Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-10-20
The Louisiana SenatOrship.

The u. S. Senate yesterday rcsulued the
consideration of the resolution submitted by
Mr.. Thurman 10 discharge the Committee on
Privileges and Elections from the further con
sideration ofthc credentials Of j.. B. Eustls IT,.
s. Senator from the State of Louisiana i"r The
term commencing March 4. 1873.
Mr.. Thurman quoted from the report OF the
Committee on Privileges and Elections madein
January, 1876, in which the committee stated
there vas no vacancy 10 the office Ct Senator
from the State of Louisiana, p. b. 5. Pinch.
back having been elected. He argued that the
Senate since then had overruled the committee
and decided Pinchback was not elected; there
fore there was vacancy, and MIR. Eustls should
should be seated, as no one contested his claim.
lie then quoted from the remarks of Mr. Nor
ton during the Pinchback discussion in the
Senate to show that that Senator argued that
if lfnchback was not elected the Legislature Of
Louisiana then 10 existence was entitled to elect
a Senator to ill the vacancy. That Legislature
had elected Eustis, and be MIR. Thurman) ven
tured the assertion that If the Senator from
Indiana (Mr. Morton) was hero TO day be would
vote to seat MIR. Eustls. as he declared during
the Pinchbaak debate that either Pnchback or
Eustis had been elected 1t was not keeping
with the dignity or justice Of the Senate to
keep Louisiana unrepresented logger.
MIR. Eimunds, Of Vermont, said the creden
tials Of Eusis were again referred to the Com
mittec on Privileges and Elections at the last
special session OF the Senate, and slLco then
there had been no opportunity for the commit
lee 10 consider them. as Senators had been here
but few days. and all their time had been 70.
quircd 10 the Senate.
At the request Of the Vico President Mr.
Edmunds suspended his ren,orks that order
might be restored in the chamber aud talking
stopped. -,
MIR. Elmunds. resuming, said if the rules re
spectiDg the admission OF persons to the floor
were rigidy enforced Senators would not have
continuous conversation going On in the rear
oil their desks while they were trJ lng to attend
to public business. lie quoted from the Gre
dentials Of EuSts aud argued that they were
irregular in form. There were doubts surround
log the matter and careful examination
should be made.
Mr.. WadIeigh, of New Hampshire, mem.
Der Of the Committee 90 Privileges and Elec
tions, argued that the committee had not had
time to inquire toto the claims of Eustis
MIR. Salisbury, of Delaware, another m1mbcr
Of tho committee, said in his opinion there had
been ample lime to lDquire into the credentials
OF Euslis as we'll as those OF Kellogg. The
committee could have reported on both al the
last sc ssiou lie argued that no further lnvcs.
tigatlon was necessary. a. every man IN the
country knew all about the oreaniZ ltion Of thu
Wheeler rompromis Legislature in l.. ;uiSana,
which elected Mr.. Eustis.
MIR. Bayard argued that Enstis had prima
face case, and be should be sworn in according
to the usage OF tho Senate, any Investigation as
to the legality Of his election to be made alter.
wards
MIR. Davis Of Illinois, said no knew nothing
about this Louisiana controversy. tie WAS a
member of another branch OF the public serVioe
at the time the case Of Pinchback WAS before
the Senate and until the Senator from Yer.
mont (h1r. Edmunls) read the credentials Of
Eustis to day he never knew anything about
the case. lie was not prepared to vots to day
upon this subject. Last March it Was referred
TO the Committee on Privileges and Elections,
and his friend on his left (Alr Iloar) said the
committee would report soon. The question
involved was purely legal one, and be did not
want to give 40 opinion upon 1t uotll II should
be further Investigated. He voted yesterday
against referring the credentials Of Spotford be
cause be thought the Senate, 10 the light OF
recent events, could decide The question itself.
Mr.. Thurman, of Ohio, disclaimed any iot1n-
ton Of rejecting upon the Committee on PriVi.
leges and Elections by his motion to have that
committee discharged from the further consd'
Grafton Of The Eustis credentials. Several Sen
ators had requested him not to press this mat
Ter 10 vote to-day. Besides. it had bren sug-
gested by oDe or two members OF the Commit
Ice 90 Privileges and Elections that report 10
the case would be made at an early day. 10
view OF all that had been said be withdrew his
motion to discharge the committee.