The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1876-12-14
CONGRESSIONAL.
ENATE.
WASHINGTON, ID. C., December 6.

and III WAS OGutIco tuoS al bAii5 anu leeA-
tons, heretofore presented, be referred to
the appropriate committees.
Senator NORTH said the resolution
recurring the inquiry into the late elections
in certain Southern States imposed upon
the committee on privileges and elections,
an important and arduou. labor, and on his
motion three additional members were ap-
pointed.
The subject was further discussed by
Messrs Bogy, Sherman, Stevenson and 9TH
els, after which Mr.. stevenson insisted up
on his objection to the printing of the dep
ositions. and under the rules the motion TO
print them was referred TO the committee
ON printing.
The CHAIR announced as the new mem
bers Of the committee on privileges and
elections, Messrs. Howe, Boutwell, and Ker-
nan.
Mr.. EDMUNDS moved to take up the
joint resolution, Of which he gave notice
yesterday, proposing an amendment TO the
Constitution of the United States in reia-
ton to the counting of the electoral vote.
Mr.. MERRYMAN objected and raised a
point of order.
The CHAIR overruled the point and Mr..
Merrvman appealed from the decision Of
Liz Sfldu. " dodIcTc kHc
Senate. but coon yielded for a motion to
adjourn, and the Senate adjourned.
Ga motion of Senator Morton il was or
dered that the testimony taken by the
special committee TO examine into the
question of Chinese immigration be prin-
ted.
Mr.. WRITER'S called up the reso-
luton submitted by him yesterday, request
ing the President 10 inform the Senate
under what authority and for what pur-
pose the troops OF the United States oc-
cupied the city of Petersburg, Va, on the
9Th of November 1876, the day of election.
Mr.. LOGAN moved that it be re-
ferred to the committee on military affairs.
a lengthy debate followed, and the reso-
luton was finally agreed to.
The CHAIR then laid before the Senate
the message from the President of the
United States, enclosing the report of
Senator Sherman and other members of
the committee which visited New Or
leans, together with the accompanying
testimony, in regard to the recent election
in Louisiana, and moved that il be printed
and laid on the table.
Mr.. THURMAN objected to printing
all the matter accompanying the message,
though he had no objection to printing the
message and the communication OF the
committee.
Mr.. SHERMAN explained that the COM
munlcation was prepared in response TO 2
request Of the President, that certain gen.
tlemen proceed TO Louisiana to witness the
canvass of the votes before tie returning
board. These gentlemen did meet in New
Orleans and this was their report to the
President
Mr.. EATON inquired ii the communi-
cation contained the report and testimony
Of both Democratic and Republican Com
mittees.
Mr.. SHERMAN, in reply, explained the
meeting and action Of the two committees
before the returning board, and said he
could say in advance Of any debate on the
Louisiana case, thai the canvass was open
and public, and that every act done or word
said by the returning officers was in their
presence, and In the presence of commit
tee OF gentlemen selected by the National
Democratic Committee and when the
contests were up, they were carried On in
the presence OF candidates and their attor-
neys. All the proceedings were reported
for public action, and published in New
Orleans, and are now communicated to the
President and TO Congress, and with
the sanction Of the Senate, would be
communicated 10 the whole people of
the United States. The testimony, oral
and written, in his opinion estab-
lished not only the fairness of the can
vas5 snd its strict conformity TO the letter
and spirit of the law of Louisiana, but also
Its Justice. The proof of intimidation,
burning, whipping and murder, committed
IN pursuance Of an organized plan to pre-
vent the election OF the Republican elec-
tors, and the return Of the Democratic cleo
tors, was so full and complete that the pub
lie mind would believe that any other find
ings of the board would have been a re-
proach to our civilization, and an utter
overthrow of the freedom OF the cleo
tons, upon which the preservation of our
institutions rest. he did not
know the result OF the canvass except as he |
saw it in this mornings paper, nor could he |
say whether the board acted rightly or not, |
az TO the specific polling places, until he |
could compare their action with the facts |
proven, but he did say that upon the testi-
mony taken by that board, its finding was /
justified BY the law of louisiana, and by |
the highest principles of justice and honor,
In rerly to. Mr. Eaton, Mr.. Sherman said
all the published testimony taken BY the /
Democratic committee accompanied the
to the President, but there
were some deposIuons, OF which they could
rot obtain copies in time. He argued
hat it was the express duty
If the President, to submit this information
10 Congress, as there was no matter of more
importance than the question connected
With the canvassing boards, and the max
ing Of the President of the United States.
its, for one, would vote for the publication
Of all the testimony taken by the Democrat
&c committee, if it should be presented to
he Senate. Probably there had never been
n the United States more public act than
he action of this returning board. He had
the whole proceedings of the
'oard and he believed they had been mis-
represented.
WASHINGTON, d. c., December Z.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate q
signed BY Carl Scburz and
I. b. Henderson. praying that q constitu-
ional Amendment be submitted to the va
ious States, by which the counting of the
lectoral vote Tor President and Vice resi-
lent, and declaring the result thereof NAV
e conferred upon the Supreme Court of
he United States. l.
Mr.. EDMUNDS moved that the COM
be laid on the table, the subject {
aying already been reported to the SEN
te. 1t was SO ordered.
Mr.. ANTHONY, from the committee on
rinting, TO which was referred the motion
, print the dispositions accompanying the
Of Hon. John Sherman and I
theirs to the President, in regard to the cleo !
on In Louisiana, reported In favor of 9
rinting all the dispositions. Ia
Mr. SALISBURY, a member of the
dissented from the report of the Q
lajority, and said he could not give his '
,nsent to the publishing of such matter.
e honestly believed that all these ex-parte
atements should not be distributed TO the
ublic as testimony.
Mr.. MCDONALD said he was willing to
ave p.inted all the testimony on both
dee, bearing on the late election in r
,uth Carolina, Louisiana and Florado, and e
mt to the clerks desk and had the address "
the Democratic Committee, which attend Of
the sessions of the returning board in b
ew Orleans read, to the effect that the Til q
n electors had q majority of the votes in Il
ouislana. v,
Mr.. SHERMAN, in reply to the question A
Mr.. Merryman, said there were three Of
asses of testimony presented: First, oral Ii
stimony taken before the returning board, m
I'd the proceedings of the board; second, ell
e statement Of the supervisors Of election, n,
I'd afhdavits sworn to by them. and third, OF
tnmony taken according to the laws of st
ouisiana, on interrogatories and cross in to
III