The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1876-03-24

Congressional Proceedings.


In the Senate, on the 18th, the following
debate transpired:
Mr.. Morton called up the bill to provide
| for and regulate the counting OF the etecto-
raj votes for President and Vice President,
and the division OF questions arising there
Mr.. Bayard thought it very proper this
! Important question should be considered ar
this time. The fact that The two houses
were controlled by different parties was
likely to load to the adoption of some meas
| tory TO the American people,. He SAT- thai
che joint rule which permit d the rejection
Of The electoral vote of any State by the
! dictation of either house. seemed perlec. ~
satisfactory to the dominant party until
the complexion OF the House changed. Mr..
Morton said he had been in favor OF abro
eating that rule tor three years.
Mr.. Bayard said whatever debate had
occurred, the fact was that the rule had not
! that rule, conferred upon the two houses AZ
power over the electoral rules OF The States,
which he did not think had ever been ir
tended by the constitution.
MIR. Eaton pointed out that under the
second section OF the bal, ii two sets OF
Senate decided to count one and the uous.
The other, neither would be counted, aud
! the State from which the two sets OF votes
! came would have no part in the fresideil-
Jlat election.
Mr.. Thurman said that it was never
eo o,,d plated tia that tue Vice fresidsn'
mode ofcounting must be laid down b.,
! Congress, aud the joint rule was not the
Of the joint rule. The question OF the.
counting of the electoral votes was not i.
judicial question, and no authority us UNI
plre can De conferred upon the Supreme
Court.
Mr.. Cooper, after some remarks, moved.
an amendment to the second section, thai
in case of Two sets of electoral votes the.
House of Representatives, voting by States
in the manner provided by the Constitution
the House, shall decide which vote shall be
counted. - f--.... , --
Mr.. Frelinghuysen suggested an amend
ment, that in case of disagreement by the
two houses to which vote shall be counted:
then the President of the Senate shall decide.
some proposition by which these disputed
matters should not be left an open ques-
ton.
MI Bayard advocated the amendment OF
Mr.. Cooper, and in the course OF his re-
marks said the electoral college might IL
well be abolished, as practically the people
now voted direct and there was no further
need for the interpretation OF an electoral
college.
into executive session and then adjourned.
Mr.. Cox, of New York, moved to suspend
the rules and to pass resolutions declarin.
has ahe Pe1Piei Of the States eodst
purposes defined in the federal Constitution
and that the government of the United
States 7is Federal Union, and was found
ed by the people of the several states
transferring certain rights aud power to
tue United States government, which ar,
defined and limited by the Federal Consti-
tuition, and that these rights and power,
! cannot be enlarged or diminished cxcep.
by amendment to tho constitution; that the
several States have the same rights as Il.
General Government, and that local self
government by States is absolutely neccs-
'ary for the preservation of liberty of cit-
zen, and tho preservation OF republican.
government, that the doctrine OF u right {.
>ecede from tho Union, Is; III conflict witt.
he provisions of the Constitution and mus
oe regarded as forever cNtinSuished by the
recent civil conflict.
Mr.. Holman demanded the yeas and NAYS.
Mr.. Biaine--'1 hope SO. anG hope every
Onion man will vote against the res ,lutious.
While tho Speaker was putting the dut.--
lion, Mr.. Hoar demanded tha: tle rcsnlttti o,.
re again reported, whe"eupon tho Spcalle
remarked that "no gentleman lemphaais
ng the latter wora) would interrupt the
chair while he Was stating the question:
tAppiause on the Democratic side and ror
lions OF the & tileries.i
Tho question was then taken, and the
vote was: yeas laU, nays AZ. and the rules
we're suspended and the resolutions
,l{OptrN.