The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-01-25
FORTY-FoURTH CONGRESS
WAsH1SeToN, January "a.
SENATE.

message from the fresldent OF the
| United States enclosing the report Of the
Secretary Of State, IN answer to the res
luton of Mr.. Anthony, adopted on the
! lG,n inst. transmitting copies Of the cor
responderce with the diplomatic officers
OF the United States in Turkey, ir regard
TO the REVOLUTION IN the Turkish prov.
inces. Ordered printed and laid on the
table. a....
The credentials of Senators elect, Win
dom, of Minnesots, and Bailey and Har.
ris, of Tennessee, were placed on file.
Mr.. Wright, from the Committee on
Claims, reported favorably on Senate
bill 10 extend for two years the act to
establish the Southern Claims Commits
sion. Placed on the calendar. Mr..
Wright gave notice that he would ask
the bill considered tomorrow morning.
The Chair laid before the Senate a
resolution by Mr.. Sherman, directing
the Sergesnt-at-Armst to srres. any per
son who, by applause or dissent, dis
turbed the order of the Senate.
Also, u resolution of MIR. Gordon, de-
clarIng that the State government in
South Carolina represented by Wade
Hampton is the lawful government OF
the State.
As neither Senator was in the chamber
the resolutions were laid aside.
Consideration was then resumed OF the
unfinished business, being the bill in re-
gard To counting the electoral votes
Mr.. ConSllng, VINO was entitled to the
floor, not having arrived, recess was
taken for ten minutes.
When the Senate reassembled, Mr..
ConklIng not having yet arrived, Mr..
Sargent took the floor and spoke in oppo-
| sition 10 the bill.
Mr.. Sargent said he had endeavored
10 bring hIs mind to an assent TO the
provisions of this bill. First, because he
desired that a result might be worked
out OF the complications satisfactory to
the whole country, and, second, because
he desired that equal and exact justice
shall be done to every candidate 8. the
late Presidential election and 10 the par
ties which put these candidates forward,
but would this bill accomplish any such
result2 There were suspicious Of unfair
ness about the bill II gave improper
power to the tribunal which it created.
Ii fairness was desired, the bill was very
unfortunate, because the result %
be accomplished by it depend
ed upon one man 20 be sele-t-
ed aud as yet unknown. The sup
porters of the oil had addressed their
arguments to two questions. First, WAS
the oil Constitutional? second, Was it
axpedient? He then argued that it WAS
never intended tnst Congress should
count the electoral vote or discriiGin te
between the returns. Ii the ira!nsr- OF
the Constitution had intended 10 ed Ie
ANY such power IN Congress a few ~oris
would have made Il certain. 1t Was not
intended 10 lodge such dangerous
power in Congress, because the two
houses of Congress could themselves
/ create the exigeDcy in which the Con-
stl,ution provided That the House sbO1ld
! elect the President and the Senate
/ the Vice President. He argued that the
! power 10 count the vote was lodged in
! the President OF the Senate Mr.. Sargeaut I
| quoted at leu 9Th from the Madison papers
and argued that the clause OF the Con
| s,itution in regard 10 the counting OF the
I electoral votess at first sgreed upon
[ b. tie constitutional convention
r-ad, "ine President OF the Senate shall
,1p..;. ih- certificates and the votes shall
be .hen and there counted In the pres
eace OF the Senate and House 1t
| was referred to the Committee on Re-
vision and subsequently, reported and
It no
in the presence of the Senate and House
OF Representatives., open al &c -tidcstes
and the rotes shall then be couDted.'
The members of the Committee on Re-
vision argued that the clause As revised
and reported was substantially the same
a. that originally agreed upon By the
convention.
Mr.. Hsmlin interrupted the Senator
from California To read return from
the State of Georgia in leOl, and said
there WAS ne certificate accompanying Il
that the electors met snd balloted. The
paper did not conferm TO the
constitution. There gas nothing
upon Its face to show that the votes were
cast for anybody, yet the records show
;hs, il WIS., counted, and no objection Was
made. How could 1t have bern counted
save by the decision Of the person IN
whose custody i. was. Mr.. Jefferson. who
Sas then President Of the Senate, and
presided over the joitt commIItee.
Mr. Edmu ads said If the Senator from
Maine would resd the contemporaneous
history OF that event, be would see that
It stated that Jefferson opened
,hs, paper and handed il down
10 the ;ellers, who examined u,
entered the number o! votes OF
Georgia, and passed it back to Mr.. JET
ferson. no declared thst the State ot
Georgis mss given so many votes Tor so
snd so, snd there WAS no JblectIoni no
debste.
Mr.. Sa.gean. then resumed his re-
marks. lie further op posed the
bill because i, degraded the Supreme
Couv, by bringing the judges down 70
the muddy pool OF pOiI;ieA ana
compelled them 20 go ;hroogh H.
he objected to the bin becsuse It IN
vitet the poli,,cai party defeated bT the
ordinary forms - Clsmor :or ano, oer
hearing. TIE people would -; respect
The decision OF this tribunal. which SAs
without preceden. and wi,hou. ssnrtion-
lie regarded tie bill lot - conprc-
mise, bot as 8 surrender Of Republican
rights.
Mr.. Sargent having coucluded. NJ.
Consliug took the floor.
He fFs; presented = petition nuuifr-
oQ>ly sigred by merchants and b1sinasS
men of New ork,-in favor OF the pas
sage oiihe pending bill. Laid on the table
he SAID lie would p-eseot 70 the Sens;s
were il no, addressed TO = speciaI con-
rI:,:ee. . telegram tits ne'ning received
~ him ron Indisns, snt signed By II
Republicans sud three Democrats
Among the sigaers he found name o:
Coarsd Baker, oocs Governor OF the
S,sie. L4onidas Sexton, who ives Lieuten-
ant Governor, and Mr.. Gordon, Repu Nj
csu candidate for Governor. and VIZ
carried the fig CALAMITY. He !et 80
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