Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-12-05
HOUSE.

/ In the house Of representatives, the opening
session of the house was witnessed by an I'M
mense concourse of spectators, and there were
very few members absent. The speaker
chair was draped in mourning, in respect to
the memory Of the late Speaker Kerr. There
being, therefore, no presiding officer, the
house was called to order by Clerk Adams,
who, thereupon, called the roll of members.
The call showed 249 members present, the
. whole number on the roll being 28S.
6 As soon as the call was finished, Mr.. Hol-
, man rose to offer resolution for the election
! of speaker, but Mr.. Banks interposed as a
, question of the superior right and privilege
, | of the member elect from Colorado to have
his name placed on the roll, so he might par
ticipate in the election of speaker, and sent
up the credentials of the Colorado member.
A discussion ensued on the question of pre-
cedence, Mr.. Holman and other Democrats
contending that the organization Of the house
was necessarily the first in order, while Mr.
Banks and other Republicans contended that
all the members had a right to participate in
the election.
Mr. Frye claimed the same right for his
colleague, elected in place of Mr.. Blaine.
Finally the clerk decided that the resolu-
ton offered by Mr.. Holman took precedence.
From that decision an appeal was taken by
Mr.. Banks, which appeal Mr.. Cox moved to
lay on the table. Agreed to-yeas, 165;
nays, S4
Mr.. Holman's resolution then came up for
action, and it was adopted without Opposi
ton 1t was as follows: 1.-The house being
informed that since its adjournment NJ. c.
Kerr, who, at the commencement Of the pres
ent congress, was elected speaker of the house,
had departed this life creating avacancy in
the Office of speaker, it is therefore ordered
that the house do now proceed to the election
of speaker RIA rOce.
Samuel J. Randall was nominated by Mr.,
Cox, and James A. Garfield by Mr.. NJ Crary.
Mes ssrs. Clymer, Banning, Banks Mass. |.
| and Wilson lowal, were appointed tellers,
The vote resulted as follows: Whole num-
! ber of votes cast, 246; necessary to a choice.
| 124 Samuel J. Randall received 161, James
| A. Garfield 80, Charles O.. Williams Wis.
one given by his colleague, Mr.. Magoon;
William r. Morrison one, given by Mr.. Pot
! ter Mich. |; George +. Hoar one, given by
Mr.. Seelye Mass The announcement Of
the result was greeted with applause in the
galleries.
Messrs. Cox and M'Crary conducted
| Speaker Randall to his chair, when he read
his speech from manuscript, as follows:
GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRE-
sENTATTvEs- Called to this position because
of the death of the late speaker, Mr.. Kerr, Of
Indiana, only express the universal Sentl-
ment In saying he was good and great man,
whose public and private life was character
lzed by purity, patriotism and answering
integrity. Nobody can more completely ap-
preciate than dos the high honor Of presiding
over the deliberations of the representatives
of the American people, and for this mark of
your esteem and confidence, | return my pro-
found and heartfelt acknowledgment. In
the discharge Of the important duties confded
to me, shall endeavor to he absolutely fair
and impartial, while enforcing the rules and
uphOding the constitutional prerOgatives of
the body; | shall at the same time protect
each and every member in the rights and
privileges to which he may justly be entitled.
In the exercise Of the parliamen-
tary power of the chair, it Will
be my duty and pleasure to give true express
sion in the appointment of committees and
to the opinions and wishes of the house upon
every question presented, believing myself,
as really am, no more than the voice of the
house itself. We stand in the presence of
events which strain and test IN the last de-
gree our forms Of government, our liberties,
consecrated by so many sacrifices IN the past
and preserved amid rejoicing and an eXultant
people to our Centennial anniversary, as one
among the nations of the earth must be
maintained at every hazard. Applause.
The people look confidently to your mOdera- |
ton, to your potent, calm, firm judgment and |
wisdom In this time fraught with so many |
perils Let us not, beseech of you, disappoint |
their Just expecta ion and their keen sense of |
right; but, by vigilance, prevent even the |
slightest departure from the constitution and |
law, forgetting In the moment of difficulty !
that we are adherents Of the party, and only |
remembering that we are American citizens |
with country to save which will be lost if |
unwarranted and unconstitutional acts on the |
part of the executive officers be not frowned |
down at once with relentless and unsparing |
condemnation.
The closing words were delivered with great |
force and emphasis and was loudly applauded |
on the floor and galleries.
The oath of Office was then admins
tered to the speaker by Mr.. Hol- |
man, who, in the absence of Mr.. Kelly,
as the oldest member in consecutive service;
then the oath of office was administered by |
the speaker to Mr. Stephens, of Georgia, who
had not presented himself last session, and
who remained in his seat while he took the
oath, and to the following new members
elected to fill vacancies: Warner [Conn. !,
Frye Me. |, Humphrey, Carr and Stanton
PA. !, Objection was made to the swearing
In of Butts, Of South Carolina aud Belford.
Of Colorado.
er offered resolution instructing the ju-
dietary committee TO inquire and report at
as early a day as possible whether Colorado
is a State in the Union, and directing until
such report is received no person claiming to
be a representative from Colorado shall be
sworn IN as a member.
Mr.. Banks argued in favor Of the imme-
diate swearing in of the member from Colo
RADIO, and sent to the clerks desk and had
read the proclamation Of the President IN
compliance with the law declaring Colorado
a State of the Union.
Mr.. Hoar characterized Mr.. Springer's
proposition as utterly idle and futile, and
pointed to facts as matters of history tnat
Territorial government had ended, and that
State government, Legislative, Judicial and
executive had taken its place, and that SEN
ators from that State had already taken their
seats
Mr.. Hurlburt argued to the same ef-
feet, and held that there would be as much
right to challenge the State OF Illinois as
that Of Colorado
Mr.. Wood, of New York, argued that as
the house had the unquestioned right to IN
uuire into the election of members that
right involved in this case not only a conslde-
ration as to regularity as to credentials Of the
person. but also what constituency he came
to represent. When the house adjourned
Colorado was Territory and it was the
right and duty ofltbe house to inquire wheth-
er it had been converted into State in pIr-
suance Of the constitution and laws.
Mr. Springer defended the propriety Of hi6
resolution, remarking that delay in the ad-
mission of the member wolld work no in-
Justice to Colorado, whose population WAS
smaller than that of any congressional district,
and vet claimed two seats IN the senate, one |
in the house, and three votes in the electoral
college. This gentleman might wait as the /
representatives Of other States had been kept /
waiting around the halls of congress until |
the Judiciary committee should pass upon the
question.
After some preliminary voting the question |
was taken on Mr. Springer's resolution, re-
ferring the credentials of the Colorado mem I