The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-02-02
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.

WEDNESDAY,, Jan. N.-Sendte Con sidera-
o, of the bill in regard to the electoral count was
resumed. Mr.. Conkling who was entitled 10 the
hoor, not being present, Mr. Sargent took the floor
and spoke in opposition to the bill. He said he did
not believe the measure would accomplish the re-
suit aimed at. There were suspicious of unfair
ness about 1t; it gave improper powers to the tri-
bunal which 1t created. He argued that the
trainers Of the constitution never intended
to delegate to Congress the power to count the
electoral vote or discriminate between the re-
turns: that function he claimed, was lodged in
the President of the Senate. Mr.. Sargent further
opposed the bill because, as he claimed, it de-
PRAYED the Supreme Court by bringing the Judges
down into the muddys pool Of politics, and COM
PEELED them to wade through it. At the conclu-
sion OF Mr.. Sareents speech, Mr.. Conkling
tooh the hoor and resumed his remarks. He
argued that in no instance had the President of the
Senate attempted to do anything in presiding over
the joint convention to count the electoral vote
cept by command of the houses, and cited numer-
GUS precedents and authorit TO sustain his posi-
ton. Referring TO Mr.. Morton's assertion that the
bill was political contrivance, he said If there
was " continuance 1t was the bill which passed
at the last session; it " a political hell-gate
paved and horeycombed with dynamite" Mr.
Conkling said he believed Gov. Hayes had been
elected, but he asked him to take title to the
great Office which no one could question. If this
bill was compromise Of truth, of law, or of
right, he was against 1t; but he denied that IL
was any compromise, and, above ALL IL did not
compromise right, principle or constitution. To
contest claim YVES not to compromise it. To in
sst upon an honest, fair counting of the
electoral vote was not compromise. Presi-
dental election had occurred, and unless there was
a tie somebody had been chosen. To establish
that fact was no compromise. Mr. Conkling
followed by Mr.. Morton in a vigorous speech in
opposition to tho bill. Messrs Bayard, Chris
tiancy. Thurman. Stevenson and Morrill, all spoke
in favor of the measure. and Mr.. Morton again
secured the floor. and at O'Clock a.. M, began his
third speech against the bill. At the conclusion
Of his remarks Mr. Blaine secured the recog-
milton OF the presiding officer, and spoke
To thn Ix1s
gress possessed the powers which il was proposed
TO transfer to the commission, and therefore OBJ
posed IL on constitutional grounds In conclusion,
he urged upon Congress to prepare at the present
session and submit 10 an expectant people con-
stitutional amendment which would relieve the
country in future from similar difficulties. Mr..
Howe succeeded Mr.. Blaine at 2:05 o'clock in the
morning Qhe Senate, by large majority, having
repeatedly voted down motions to adjourn) and
began by denouncing Mr.. Mortons Incorporate
aspersions. He expressed the hope that the meas
ure would receive a unanimous vote from the Re-
licsn party In the two houses
Ho,lse.-Consideration was resumed OF the reso-
buttons reported by the Committee on Privileges,
and Mr. McDrl, OF Iowa, took the floor and
spoke in favor Of the resolutions submitted by the
minority Of the committee. He said IL the propo-
sition of the majority was true, that vote
could be counted without the consent Of the
House. II would give the House practical veto
power over every election by the people. He was
followed by Mr.. Bright, who took the opposite
ground. He maintained that the constitution gave
Congress control OF the whole subject and that no
Returning Board could Dust Congress of it's iuris-
diction. Mr.. Payne, from the Committee on
Banking and Currency, reported bill to amend
existing laws I'm regard 70 National gold banks. ..
Mr.. Lamar, from the Pacific railroad committee,
reported back favorably the Senate bill ex-
tending for eight years the time for the COM
pIetion Of the Northern Pacific railroad -. Mr..
Lamar also, from the same committee. reported
supplementary TO and amendatnry of the Texas
Pacific Railroad bill of March 3, 1871. Mr. Kasson
made minority report aud Mr.. Landers offered a
substitute. Ali we're ordered printed and referred
70 the committee Of thy whole on the state Of th