The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-10-25
XLvTH CONGRESS-EXTRA SESSION

OCTOBER 15.-Scndte-The Senators were
early in their places, and the usual hustle
attending the opening session prevailed.
The oath of Office was administered to
Stanley Matthews, of Ohio, elected in place
of John Sherman, resigned; ]. 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 a committee of the House
and inform the President that q quorum of
the two Houses had assembled. Adjourned
until twelve o'clock tomorrow. Senators
absent, Mcmillan and Thorn ......... House-At
the opening of the session of the House the
galleries were crowded, and the
corridors for two hours previously almost
impossible. At twelve o'clock Mr.. Adams
called the House to order, read the Presi-
dents proclamation converting Congress,
and called the roll by members by States,
beginning with Maine. When Louisiana
was reached the Clerk made the following
statement: "There was received from the
State of Louisiana, letters bearing date the
goth of December, 1876, and declaring GER
tain persons elected from First, Fourth and
SIKH Districts, but silent as to other
Districts. Inasmuch however as John Nc
Emery was never de facto Governor of
Louisiana, and never in point of fact
exercised or performed 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. An
other set of credentials was signed by VIM.
Pitt Kellog, as Governor of Louisiana, with
the seal of the State attached, all
bearing different dates, and all of which
reached the hands of the clerk through diff
ferent channels, declaring the persons
| a1aatad from ooah of tho Aiofriotc a-oaDf fha
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 possible after the
expiration of the time Of making the re-
turns of election for Representatives in
Congress, a 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 persons SO elected, and
another copy transmitted to the Clerk of
the House of Representatives. These Gre
d~entials, signed by Governor Kellogg, are,
in no sense, in compliance with the require
ment of the law of Louisiana. They do
not even purport to be a copy of the
the certificates. On the contrary, they are
a simple declaration, by Governor Kellogg,
that certain persons were elected, without
even stating the sources of his information,
and they 40 more constitute credentials,
within the meaning of the law of Louisiana,
than a similar statement from the Treasurer
or other State official would do. They can
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 OF
the districts of Louisiana, and conflict with
the certificate signed by Governor Kellogg
in reference to two districts only. These
credentials comply with the law of Louis
lana in every respect, and the Clerk has
accordingly, placed on the roll the names Of
the persons contained in them" Mr.. Sam
uel Randall was put in nomination fol
Speaker by the Democrats, and James A
Garfield for the Republicans. Mr.. Randall
was elected by a vote of one hundred anC
forty-nine to one hundred and thirty-two
The following officers were also elected
Sergeantat-Arms, John G. Thompson, o.
Ohio; Doorkeeper, John D. Polk, of Flor
ida; as Postmaster, James N. Stewart, o.
Virginia, and as Chaplain, Rev. DR.. join
Poisel, of Maryland.
OCTOBER 16.-Sendte-A committee wa:
appointed to wait upon the President and
had assembled. Mr.. Thurman introduced 6
bill to amend the Pacific Railroad acts so as
t to create a sinking fund for the liquidation
of the Indebtedness due the Government by
{ the Pacific Railroad Companies
Referred. Memorials Of the Missouri
Legislature in favor of the removal
of the National Capital to the Missis
sippi Valley, and in relation to a National
system of levees for the Mississippi River
were referred. Mr.. Sargent submitted q
resolution requesting the President of the
United States to transmit to the Senate, il
not incompatible with the public interest, q
statement of appropriations and expendi.
lures of the Navy Department, from March
4, 1889, to June 80, 1876. Passed with an
amendment of Mr.. Davis, of West Virginia,
to have a similar statement from the Wa
Departmental. . House-Mr. Cox raised the
point of order that disputed elections must
be considered in order. Objected to, and
Colorado was lost. A long discussion took
place on the question of swearing in
the two members from South Carolina,
Rainy and Cain, whose names were put
on the roll by the Clerk.
Mr.. Cox wanted the question referred to the
Committee on Elections, but it was con.
tended, among others by two Democrats,
Mills and Peter, that as the gentlemen had
the usual legal certificate of election, they
should be sworn in. Then their right to
seats might be referred. This view pre-
vailed, and Rainey and Cain were sworn
| in. The objection was withdrawn in the
case of Mr.. Harrell, of Louisiana, and he
also was sworn in. The case of Mr.. Elan,