The New York herald., 1876-12-06


II Il spent much time In discussing tins question ad
vance Of the report OF the committee.
Mr. BAYARB said Il perfectly PLAIN that this rcso
luton the OF certain states to
the federal Union II opened up the powers OF
Congress- TO make inquiry into the domestic affairs Of
States He then reviewed the provisions OF the reso
luton and denied the Senate any power make
the inquiry He quoted from tho constitution In sup
Of this Union votes were both received and
rejected wrongfuly. Errors were committed,
meo,. Or nac votes cnahgea yro,ss Or
once or employment All these things had occurred
ana would occur again. and the Senate should assert
the power asserted In this resolution there would be
no end 10 intcrmnable inquiries by Congress into the
| domestic affairs Of states II was not within the
spirit or meaning OF our form OF government Tor Con-
| grcss TO exercise any such power and the Senate
should pause before committing itself this rcsou-
tlon ~ invltcdthc Senate to ncver-ending task
the settlement or contested election in cases Of Prosi-
dent and Vice President Representatives, IN Congress-
eseca.ss ana Juac,nl omcers OF states ana members
power was Incompatible with the performance of the
duty Of Senators He thought the rcso-
gressional action during tho last eleven years
gard 10 the States named in it.
Mr. MORTON, OF Indiana, raised the point that the
constitutional power OF Congress tho OF
resolution could not be discussed on a motion take
1t up
Mr.. BAYARD replied that hc did not mean to discuss
| the merits oil the resolution.
The motion being 10 take up the resolution II was
agreed to--yeas 81, nays IA strict party vote.
| Mr. EDNUSps then modified his resolution to
authorize the committee extend us inquiry to the
election OF 1874 III the States named well tho
elections Of 1873 ana 1915 He also made other amend
ments oil u verbal character and SAID he greatly
surprised the views expressed by his honorable
friend from Delaware (Mr Bayard touching the
luton. He commented tho remarks o that Scna.
tor aud argued that Congress had power 10 make the
inquiry. fhe constitution declared that the repre-
scntation OF State should be based upon the whole
number OF the inhabitants OF such State, except when
In State there was an abridgment OF the right 10
vote. when The representation should be decreased
accordingly
Mr. ANTHONY (rcp.) OF II. l., from tho committee to
wait upon the PRESIDENT reported tnat they had dis
charged that duty President replied that no
would communicate with Congress in writing forth
with
At1:lO r. NJ, U. S. Grant, Jr private secretary OF
the President, delivered the Message
Mr.. EDnuxDs resumlng his remarks, said bo wished
he could believe that tho report OF tue committee
would show that every State The right oil every cti
zen 10 vote had been free and unabridged The to
ascertain the truf IN the interest Of liberty ana law
to order the inquiry. IL nt that the Senate OF
the United States the rcpresen Of all States
should ascertain what the rca condition OF affairs IN
those States the last resolution in regard
tho eligibility OF electors. he had it stated In
newspapers, and he believed II 10 be ruc, that steps
were TO be taken TO question the eligibility OF electors
and he thought the question should be settled. Hc
argued that the resolution did not commit the Senate
10 any particular doctrine.
On motion OF Mr. CoykLISG, the resolution was laid
aside for the present. and The Message OF the Pres
dent was taken up and read
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Tho reading OF tho Message WAS commenced at
twenty minutes past O'Clock by Secretary Gorham
and concluded at two O'Clock.
II was ordered that 1t be printed, with the accom-
panyng documents, and the usual motion 10 print
extra copies was entered to be hereafter referred to
the Committee on Printing
Mr.. wIrnERs, (dem.) OF Va, submitted resolution
requesting the President TO inform the Senate,
incompatible with the pubic. interest, under what
authority and for what purpose troops Of tho United
States occupied Petersburg. Va, on tho 7th day OF
November, 1876 the day Of the election.
Objection was made by Mr.. Edmunds, and the reso-
luton was laid over.
Mr.. THURMAN suggested that the resolution or the
Senator from Vermont IN regard to the inquiry in
various Southern States be lad until morrow
and be printed with the changes made.
