The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-12-27
UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
Senate.


of election Of jerome B. Ohaffee and Henry
u. Teller, United States Senators from the
State of Colorado, were presented In drawing
for terms; Mr.. Chsffee drew for the long and
Mr.. Teller for the short term.
Mr. Davis (Dem.), Of West Virginia, pre-
sented the credentials Of Samuel Price, ap-
pointed United States Senator from West Vir.
ginia, to FIJI the vacancy caused by the death
Of Hon. A. T. Caperton. =.
| Of Maine, whose appointments were laid be-
| fore the Senate last summer advanced to the
| desk Of the presiding officer and were sworn In
! by him. Mr.. Price taking the modified oath.
Mr.. Edmunds (Rep.), Of Vermont, submit
ted resolution, which WAS read, ordered to
be printed and lie on the table. It provides
that the committee on privileges and elections
when appointed be and it is hereby instructed
to inquire and report as soon as may be-frst,
whether in any Of the elections named in the
second section OF the Fourteenth amendment
| in the States Of South Carolina, Georgia,
Florida Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi
in the years 1876 or 1876, the right Of any
! portion of such inhabitants and citizens to
vote has been in any wise denied or abridged
second, to what extent suoh denial or abridge-
mont has been carried ; by what means such
denial or sbridgement has been accomplished,
and by whom.
The resolution. also provides for inquiry as
to the eligibility Of any person elected on the
seventh Of November last.
Mr.. Ingalls, (Rep.), CT Kansas, introduced
Joint resolution, which was ordered to be
printed and lie on the table, recommending
convention to revise and amend the Consttu-
ton OF the United States.
Mr.. Morton (Rep.), Of Indiana, submitted
joint resolution proposing an amendment to
the Constitution Of the United States 80 as to
provide for tho election Of President and Vice.
President Of the United States by the direct
vote Of the people, which was read, and it was
ordered that 1t lie on the table until che sp-
ferred to tho committee on privileges and cleo
tions.
Mr.. Edmunds CRep.), Of Vermont, moved TO
take up for confederation tho resolution SUBJ
mitted by him, ordering an inquiry into tho
late election in South Carolina, Florida, Louisi-
ana, Mississippi Georgia and Alabama. The
resolution, aftor much discussion and several
amendments, was adopted.
Mr.. Withers (Dem.), Of Virginia, submitted
q resolution requesting the President to In
form the Senate, II not incompatible with the
public interest u5der what authority and for
what purpose troops Of the United States occu-
pied Petersburg, Va, on the seventh Of No
venber, 1876, the day Of the election. Objec-
ton was made by MIR. Edmunds, and tbs reso-
luton was laid over.
, a bill providing that the revised statutes
shall be amended 80 that the election for
President and Vice President shall be held in
October, and that the electoral college shall
meet in the January following, WAS referred.
House.
In the House Samuel J. Randall (Dem.), of
Pennsylvania, was elected Speaker in place Of
NJ. O. Kerr, deceased, receiving 161 votes to
eighty-two for James A. Garfield. The new
Speaker in taking his seat paid high compi-
ment to his predecessor, saying that he Was
good and great. man. In concluding his re-
marks he ssid
"Ths people look confidently to your mod
GRAFTON, to your patient, calm, frm judgment
sod wisdom, at this time fraught with 80 many
peris. Let N not, beseeoh OF you. disap-
point their just expectation and their keen
sense Of right, but by vigilance prevent oven
the slightest departure from the Constitution
and laws, forgetting in the moment Of difacul.
ty that We are tho adherents Of party, and
only remembering that We are American citi-
zens, with country to save. which will be lost
If una6thorized and unconstitutional aots on
the part Of executive officers be not frowAsd
down at oloe with relentlessness and unspAr-
ing condemnation"
The following new members, elected to Ill
vacancies, we're sworn in: Mr. Warner, OF
Connecticut; Mr.. Frye, of Maine; Mr.. Hum
phrey, of Indiana; LII. Carr, Of Indiana, and
Mr.. Stanton, Of Pennsylvanis.
Objection was mado to .he swearing In OF
MIR. Buttz, Of South Carolina, and Mr.. Belford,
of Colorado. In relation to the latter, Mr..
Springer (Dem.), Of Illinois, offered . resolu-
ton insructing the Judiciary committee to in
quire and report ~ as early day as possible
whether Colorado is State in the Unisn, and
directing that until such report is received no
person claiming to be Representative from
Colorado shall be sworn in az . member. The
question was referred to the Judiciary COM
rittee.
MIR. Hewitt (Dem }, Of New York, presented
resolution providing for the appointment Of
three select committees, one Of fifteen men,
bers to proceed to Lousians, one of six men,
bers to proceed to Florids, and one of nine
, members to proceed to South Carolina, to
investigate the action Of the returning or can
7asslng boards as to tho recent elections in
those States, and to report all the facts essen
tial to an honest return Of the votes for elec-
tors OF President and Vice President, and to
fair understanding thereof by the people, and
whether the electoral votes Of those States
should be counted. The committees are to
have power to send for persons and papers, to
take testimony, to appoint subcommittee
with like powers and to employ stenographers,
clerks and messengers This Was adopted by
vote Of 1856 to 7S.
The Speaker announced the appointment Of
tho South Carolina committee, as follows
Messrs. sayler, of Ohio; Abbott, Of Masss-
chusetts; Stenger, Of Pennsylvania; Eden, Of
lllinois; Jones, Of Kentucky; Phillips, Of Mis-
souri; Banks, Of Massachusetts,; Lapham, Of
New York. and Lawrence, II Ohio.
On the Statos Of the Union, the Speaker an
nounced tho following select committees:
On Louisiana, Mr.. Morrison, ILL.,; Mr.. jerks.
Pa; Mr.. MoMahon, Ohio; Mr.. Lynde. Wis
Mr.. Blackburn. Ky; Mr.. Meade, NY; Mr..
House, Tenn; Mr.. Phelpr, Conn; Mr.. New,
Ind; mir. Ross, N. j.; Mr.. Townsend, Pa;
Mr.. Danford, Ohio; Mr. Hurlbut, ILL.,; MIR.
Orapo. Mass, and Mr.. Joyce, Vt.
On Florida, Messrs. Thompson, Mass; De-
bolt, No.; ". o. Hopkins, Pa; Garfield, Ohio,
and Donnel, Miss.
On the South Corolina committee, tho name
of Mr.. Cochrane, Pa, Was submitted for that
Of Mr.. Stenger, Pa., excused on account Of
illness In his family.
A gentleman recently had occasion to
consult his halter, but was unable to ind
IL L II l.>k I.