The Portland daily press., 1876-12-06
THE NEW YORK HERALD YARN.
Murat HnIsIed Says the Roberts Interview
was UuimportanI-What Gov. Hayes
Did Saw,
Forty Fourth COngress-First Session

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.
A message from the house that that body had
organized and a committee appointed to wait
on the President, was received.
Joint resolution offered by Mr. Morton pro-
posing an amend ment to the constitution of the
United States so as to provide for the election
of President and Vice President of the United
States by direct vote Of the people, was read
and laid on the table till the appointment of
committees and then to be referred to the COM
mittee on elections. Mr. Morton said it was
the proposition reported by the committee on
elections two years ago.
On motion of Mr. Morton, 1900 copies of the
document compiled by clerk Mcdonald rela-
tive to counting the electoral vote from 1889 to
1873 were ordered to be printed.
A motion to print $500 additional copies was
referred to the Printing Committee.
Bill establishing the territory of Black Hills
was laid on the table.
Mr.. Edmunds moved to take up his resolu-
tons ordering inquiry into the late elections in
the various Southern states.
A lengthy debate followed and the motion
was agreed to, 3S to ga strict party vote.
On motion of Mr.. Whyte of MARYLAND it was
ordered that the resolutions of Mr.. Edmunds be
voted upon separately. He said he would vote
against the first three resolutions because he
accepted the decision of the Supreme Court of
the United States in constituting the 18th
amendment In regard to the recent election
in some of the states, he was in favor of imme-
date and prompt action, and he proposed to
offer substitute for the last resolution which
would cause a thorough scrutiny of the election
in those states.
Mr.. Merrimon submitted an amendment to
the first resolution providing that the commit
tee shall be confined to the inquiry whether the
right of any person to vote had been denied or
abridged by the constitution or laws OF said
statute. Rejected, yeas "a, nays 39-a strict
party vote.
Mr.. Bogy moved to strike out the preamble.
Rejected.
Mr.. Mcdonald moved to strike out the first
part of the preamble relating to the 14th
amendment. Rejected-yeas 81 nays 40.
The first resolution, authorizing the commit
tee TO inquire into the elections in South Caro-
-liiis, ssSSFsis, zAls.l..a Florida and Louisiana
for the years 1874, 1875 1875, Sec., snsn i
agreed to- yeas Al, nays 26-a party vote.
The second resolution, authorizing the en-
ployment of stenographers and empowering
| the committee to send for papers and persons,
was agreed to without division.
The third resolution in regard to depositions
was agreed to.
Mr.. Whyte of Maryland then submitted the
| following as substitute for the resolution of
Mr.. Edmunds:
Res0lUed, That select committee of nine
| members of the Senate be appointed to investi-
gate the recent electors in the states of South
Carolina, Florida and Louisiana, and the action
of the returning boards in said states in refer
ence thereto, and to report all the facts essen
tlal to an an honest return OF votes received by
| the electors tor said states for President and
Vice President of the U Dited States, and for
speedy execution of this purpose the said COM
mittee shall have power to send for persons and
papers, to administer oaths, to take testimony,
and at their discretion to detail subcommittee
with like authority, to send for persons and
papers, to administer oaths and to take testi-
moDy, and said committee and subcommittee
are empowered to employ stenograpbers clerks
and messengers, and shall be ate nded by
deputy sergeant-at-arms.
ReSolUed-That the said committee be, and
is hereby instructed to enquire into the eligible
ity TO Office under the constitution of the Unit
| ed States OF any persons alleged to have been
Ineligible, on the 9TH day of November last, or
to be ineligible as electors of President and
WIGS President of the United States to whom
certificates of election have been or shall be
issued by executive authority of any State as
such electors, and whether the appointment of
electors, or Etbose claiming to be such in any
of the States has been made either by force,
fraud or other means otherwise than in con-
formity with the constitution and laws of the
United States, aud the laws of the respective
States, and whether any such appointment or
action of any such elector has been in anywise
unconstitutionally or unlawfully interfered
with.
After some discussion the subltitute was re-
jected without division.
The question being on the last resolution of
Edmunds in regard to the eligibility of electors
it was agreed to-yeas 48, NAYS IL; Messrs.
cans in the affirmative.
The preamble was then agreed to.
Mr.. EdmundS gave notice that he would
move to take up tomorrow the joint resolu-
tlon respecting the method of counting and
declaring the electoral vote for President and
Vice President of the United States, reported
by the Committee on Privileges and Elections
in May last. He also gave notice of an amend
ment he would offer, and it was ordered to be
printed.
Mr.. Merrmon Of North Carolina, introduced
bill to alter the time prescribed for holding
the election for President and Vice President,
and counting the vote in the electoral college,
Ordered printed and to be referred to the Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections when ar
pointed. 1t provides that the Revised Statutes
shall be amended SO that the election for Pres
ident and Vice President shall be held in Octo-
Der and the electoral college shall meet in the
January following.
The Senate at 420 adjourned
HOUSE.
Immediately after the reading of the Journal.
Mr.. Pialsted of Maine rose to question of
privilege asserted on vote yesterday on Hew-
tits resolution forsthree select committees for
Louisiana, South Carolina and Louisiana. He
had distinctly voted in the negative and had
subsequently, heard his name so read But he
now found he was not so recorded in the journ-
nal. InaSmuch as the counting of his vote
would have defeated the resolution, as the two
thirds majority was gained by 156 to rs, any
ChanSC VI JuuIudt WHICH, WOulu dIIeCL The
result was opposed by the Democrats. On the
report of the clerk it was stated by the Speak
er that the journal was correct and that Mr.
Plaisted had not been heard.
After sharp debate Mr.. Plaisted' vote was
corrected on the journal, when MIR. Fuller of
Indiana claimed his vote had been record ed
wrongly and that being the case it should be
again taken. To this proposition there was
general assent of the Republican side of the
House, the only exception being on the part of
MIR. Banks of Massachusetts, who objected.
but Immediately afterwards Withdrew his oh
lection. At the same time the Speaker chang
ed his view and announced he would now exer-
else his right to vote. He supposed the gen.
tleman from Massachusetts (Banks) would adj
nit his right to do So
Banks-l do. There can be no doubt about
it.
Speaker-Then excuse that right and cast |
my vote in the affirmative. loud applause on |
the Democratic side and corresponding depres- |
sion on the Republican side,
Conger OF Michigan-Not another Republi- |
can agrees with the gentleman from Massachu- !
sets banksl or with the chair, not one
Speaker-Ihe Chair is very sorry to disagree /
with the gentleman from Michigan. Laugh |
teri
The result is that the resolution for the APP
polntment of the committees remains in force, /
MI. Hamilton of Indiana, then offered his
resolution assigning Saturday, the 10th of De-
cember, for the presentation of suitable resolu-
tons on the death of the late Speaker Kerr,
the expression by members of esteem in which |
he was held for his unblemished character and |
eminent public services was adopted.