Mr.. EDMUNDs SAID he could not consent to It going
over lie le It 10 be his duty to ask tho senate
upon II to-day.
Mr.. THURMAN, Of Ohio, said tho Senator from ver-
mont had argued that the adoption oil this resolution
would not commit the Senate 10 any particular doc
trine dogma he (Mr. Thurman) denied this,
aud argued that It did commit The Senate.
He contended that there had been no viola
ton the constitution OF the United states
by any Of the States named In the rcsoiution These
States gave the suffrage to everybody, and nothing
tho constitution OF either OF them or in any Of their
statutes Obliged that suffrage Under recent amend
mens to the constitution, thosc States could pre-
scrbcd properly or educational qualifications 10
cludo the coored man from tue baotbox, but did not
do So II was sad that this inquiry could be
foot, II was entirely outside OF tho constitution and
based alone on newspaper articles.
Mr. EDMuSDs said the laws statntcs 6f several
OF these states did operate TO deny suffrage.
Mr. THURMAN denied that there any such law in
either OF The states, and the Senator tMr Edmunds
could not producexany sucn statute. The
States acted alike both white colored voters.
Who had possession OF South Carolina and Louisiana
since tho wary The republican party. Who had pos
session OF Alabama until within the last yearsy
The republican party. Yet claimed the rights
OF the colored had been abridged intent OF
this resolution simply 90 the question OF
intimidation and furnish "A satisfactory reason Tor
these returning boards throwing electng
other men than those chosen by the people. six
States were involved in this resolution Why did not
the senator IRON Vermont extend IL every whereY Had
he heard oil tho employees in tho great manunc-
tories beng marched tho polls and made 10 vote
their employers, who stood at the window, dtc-
tatcdy
Mr. EDMusDs-I never heard OF but instance of
etotE. E.t.A elut fna~
tucturcr IN Connecticut, who mad0 his employees
the democratic ticket
Mr. rnrRMAx-Then the senator is the most ignorant
who lives IN New England. (Laughter)
Resuming his argument Mr. Thurman said that the
Committees on Privileges and Elections posed
OF nine members, and IT was impossible for that COM
mttee sitting IN Washington, 10 make the invcstga-
ton and report by February. The committee can he
said, lake depositiVns but who is To be served
with notice to cross-cxamincY As TO tho Lass
resolution regarding the englbuy of electors
he said he he could support
II, but desired time TO study it, II the returning
boards OF the South had good to throw
VIII OF the people he wan led 1t shown
and II u could not be shown he wanted their vlany
exposed lie wanted the FACTS to be known.
Mr EnMuNps, IN reply To a question OF Mr. Thurman,
said he would not iEfurm the Senator from Ohio
which States had abridged the right Of suffrage by
statute, nasmucn as he tMr. Edmund-) had been set
Gown AS the most ignorant man IN New England. IL
his trend tMr TIurman), the most learned man IN
OHIO, would study The constitution laws OF the
United states he would md out something TO his
vantage Mr. Edmunds, further replying to Mr. Thur
man, argued that the artisans and operators OF New
England are nien OF intelligence, men OF EDUCATION, OF
property. OF ependence OF scifrespect, and
even more than very hardy man. indeed who
venturcd to suggest 10 his employees how they
should exercise the right OF suffrage Tho
artisans aud operators oil New England were
who built churches and school houses and some
times carried their Knowledge, energy ana industry
the Western country--even to Ohio. tl.aughter)
He argued that the whole object oi resolution
to correct evil and fix the Representation in tho
House oil Representatives, IL had pothing 10 do
win the Presidential election.
Mr. MORTON said the preamble of the resolution rc-
cited provision OF tho Fourteenth anne dmeuI II
the preamble should bo Gu. oil, would deny
power OF the Sen To make the inquiry. He then
read the resolution adopted by the House Of Repre-
sentaves yesterday ani argued that VI IL leyi-
mate tor democratic House OF Representatives TO
make such an inquiry, 1t certainly competent Tor
a republican Senate ~ do the same thing
Mr. BAyARD said Tor many years past he had be-
cvcd that the peace OF the country the
which the constitution OF the United States