The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-02-01
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.

TUESDAY, Jan. 23-Sende.- The Senate re-
sumed consideration of the bill in regard to count
ing the electoral vote. and MIR. Sherman spoke in
opposition to it. He said it was painful for him to
dissent from the views of men whom he esteemed
so highly, but after the brief examination he had
given the measure he thoughtit was his duty to op-
pose 1t. The bill was to make court to
decide case already made up, and there
were provisions in it INCOMPATIBLE with the con-
stitution. Such a law as this was an evil example
and it could not be sustained under the constitr-
ton. Mr.. Sherman argued that the bill was uncon-
stltutional, and he particularly opposed the clause
providing for the selection Of FIVE Judges of the
Supreme Court as members Of the commission. He
also opposed the measure because it undertook to
delegate powers conferred upon Congress to a COM
mission He argued that the bill
was intended to apply to a case past,
ended and concluded, whichwas therefore clearly
unconstitutional. Another feature Of the bill
which violated the spirit Of the constitution was
that authorizing the appointment of committee of
five members of each house as members of a COM
mission not to take depositns and report as other
committees, but to be beyond the control of the two
houses after being organized He approved of onIv
one feature of the bill and that was that
neither House had the right to reject the electoral
vote of State. Mr.. Sherman was followed by Mr..
Conklng in a two hours peech in favor of the
Dill. Mr. Conkllng conteneed that it was the right
and duty OF Congress to ascertain and verify the
electoral votes, and declare the true result of
Presidential elections, or dse by an assertion of
the law-making power, to declare how those acts
should be done. He dened that the power to
count the votes was vested the President of the
Senate, and said if the constitution gays all the
power to one man, 1t was net easy to see how Con-
gress could witness or verf the act. To open GER
hhcates was purely ministerial act, but to count
the votes was something nDre The good certif-
Gates must be assorted f,m the bad ones. MIR.
Conkling spoke at some ZENITH as to the constitu-
tionallty OF the bill, and asked, did not reason
and fitness of things inforn the Senate that our
fathers intended that the bower to yitiate ON the
allegation Of fraud or iregularity the electoral
vote of aState, and thus trn an election, should
Pot De reposeo n =! one ne man2 They knew it wouln
be safer reposed in the American Congress- It was
not designed to commit this vast power to one man.
especially that man might be the sole iu1ee in
his own case case. Mr.. Conkng was unable, on &C
count OF illness, to conclule his remarks and fur
thcr considerable of the bill was postponed one
day. a* I'd
H0use.-The President jent to the House mes
sage explaining his reasons for sending troops to
the South just before the 9ecent Presidential cleo
ton. It was done in reponse to a resolution
adopted in December last The resolutions re-
ported by the Select Committee on Privileges de-
clarlng that the PRESIDENT Of the Senate has not
and that Congress has. tie right to count and
declare the electoral votes were taken mn
Prof. Seelye Secured the floor and delivered
strong speech in support If the Compromise bill.
ne denounced the repori of the Committee on
Privileges, and warned thu House not to indorse a
doctrine which, ne claimed would result in max
ing the President the creature and the tool of the
House,. AS to the methods Of the last election and
the testimony taA IN by bdA parties in the South
ern committees, Prof S{elye said that the only
thing that is established beyond dispute is, that
both parties acted as wrogluly as they could, re-
strained by no conscience by no sense of nonor, or
rectitude Mr.. Williams pt wisconsin, argued in
favor of the counting of tie electoral vote nv the
President of the Senate. BE was followed by MIR.
Tucker OF Virginia, in three hours speech in ia
vor OF the Compromise bill . Mr.. Buttz was admit
ted as member from South Carolina, and took the
iron-clad oath.
WEDNESDAY,, Jan. 24-Senate. -Considera-
ton OF the bill in regard to the electoral count was
resumed. Mr. Conkling, Who was entitled to the
floor, not being present, Mr. Sargent took the floor