committee reported adversely on the Senate
amendments to the Post Route bill Of last session,
which established fast mails between New York
Chicago and other points, re-enacted the frank
ing privilege, and gave certain powers To the as
slstant acknowledgement IN relation TO con
tracts. The amendments were non-concurred IN
FRIDAY, December 18th
In the Senate. the House bill appropratng
twenty thousand dollars to pay the expenses OF
electoral messengers was passed Notice wa.
given that the vetoed bill to reduce the President
salary from fifty thousand dollars 20 twenty-fy,
thousand dollars would be called up ON Monday
when a vote wonld be asked The resolution to
investigate the appointment of electors in Oregon
came upand was discussed at considerable length
On the democratic side Mr. Thurman was not pre-
pared to express an opinion on the case presented
in Oregon, and Mr. Wallace argued that no thirc
eector had been chosen. ON the Republican side
Mr. Mitchell held that no one had raised a qnes
tion as to the vote OF the people OF the state hav
ing been cast iorthe Republican electors and ina
the power to deprive them OF Office ala not res
with the Executive. The act OF the governor HI
characterized as usurpation. Inc Legislature
had the power to declare vacancy, and the eiec
tors had the power to fill 1t. The Senate non
concurred in the amendments to the bill to pay
the expenses of the southern committees. TIT
Senate adjourned till Monday.
III 'ne iiouse inc 'Vh''n'''ee On "pI"oi"i"'''"
iepor'eu 'he oiiiS ProNiuins ior 'ie eNPe"s''
'he investigating committees anu reoo'i'nenue'
'he Increase Vi Tue a"lou' iol '"e iiouso W '.'
'hous"nu uollars, anu 'ne Ieuuo'ion u, '""' ~
Tue senate 10 tl'f'y .nous"nu uoli'rs. A''ei SUM
debate on the LOUISIANA case Tue Oil was p'sse'
as reported oy the committee Inc Pos'ol'ice "p
prophatloh oil was considered IN committee
I the "hole' ana rapid progress made WIN IT, vi
peing reported 10 'he HOUSE. oeoa'e on Tue aneiu
'heh' increasing Tue appropriation ioi 81"
rou'cs ehSueu without nn"' ae'ion'
SATURDAY, December 10th.
To-day's session in the House was set apart TO
eulogies the life and public services OF the lat
Speaker Kerr, but before the mortuary service
began a discussion occurred on a telegaph
| communication from Mr.. Morrison, chairman o
the Louisiana investigating committee, calm.
the attention o: the House to the refusal of Presi
dent orion to surrender all the telegraphic dis