The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-03-08
UNITED STATES SENATE.
EXTRA SESSION.
WASHINGTON, March

EXTRA SESSION.
WAsHINGToN. March Z.
Immediately after the reading of tn
journal Mr.. Wallace moved the Senator
elect from Oregon Groverl be sworn
As the Vice President rose to admins
ter the oath, Mr.. Hamlin said the Sen
stor from Oregon MITCHELL was not il
his seat, and he therefore objected to tn,
oath being administered as he under
stood Mr.. Mitchell had some paper
bearing on the case.
Mr.. Wallace said as q Senator of tn,
United States he presented the Senate
elect from Oregon, and hoped he woult
be sworn in.
Mr.. Hamlin said he objected to hin
being sworn in, and the oath was not ad
ministered.
The Senate then resumed considera.
ton of the unfinished business, being the
resolution OF Mr.. Blaine to swear in VIM
Pitt Kellogg as United States Senator
from Louisiana, and the substitute sub.
mitted by Mr.. Bsyard to refer the Gre
dentials to the Committee on Privileges
and Elections.
Mr.. Baysrd, who was entitled to the
floor, said that his reasons for moving to
refer the credentials of Kellogg to the
Committee ok Privileges and Elections,
were those warranted by the unbroken
ussges of that body since its organiza-
tion. The credentials of Kellogg did
net create prima taete case,
because they were signed by s. B. Pack
ard, who was not Governor of Louisiana,
either de jure or dc facto. On the con-
trsry, the Senate must take cognizance
of the public fact that +. 7. Nichols
was Governor Of the State, and had a
legal Legislature acting in accord with
him; that they had control of every part
of the State of Louisiana, except about
one acre, upon which stood hotel used
by Packard as State House. He
then referred to the use Of the military
in the South, and said that there was
III admission of the outgoing admins
trstion, tardy, but honest, that the use
of military to uphold State governments
had been tried, but with no good results.
He quoted from telegram of the late
President to the effect that government
which could not MAINTAIN itself without
the aid Of the strong arm of the
military should be permitted 10 60
down. He Mr.. Baysrd viewed
that language rs paraphrase
of the language OF the Declaration of
Indendence under which our people tsok
up arms to make them tree. The Electoral
Commission held that they could not
look into the charges of fraud against the
Returning Board of louisiana. There
was in that decision blow to
his fondest hopes and belief in
law. He then referred to the remarks of
Mr. Edmunds in the Pinchback case, in
1876, and said that the Senator based his
objection to PinchbscK on the illegality
of the Louisiana Returning Board. He
then replied to the argument of Mr..
Blsine to the effect that the decision OF
the Commission was binding upon the
Senate, and contended that the decision
had no force in law TO control the act OF
the Senate. The remarks of the Senator
from Maine yesterday led him with much
abruptness to challenge the position of
President of the United States. The
new President seemed to recognize, as at
the last did his predecessor, the true con-
ditlon of affairs in Louisiana.
He argued that recognition of the Pack
ard government and forcible over
throw of the Nichols government
would not only shock the very souls of
the people OF Louisiana, but would cause
a thrill in every bosom in this land. He
asked for louisiana to-day the same
measure of law and justice that 10
would ask for Massachusetts.
Mr.. Bayard again referred to the re-
marks OF Bsine made yesterday, and said
he recognized in them the same cry for
sectional aggression that had been heard
Tor Years past, 1t fell on his ear like a
fire bell at midnight, and he earnestly
hopeI it would not be heard by the
President and his Constitutional advis-
ers. In conclusion he deprecated this
sectional aggression and hoped there
would be an end to it now.
Nj. Blaine argued that the same Re-
turning Board which gave tho electoral
vote of Louisiana to Hayes and Wheeler
returned Legislature Republican IN
both of its branches, and ). Il. Packard
as Governor, The Legislature, assem-
bled as provided 0y law, elected VIM. Z.
Kellogg az United States Senator, and
his election was legal and valid. He
then referred to the remarks of the Sen
atsr from Delaware Bsyard and to his
course on the Electoral Commission, ana
said that the Senator, as 8 member OF the
never once voted with the
majority OF the Supreme Court Judges
on that Commission, who we're considered
non-psrtisans.
Mr.. Bayard-Oh, yes. The Senator
has not followed the facts OF that case a.
all He then quoted from the inaugural
address of President Hayes in regard to
Southern affairs and said they were wise
words. He [Bsysrd] ] recognized in the
distressed condition Of the country q
need of that which the President had
proclaimed in regard 10 the Southern
States. The peace of Louisiana was
the peace OF all and her destruction was
the destruction of all.
Continuing his remarks Mr.. Blaine
said: Now, Mr.. President, this Is a
simple question. 1t is simple invita-
ton to this aide OF the chamber
from the other to abandon the
ground on which the people
of the United Ststes have accepted the
election OF HAYES and Wheeler. Yes
terdsy spoke OF the back door whis-
perings, and the talk in the cor
ridors, and asked if any Senator knew
that there WAS any sort Of an under
standing. l asked then, and now ask
if there is any gentleman on this floor
who stands as voucher or sponsor for
that understanding. There has been put
in my hands ii his moment telegram
which ! feel authorized TO resd. Nay,
which l am requested to read, and
think it msy throw some light on the
subject l profess TO be plsin, blunt
man. do not want any hide ard seek
on this subject, | want the positions 10