Connecticut western news., 1877-02-02

sylvania, made five minutes speech against the bill, denouncing it as Democratic affair, framed by three or four Republicans to gratify their political opponents. It created he said, political court to cheat one party or the other, by trick or lot. Mir. Edmunds (Rep.), of Yer sary, and that he should push matters to a vote. Et 9 &W
 The House considered the bill authorizing the appointment of commissioners to attend an in- ternational convention to inquire into the rela- tive value of gold and silver, and 1t was tabled, Yeas, 125 nays, 104. %L}
 By vote 149 to 70, the House committee on the privileges and duties of the election was al lowed to sit during the session of the House.
 The House considered the resolution report ed by the judiciary committee with reference to the arrest of the Louisiana returning board. After considerable discussion the vote was taken, and the resolution for the arrest of the mem production before the bar of the House to answer for contempt was adopted by strict party vote of 158 yeas to 81 nays.
 A good deal of time was occupied deciding the question as to whether the House should proceed to the consideration of the resolutions reported form the committee on the privileges and duties of the House in counting the cleo toral votes, or that of 8 compromise plan. The Republicans favored the latter and the Demo- crats the former. The House decided, by vote
 
 ported by the committee on privileges, which as follows:
 First-That the Constitution does not confer on the president of the Senate power to ex- anime and ascertain the votes to be cast as the electoral votes. z
 Second-That the only power which the Con stitution does confer on the president of the Senate in the matter is to receive the sealed list transmitted to him by the several electoral colleges, keep the same safely, and open all certificates GhOan the presence of the two houses. - -- --
 Third-That the Constitution does confer on the Senate and House of Representatives the power to examine and ascertain the votes to be counted as electoral votes
 Fourth-That in the execution of such power the House of Representatives is at least equal with the Senate; and
 Fifth-That no vote can be counted against the judgment and determination of the House of Representatives.
 Mr, Knott, Dem.) ), of Kentucky, chairman of the committee, addressed the House in support of the principles enunciated in the resolutions, concluding with these words.
 Believing that this House has high power, and solemn duty to perform in regard to counting the electoral votes for President and Vice-President, in my humble judgment, any attempt on the part. of any men or body of men, executive, legislative or ministerial. to coerce this House to count vote which in it's judg- ment is invalid or void, or to coerce this House to throw out vote which, in it's judgment, is legal and vaid or to interfere in any manner whatever with the peaceful discharge of its con- stitutional functions in this high regard, would be an utter subversion of our constitutional government, and, if accompanied by armed and organized force, would be treason to the United States of America.
 MT. Burchard, (Rep. ), of Illinois, member of the committee, offered, on behalf of the four Republican members of the committee, the fol lowing as 8 substitute for the resolutions by the committee:
 First-That it is the power and duty of the House, conformably with the Senate, to provide by law or other constitutional method, a mode for fairly and truly ascertaining and properly counting the electoral vote of each State, so as to give effect to the choice of each State in the election of President and Vice-President.
 Second-That in the absence of legislative provision on the subject, or authoritative direc- tion from the Senate and House of Representa- lives, the president of the Senate, upon opening the certificates, declares and counts the electoral votes for President and Vice-President of the United States.
 Mir. Hunter Oem) ), of Virginia, from the Judiciary committee, reported a resolution dis charging Wm. Orton president of the Western Union Telegraph Company, from the custody of the sergeant-at-arms. Adopted.
 MT. Ellis ,Dem.), of Louisiana, offered a resolution calling on the President for informa- tion in regard to the rival governments in Louisiana. Referred. .z---
 Two of the members of the Louisiana return ing board, J. Madison Wells and Thomas c. Anderson, were brought before the bar of the House to answer to the charge of contempt. They asked for and were granted further time.
 .Messrs Willis and Tarbox expressed their hostility to the Electoral bill, and MT. Chitten- den, of New York, followed with speech in it's defense. In the course of his remarks he said that he had ascertained that the House con- tained only ninety-one members who were not lawyers. He was he said, one of the ninety-one "a layman-and while he had great respect for the Constitution, and listened usually with great interest to the discussion of very nice and fine Constitutional points by the eminent legal talent of the House in this case hew mere layman, having the interests and prosperity of the coun- try at heart, wishing to see confidence and pros perity restored, and great calamities averted :; begged them not to dwell too long on those re- condite niceties of law in which they naturally passing the Electoral bill.