The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-10-18
CONGRESS-EXTRA SESSION.

In the Senate, October 10, the Senators
were early in their places, and the usual
hustle attending the opening of a session
prevailed. The oath of Office was admin
istered to Stanley Matthews, of Ohio, elected
in place of John Sherman, resigned; j.
Donald Cameron, of Pennsylvania, in place
of Simon Cameron, resigned, and D. L. Arm
strong, appointed from Missouri, rice L. V.
Bogy, deceased. The usual committee was
appointed to join committee of the House
and inform the President that quorum of
the two Houses had assembled. Ad
journed until twelve O'Clock tomorrow.
Senators absent, Morton, Mcmillan, and
Thorn. In the House, at the opening,
the galleries were crowded, and the corri-
doris for two hours previously, almost i'm
passable. At twelve O'Clock Mr.. Adams
called the House to order, read the Presi-
dents proclamation convening Congress,
and called the roll of members by States,
beginning with Maine. When Louisiana was
reached the Clerk made the following state
ment: "There were received from the State
of Louisiana, letters bearing date the goth
of December, 1876, and declaring certain
persons elected from First, Fourth and Sixth
Districts, but silent as to other Districts.
Inasmuch however as John McEnery was
never de facto Governor of Louisiana, and
never in point of fact exercised or per-
formed the functions of that office, it is
not deemed necessary to make here any
statement concerning the regularity or the
irregularity of the credentials coming from
that source. Another set of credentials
was signed by VIM. Pitt Kellogg, as Gov
ernor of Louisiana, with the seal of the
State attached, all bearing different dates,
and all of which reached the hand of the
clerk through different channe s, declaring
the persons elected from each of the districts
except the Second, as to which district no
certificate seems to have been issued by
Governor kellogg to any one. The law of
Louisiana prescribing the character of the
credentials, provides that, as soon as posi-
BILE after the expiration of the time of max
ing the returns of election for Representa-
| tives in Congress, certificate of returns
| shall be entered on record by the Secretary
| of State and signed by the Governor, and
| that a copy thereof subscribed by these
| officers, shall be delivered to the person SO
| elected, and another copy transmitted to the
| Clerk of the House of Representatives.
| These credentials, signed by Governor Kel
logg are, in no sense, in compliance with
the requirement of the law of Louisiana.
| They do not even purport to be a copy OF
| certificates. On the contrary, they are q
simple declaration, by Governor Kellogg
| that certain persons were elected, without
| even stat ng the sources of his information
| and they no more constitute credentials
within the meaning of the law of Louisiana
than similar statement from the Treasurer
or other State official would do. They car
not, therefore, be recognized by the Clerk
The other set of credentials is signed by
Gov. Nichols and the Secretary of State
Arrago, with the Seal of the State attached
They declare the persons elected in each o.
the districts of Louisiana, and conflict with
the certificate signed by Governor Kelloge
in reference to two districts only
These credentials comply with the law O.
| Louisiana in every respect, and the CLERK
has accordingly, placed on the roll tn.
names of the persons contained in them
Mr.. Samuel J. Randall was put in nomina
ton for Speaker by the Democrats, ant
James H. Garfield for the Republicans. Mr.
Randall was elected by vote of one hun
dred and forty-nine to one hundred ant
thirty-two. The following officers were als'
elected. Sergeantat-Arms. John e. Ihomp
son, of Ohio; Doorkeeper, John D. Polk, o
Florida; as Postmaster, James NJ. Stewart
of Virginia, and as Chaplain, Rev. DIR. Johl
Poisel, of Maryland.