Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-12-06
FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
Second Session.
SENATE.

/ APPOINTED
on the President
= JOINT resolution was offered by Mr. Morton.
proposing amendment to Constitution OF United
ootes, so as to provide for election Of President
ana wee PRESIDENT OF United States by direct
vote of people.
Read and laid on the table until amendment of
committees and then be referred 10 Commute on
Elections. O-
Mr.. Morton said it was proposition reported
by committee on elections two years ago.
Mr. Edmunds moved to take up his resolution
ordering inquiring into late elections in various
Southern States.
Lengthy debate followed, and the motion was
agreed to 80 to %. Strict party vote.
On motion Of Mr.. Whyte of Md, il was order
ed that the resolution of Mr. Edmunds lie voted
upon separately.
Mr.. Meiriman submitted an amendment TO the
rst resolution providing that the committee shall
be confined to the inquiry whether the right of
any person to vote had been denied abridged
by the constitution or laws CT said statute.
rejected, yeas "a nays 80. A strict party vote
Mr.. Bogy moved to strike out tie preamble.
The motion was rejected.
MIR. Mcdonald moved to strike out the first part
OF the preamble, relating to the l4th amendment
Rejected, yea 81 rays 40.
The first resolution, authorizing the committee
to inquire into the elections 10 South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Louisiana for the
years 1874. 1875 1876, &C., was then agreed to ,
yeas Al nays 70, party vote.
LuC stcouu It.OiutlOu, dutuOfZlDR Tue employ
ment OF stenographers and, empowering the COM
mittee to send for papers and persons, &c, was
agreed to without division.
The third resolution in regard to dispositions
was agreed to. Mr. White Of Maryland then sub
United the following as q substitute for the reso-
buttons of Mr.. Edmunds:
Resolved, That a select committee of nine men,
bers OF the Senate be appointed to investigate the
recent elections in the states of South Carolina,
Florida and Louisiana, and the action of the re-
turning boards in said states in reference thereto,
and to report all the facts essential to an honest
return OF the votes received by the electors for
said states for President and Vice President of
the United States, and whether said states are en-
titled to he considered in the count of the eecor-
al votes of the United States; and for the speedy
execution of this purpose the said committee
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 ad-
minister oaths, and TO take testimony. A1d said
committee and subcommittee are empowered to
employ stenographers, clerk and messengers and
shall be attended by a deputy sergeant arms.
That the said committee be, and is hereby in
structed to inquire into the eligibility to officers
under the Constitution of the United States of
any persons alleged to have been ineligible on
9TH day Of November last, or to be ineligible as
electors of President and Vice President Of the
United States, to whom certificates of election
have been or shall be issued by executive author
lily oil any state as SUCH electors, and whether the
appointment of electors or those claiming to be
such in any of the states has been made either by
force, fraud or other means, otherwise than 10
conformity with the Constitution and laws of the
United States, and the laws Of the respective
| states, and whether any such appointment or &C
| ton of any such elector has been in snywse I'M
constitutionally or unlawfully interfered with.
After some discussion the substitute was re-
jected without division.
The question being on the last resolution of
Il - al a. L..
| ors, it was agreed to yeas As, nays IL.
The preamble was then agreed to.
The Senate at 4.20 adjourned.
HOUSE.
Immediately after reading of journal, Mr.
Plasted Of Maine rose to question of privilege
asserted on vote yesterday on Hewitt's resolution
for three select committees for Louisiana, South
Carolina and Florida, he had distinctly voted on
the question in the negative, and had subsequent
ly heard his name SO read, but he now found he
was not so recorded in the journal.
Inasmuch as the counting OF his vote wond
have defeated the resolution, as the two-thirds
majority waslganed by l56 to 49, any change of
the Journal which would affect the result was OPP
posed by the democrats.
On the report of the Clerk, it was stated by the
Speaker that the Journal was correct, and that
Mr.. Plaisted had not been heard.
After sharp debate the Plaisted vote was cor
rected on the Journal, when Fuller of Indiana,
claimed his vote was recorded wrongly, and that
being the case it should be again taken. To this
proposition there was general assent on republi.
cans side of the House. The only exception be-
ing ON the part Of Mr.. Banks Of Mass, who OBJ
jected, but Immediately afterwards withdrew his
objection. At the same time the Speaker
| changed his view, and announced that he would
| now exercise his right to vote. lie supposed that
| the gent from Massachusetts (3anks) would sd-
NIT his right to do so.
Banks-I do. There can be no doubt about it.
/ Speaker-Then l exercise that right and cast
my vote in the affirmative. Loud applause on
| democratic side and corresponding depression on
| the republican side.
Conger of Mich.-Not another representative
| agrees with the gent from Massachusetts, Bank.
or with chair.
| Spesker-The Chair is very sorry to disagree
with the gent from Michigan. Laughter. The
| result is, that the resolution for the appoint
ment of the committees remains in force.
| Mr.. Hamilton OF Indiana, then offered his reso-
| luton assigning Saturday, 10th of December, for
| the presentation of suitable resolutions of the
| death of the late Speaker Kerr, and the express
sion, by members, of esteem in which he was held
| for his unbemished character and eminent pub
| lie services.
The resolution was adopted.
| On motion Of Mr.. Wood Of New York the mes
cage and accompanying documents were ordered
printed forthwith in pamphlet form, and were re
TERED TO the committee of the whole on the state
of the Union.
The Speaker announced the following selec
committees;
On Louisiana-Messrs. Morrison of Illinois
jerks of Penn, Mcmahon of Ohio Lynde o.
Wis, Blackburn of Ky, Meade of n. u, House
of Tenn, Phelps Of Conn.,, New of Ind, Ross Of
n. j., Townsend of Pa, Danford of Ohio, Hurl
but OF H.. Grape Of Mass, and Joyce of Vt.
| On Forida-Messrs. Thompson of Mass, De
bait of Missouri, Wslling of Ohio, Hopkins o
Pa, Garfield of Ohio, and Donnell of MINI.
| On the South Carolina committee the name o.
Mr.. Cochrane of Pa. was substituted for that o
Mr.. Sturgis of Pa, who was excused on sccoun
| of illness in his family.
Mr.. Lawrence Of Ohio asked leave to offer
resolution designed to secure equal school privi
| leges to white and colored children.
Objections were offered to the resolution.
| The House adjourned at 2.45.
|
| MASS AClIIrGEIsCS