Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-01-25
Debate in the Senate.
In the u. S. Senate, yesterday, after Mr.
Sargent had finished his speech,

pending bill in regard to the electoral count
Hn said he would prescott to the Senate, were
it not addressed to the special committee,
telegram received this morning from Indiana,
signed by thirty. seven republicans aud three
democrats, expressing gratitude for the lntelll'
gent and patriotic labors OF the specla! commit
tee which have resulted in q bill for the settle
mcnt of the presidential question, and express
lug the most earnest desire that 1t may become
law Among the signatures 10 the telegram
he noticed the name OF Conrad Baker, VINO
was oDce Governor; that CT LeoDlda5 sexton,
who was once Lieutenant Governor; that oil
Mr.. Gordon, the republican candidate Tor al,
torncy general at the late election, and that OF
Gen. Ben Harrison, who, as The republican
candidate fer Governor, carried the Tag and
oallantJv led the late CANVASS in Indiana, though
It was disastrous. Mr.. Conking then handed
the telegram to Mr. Morton, amidst laughter
on the floor and in the galleries.
MIR. Conkliug then resumed has remarks
commenced the day before, and argued that IN
no instance had the President OF the Senate
attempted to do anything 10 presiding over the
mint convention to couot the electoral vote cx.
cent BY the command Of the two houses.
During the whole history OF the government,
until the adoption OF the twenty sccond joint
rule, the two houses had always prc-arraDged
the whole process of counting the vote. lie
then referred 20 the difficulties attending the
presidential contest 10 1900, and said not only
the men in both houses Of Congress but the
leaders of thought all over the country had
their attention riveed upon the subject OF
managing lust such questions as some OF those
awaiting solution now. He referred to the
Geneva commission Tor the settlement OF the
Alabama difficulty with Great Britain
and said Que Of the greatest cmperors. 90
Garth vas the umpire on the San Juan
commission, but the fifteen million dol
lars awarded was value!css compared with
the tranquility OF our land tor single
day. If he who rulcth his own spirit IS greater
| than he who ruleth y city, what should be SAID
Of the millions Of people who, by an act as
| noisecss as the wave oil hand, settled TINS
! yexed question in an hour? lie commented
at some length upon the powers and duties OF
| the commission, and said it could do nothing
| not authorized by the constitution and law as
it. now stood ard it must report TO the two
houses OF Congress- 1t was not rowing COLI
mission to traverse all the realms OF fancy and
imagination.
Mr.. Dawes Mass said while he heard the
Senator from New York with great postivcness
assert the fact that the commission must be
| bound Is the constitution, he had heard others
with equal postivcness declare that the CON-
mission could 90 behind the returns from 4
State to settle question which belonged TO
the States themselves. Would 1t rot DC sater
| for Congress by statute TO limit the powers and
| duties oil the commission?
Mr.. Conkling replied that the commission
would be bound by an oath, and Its action was
subject to The review OF Congress- 1.-THE hon.
orable Senator from Massachusetts proposed to
launch upon tho heavy current Of this debate
the powers Of the commission he would be
auochiug The subject upon sea without shore
or bottom and the 18th Of March, 1871, the 18th
Of March, 1878, would not see tho eDd OF the
| controversy.
Mr., Dawes lin his sent made SOME rtmars
| to Mr.. Conhliug na 10 how they did 10 Nlassa'
chusetts.
Mr.. Conklug said the idea that anything
| upon the earth or in the heavens could be aS
| perfect as they made Thugs in massachusetts
| he did not entertain for one minute. When
| the other States al this Union even approx
mated the perfection Of Massachusetts, the time
will have come when no problem could exist
that could not be solved. Eecn contested Pres
Dental votes would count themselves, and tie
| whole universe would 60 on byau automatic and
secadjusting process. Laughter. COninu-
ing his argument Mr.. Conkling denied that
| the bill was compromise. 1t surrendered the
| rights Of none, but asserted and maintained the
rights Of all. 1t submitted to lawful authority
Il solution Of the pending question. The bill
| might be denounced by partISanS on one side
! Or the other. 1t might be derided by the a,l-
| venturcrs aud the !houghtlesJ. 1t might be
| treated with courageous Gaycty, As the honora.
bic Senator from Pennsylvania mr. CameroD)
treated il. 1t might not Tor the present receive
the appreciation Of even the thoughtful or the
patriotic, but he would vote Tor il because he
believed it advantageous and within the conSti-
tuition. 1t would be beneficial 10 the people OF
all the States, including that great State whose
interest and whose honor was 80 dear TO him.
The bill! might he dcrided now, but time, at
whose great altar all passions aud all prciudlccs
must bow, would at last vlr1tcatc The bill and
those who proposed IT,.
Mr. Morton, OF Indiana, SAID h. hoped, be-
fore this debate closed, to have an opportunity
OF answering some things which had been said
to show that much had been said without ouu-
dation in fact His purpose Dow was 10 notice
dispatch from the citizens Of Indiana, hand
ed to the Senator from New York lAlr. Cork
ling) by the Senator from Vermont Mr. Id
muuds) this morning, and read By The former
Senator. That dispatch endorsed the bill. lie
CJulU SCC uO lCaoOu lOl plOOuSiuE, IL UuiSsS ~
was to show that he Mr. Morton) did not
properly represent the sentiment of the people
Of Indiana, and especially the republican party
Of that State. He Immediately tclcgraphcd
to Indianapolis, and few moments ago he
received dispatch, which he read. 1t states
that the paper indorsinG the bill! was carried
about the streets all day yesterday, and many
leading republicans refused TO sign it. \ reso-
lntinD nassed the Merchants Eychaupc "a
vorng The bill by y strict party vote.
Mr. ConkDg-rhe Senator does not read
the signature.
Mr.. Morton-No, sir; but l can give the
name ofthe sender if desired 1t is from
respectable source lie then read dispatch
from the republican members OF the Indiana
Legislature announcing that they in caucus had
Endorsed his action; also a dispatch from In
dianapolis saying, The prevailing sentiment
among our leading men is, Hold the fort. "
Mr. Conklipg-What fort is that?
Mr.. Mortou-rhe fort Of the constitution
fort you do not occupy. lie then read