The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-12-14
UNITED STATES CONGRESS.


On tho opening OF the session the certificates
of election of Jerome b. Chaffee and Henry
M. Teller, United States Senators from the
State Of Colorado, were presented: In drawing
for terms, Mr.. Chaffee drew for the long and
Mr.. Teller for the short term.
Mr.. Davis (Dem.), OF West Virginia, pre-
sented the credentials Of Samuel Price, ap-
pointed United States Senator from West Vir-
ginia, to fill the vacancy caused by tho death
Of Hon A. T. Caperton.
OF Maine, whose appointments were laid be-
fore the Senate last summer, advanced to the
desk of the presiding officer and were sworn in
by him Dir. Price taking the modified oath.
Mr.. Eimunds Rep.). OF Vermont, submit
ted resolution, which was read, ordered to
be printed and lie on the table. 1t provides
that the committee on privileges and elections
when appoint ed be and it is hereby instructed
to inquire and report as soon as he mav-hrst,
whether in any of the elections named.in the
| second section of the Fourteenth amendment
in the States Of South Carolina. Georgia,
Florida, Alabama Louisisna and Mississippi
in the years 1875 or 1876 the right Of any
portion of such Inhabitants and citizens to
vote has been in any wise denied or abridged;
second, to what extent such denial or abrldee-
ment has been carried By what means such
denial or abridgement has been accomplished
and by whom.
The resolution also provides for inquiry as
| to the eligibility Of any person elected on the
seventh or November IaSt
| Mr.. Ingalls, (Rep.), OF Kansas, intro duced a
/, joint resolution, which was ordered to be
printed and lie on the table, recon- mending
convention to revise and amend the Constitu-
| ton of the United States.
Mr.. Morton (Rep), Of Indiana, submitted
| joint resolution proposing al amendment to
the Constitution of the United States 80 ss to
provide for the election of President and Vice
| President of the United States by the direct
vote Of the people. which was read, and it was
| ordered that it lie on the table until the ap-
| pointment Of committees, and then be re-
| ferred to the committee on privileges and elec-
tions.
| Mr. Edmunds (Rep. J. Of Vermont, moved to
| take up for consideration the resolution sub
| mitted by him, ordering an inquiry into the
late election in South Carolina, Florida, Louisi-
ana, Mississippi, Georgia and Alabsma. The
resolution, after much discussion and several
| amendments was adopted.
| Mr.. Withers (Dem.) of Virginia, submitted
a resolution requesting the President to in-
| form the Senate, il not incompatible with the
public interest under what authority and for
| what purpose troops of the United States occu-
| pied Petersburg, Va, on the seventh OF No.
venbeI, 1876, the day Of the election. Ohjec-
tion was made by Mr.. Edmunds, and the reso-
luton was laid over.
bill providing that the revised slautes
shall be amended SO that the election for
President and Vlco-President shall be held in
October and that the electoral college shall
meet in the January following, was referred.
House.
In the House Samuel J. Randall (Dem }, Of
Pennsylvania, wa, elected Speaker in place of
n. G. Kerr. deceased, receiving 16l votes to
| eighty-two for James A. Ga, field. The new
Speaker in taking his seat paid high COM
pliment 10 his predecessor, saying that he was
good and great man. In concluding bis re.
NJ arks he said
"The people look confidently to your mod
Grafton, to your patient, calm firm judgment
and wisdom, at this time fraught with 80 many
perls. Let us not, beseech OF you, dsappoint
their just expectation and their keen sense OF
right but By vigilance prevent evon the slight
est departure frcm toe Constitution aud laws,
forgetting in the moment of difficulty that We
are the adherents Of party, and only remem
bering that we are American citizens, with q
county to ssve which will be lost If unauthor.
ized and unconstitutional Gcts on the part OF
executive officers be not fiowned down at once
with relentlessness and unsparing condemna-
tioD."
The following new members, elected to FIJI
vacanciee. were sworn in: Mr.. Warner, OF
Connecticut; Mr.. Frye, of Maine Mr.. Hum.
phrey Of Indiana Mr.. Carr, OF Indiana, and
MIR. Stanton, of Pennsylvania.
|. Objection WAS made, to the swearing in OF
Mr.. Buttz, Of South Carolina, and Mr.. Belford
of Colorado. In relation to the latter, Mr.
Springer Dem.), Of Illinois, offered resolu.
tion instructipg the Judiciary committee to in
quire and report at as early day as possible
| whether Colorado is a State in the Upion, aud
directing that until such report is received nc
person claiming to bo o Representa;i. o from
COLORADO =hall be sworn in as O member. The
question was referred to the Judiciary com.
mittee.
Mr. Hewitt (Dem.), of New York, presented
a resolution providing for the appointment OF
three select committees-one of fifteen mem
bers to proceed to Louieiana, one or six mem
bers to proceed to Florida and one OF nine
members to proceed to South Carolina, tc
investigate the action of the returning or can
vassing boards as 10 the recent elections IL
those States, and to report sill the facts essen
tial to an honest return Of the votes Tor cleo
tors o. President and Vice President, ard to
fair understanding thereof by the people, ant
whether the electoral votes of those Statel
should be counted The committees are q
have power to send for persons and papers, u
take testimony, to appoint subcommittee
clerks and messengers. This was adopted by
vote Of 1856 to 78.
Tho Speaker announced the appointment o
the South Carolina committee as follows
Messrs. Sayler, of Ohio Abbott, Of Massachu
setts Stenger, of Pennsylvania; Eden, o
Illinois Jones, OF Kentucky; Phillips, OF Mis-
souri,; Banks, Of Massachusetts,; Lspham, o
New York, and Lawrence. Of Ohio.
On the States of the Union, the Speaker an
nouuced the following select committees;
On Louisiana. Mr.. Morrison, H.; Mr.. jerks
, Pa; Mr.. McAIahon. Ohio; Mr.. Lynde. Wis
! Hou Q, Tenn; NJ. Phelps, Conn; Mr.. Ne1
Iud. Mr.. Ross, n. j.; Mr.. Townsend, Pa
Mr.. Danford, Ohio; Mr.. Hurlbut, Ill; Mr
, Cfapo, Mass, and Mr.. Joyce, Vt.
: On florida. Mesers. Thompson, Mass De
bolt, Mo-; W. o. Hopkins, Pa; Garfield
{ Ohio, and Donnel, Miss.
! On the South Carolina committee, the nam
: of Mr.. Cochrane, Pa, WAS substituted for thf
of Mr.. Stenger, Ps, excused an ac,ount Of IL
!. ness in his family.