The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-03-07
BY TELEGRAPH.
ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORT.
TO TIE DAILY LNTELLIGENCEE
CONGRESS.
SENATE.
WARRINGTON, March 6.
A DISCUSSION OF CREDENTIALS.

oV' many htpuullCAub Noleu Win the
Democrats against adjournment.
Mr.. Blaine said Lamar's credentials
were entirely regular, and he was Just a.
much entitled 10 be sworn az he (Blaine)
or any other Senator sworn in yesterday,
A lively debate ensued upon Mr.. Wal
lace'S resolution.
Mr.. Spencer called for the reading Of
the report Of Boutwell's Committee on
Mississippi Affairs, submitted at the last
session, but the Senate refused to have the
report read.
Mr.. Dawes advocated swearing in,
holding, that Mr.. Lamar presented him.
self with proper certificate.
Mr.. Blaine argued that the report in
the Mississippi case might show that
the Legislature which elected Mr.. La.
mar was not legal body, but he should
be sworn in now, and all this was mat
ter for future inquiry by the Senate. II
wnsa dangerous thing to stop a Senator
from taking the oath who presented him.
self with the proper credentials.
After further debate, Mr.. Spencer said
he was opposed toseating MIR. Lamar be,
cause the Legislature which elected him
was fraud. lie then sent to the Clerks
desk and had read, as II part Of his re.
marks, the report Of Mr.. Boutwell,, from
the Committee on Mississippi.
Mr.. Hamlin, from the Committee TO
notify the President that the Senate was
organized, reported that the President
would communicate tomorrow in regard
to executive business.
Mr.. Thurman said that its no matter
what was contained in MIR. Boutwell's
report. that there was nothing affecting
primd ldcie OF Lamar TO seat in the Sen.
ate. There was not one word in the re-
port which touched the question before
the Senate, and il was out Of order to call
upon the Senate 10 sit here an hour 10
listen to the reading thereof.
Mr.. Morton said that the Senator from
Ohio thurman, laid down the doctrine
in regard to the Prima fucis case, but he
(Morton) begged leave to remind the Sen.
utor that one year ago, the Senator stood
on the other side, in the case Of Pinch.
back. According to the doctrine Of the
Senator, there could be no investigation
Of the Legislature which elected Lamar
but there could be as 10 the one which
elected Pinchback. He Morton had moi
changed his mind, but held to the same
doctrine now that he did in the Pinch
back case. There had been sudden
revolution on the part Of the Democracy
He believed the Senators objected to
should be called in the regular order in
which they are named. The Senator
from Louisiana (Kellogg) was here with
legal certificate, but objections were
made to swearing him in yesterday. On
the very ground upon which he was
stopped from taking his seat yesterday
the Senator from Alabama (Spencer) had
a right to interpose an objection in the
case Of Lamar. 1t seems to him (Mor.
tom that this was an attempt to have one
doctrine in one and another doctrine in
another case.
The motion TO refer the credentials OF
Senator Lamar to the Committee on
Privileges and Elections was rejected
yeas !, nays IS.
Mr.. Thurman said he would be sorry
TO believe tho faculties of the Senator
from Indiana were failing, but he must
say that the faculty Of memory in that
Senator, judging from his remarks,
showed weakness which might well give
concern 10 his friends. He (Thurman)
said in the Goldthwalte case, in the Pinch
back case, and again now, that
where u man had been elected by
that body which was coniessedly the
Legislature OF the State and brought
with him the credentials prescribed
by law, there was not in the whole his
tory OF the country n precedent which
would prevent him from being sworn in
but it made vast difference as TO wheth.
er man had been elected by Legisla.
ture or by mob. According to the re-
port Of the Committee on Privileges and
Elections Of the Senate, the Legislature
which elected Pinchback was not the
Legislature Of Louisiana, and it was upon
that ground and that ground alone that
the Senate said his credentials did moi
make primA iacie case.
Mr.. Morton said that the election oil
Mr.. Pinchback was certified to by the
Governor, acknowledged as such by
every department Of the Federal Govern
ment. The Legislature which elected
him was the acknowledged Legislature oi
the State; besides, it was recognized by the
Supreme Court of the State. He argued
that the report in the Mississippi case
might show that the Legislature which
elected Lamar was not the lawful one oi
the State. What took place in Mississippi
during the campaign OF 1875? 1t pre-
sented scene Of carnage. That election
was fraud and an outrage from begin
ming to end. 1t was not in the power o.
man to furnish an excuse for the outrage,
committed in Mississippi in 1875. Tho
campaign was an armed one, and the Re
publican majority OF 10000 was over
come by violence, by every species o
intimidation, unlawful pressure and out
rage.
Mr.. Blaine said he had been in the Sen
ate Just long enough to know how un
pleasant 1t was 10 have record. He wa
glad to see his friend from Ohio Thur
mani coming over 10 the right, but HI
begged his friend from Indiana Morton
not to get wrong just at the moment hi
friend from Indiana was getting right.
i Mr.. Morton asked what objection tn,
Senator had 10 Kellogg being sworn in.
MIR. Blaine replied that he had prepared
resolution on that very subject. lie
this case be disposed Of and the Senator
would see how he stood in regard to Kel
loggs case.
Mr., Morton said that 80 lar as hi
record was concerned he proposed L
take care Of it. The Senator from Main,
, would have quite enough to do TO taxi
care Of his own record. Laughter
Mr.. ChriNiancy read from the testi
mony taken by the Boutwell, committee
to the effect that no branch Of the Stat,
or Federal government had ever oues
toned the legality Of the Mississipp
Legislature. He argued that ia I.eeis
lature had been recognized by the Su
, preme Court Of the State. No doub
there had been intimidation in som,
parts Of the State, but the majority o
the members OF the Legislature were lie
gally elected and they had the right t,
:. pass upon the returns OF other member
in cases Of contest from districts wher
violence existed. He argued that thi
case was not like that Of Pinchback, a
In that case u committee Of the Senat
had reported that there was no lega
Legislature in that State. He could Sc
Ino objection 10 thA ,Ju;ss;on of NJ,