The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1876-12-09
Washington Letter.


From our Special Correspondent.
The meeting Of Congress- Ttr'mipary spdrring
bettgsen Wsssrs. Banks and Holman Election Of
s. mixer Of The Louse.-Appointmc IF Special
Committees to rist South Cdroiina, Florida and
Louistond
Washington, D, c. Dec. 5th,is70.
The second session of the Forty
fourth Congress opened yesterday, and
perhaps our National Legislature never
assembled with such momentous ques.
tions demanding immediate consdera-
tiOn or more careful, patriotic and un-
selfish attention. There appears to be
less rancOr in the hearts of individual
members than thel 9 was during the ses-
sion of the Thirty fifth Congress, but
the feeling is deeper and there seems
to be more real concernment about the
perpetuity of Republican institutions
than was evinced when the long strug-
gle which had been going on between
the North and South was rapidly draw
ing to elimination. But while there
is no rancorous hatred or sectional Gni-
mOsities apparent there is, nevertheless,
intense feeling on both sides, and an
evident determination exists to contest
every inch of ground.
The House OF representatives, as is
usually The case, was the grand centre
OF attraction, and of course the ladies
were there in all their glory. Mr.. Ad-
ans, the clerk, occupied the chair, and
upon calling the roll he announced thai
quorum was present, whereupon Mr..
| Holman, of Illinois, announced the
death of the late Speaker, Mr.. Kerr,
and moved that the House proceed to
the election of Speaker to fill the va
| cancy. Mr. Banks, of Massachusetts,
rose to question of privilege and Of
fered the credentials OF the members
elect from Colorado /; upon that quite
discussion arose and the question was
| finally referred to the Committee on
Judiciary. This question having been
settled, Mr.. Uolman's resolution was
again taken up and was adopted with-
out opposition. 1t was in these words:
"The nOuee being informed that since
| its lasG adjournment the Hon. Nj. G.,
Kerr, who at the commencement of the
present Congress was elected Speaker
of the House, has departed this life,
creating vacancy in the Office of
Speaker, it is therefore ordered that
the House do now proceed to the cleo
ction of Speaker viva voce." Mr.. Cox,
| of New York, dominated the Hon.
Samuel j. Randall, of Pa. and Mr..
McCrary, of Iowa, nominated the Hon.
James A. Garfield, of Ohio. Tellers
were appointed and the result of the
vote was-Randall 161, Mr.. Garfield 80.
Mr.. Randall was declared elected and
upon being escorted to the chair by
Messrs. Cox and McCrary, proceeded
to address the House in a most thrilling
and patriotic speech, which was listen
ed to with deep attention by the mem
bers on both sides aud with marked at.
tention in the galleries. The closing
words were delivered with great force
and emphasis aud were received will
loud applause by the whole assemblage
The oath of Office was administered BY
Mr.. Holman, who in the absence o
Mr.. Kelley, was the Oldest member Of
the House (not in years but in consecu
tive service). Mr.. Randall then pro-
ceeded to administer the oath of Office
to the Hon. Alexander IL. Stephens, o
Georgia, who was prevented by i'll healtl
from presenting himself last session
and also to number of new members
; MIR. Holman was about to make mo-
tion to adjourn but, at the request o
Mr.. Hewitt, of New York, he withheld
/ it to allow the following resolution t.
be read for the information of thu
! House. The resolution provides 70
; the appointment of three select com
/ mittees, one of fifteen members to pro
: coed to Louisiana, one of six member
to proceed to Florida and one of min
members to proceed to South Carolina
to investigate the actions of the Re
, turning or Canvassing Boards in thes
r States, and to report all the facts essen
tial to a fair and honest return Of tn
votes for electors for President an
0 Vice President, and to a full and fai
e understanding thereof by the people {
4 Some other business, principally in rt
lation to the eligibility of Mr. Buttz, c
South Carolina, was transacted and a
half past seven the House adjourned.
! This was perhaps the longest fir:
It days session ever held where there wa
q no contest over the Speakership.
In the Senate affairs were conducte
in their usual quiet and orderly man
+, ner. No action whatever wa
d taken in regard TO the election of
|. new Pres cent. pro ten, and Mr.. Ferr
will probably occupy his present pc
p" sitlOn till the 4th of March next.
n SAXON.