New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-21
BY TELEGRAPH
CONGRESS.
Senate.


WASHINGTON, January 90-The Senate
during the morning hour discussed the
message of the President in regard to the
occupation of Petersburg by the military
on election day, Messrs. Withers and Nor
ton participating in the discussion.
AT the expiration of the morning hour,
on motion OF Mr.. Eamunds, the Senate took
up the bill reported by the special comnnIU-
tee, in regard to the count of the electoral
vote.
A aalf dozen Senators presented petitions
for female suffrage, all of which were refer
red to the Committee on Elections.
Mr.. Conkling presented a petition of the
citizens of New York protesting against the
passage of the steamboat bill.
On motion of Mr., Edmunds the Senate
took up the bill to provide for and regulate
the counting of the electoral votes for Pres
ident. He spoke two hours, arguing the
constitutionality of the bill and against the
power of the President of the Senate to
count the vote. Having had an article in
the constitution read, Mr.. Edmunds cOntin
ued: Under this arhele of the constltu-
ton some 100000 or 100000 of citi-
zens of the United States, authorized
by the laws to select a chief magis-
trate in the way prescribed in this
article, had endeavOred to discharge
that duty. They had expressed their pref
erence, and the contest was 80 close that 1t
became a matter of serious dispute between
5000, 900 of people, on one side, and 5,O0O, 900
on the other, as to which of their candi-
dates had been elected. Congress was now
brought face to face with the question as TO
what means were left for deciding this dis
pute. A large part of the people on either
side believed their candidates to have been
honestly elected, and if kept out of Office,
great constitutional wrong, in their
opinion, would be committed. If there
waA any duty greater than another
deyolving upon Congress, it was that
of providing some means by which, no
matter what the result might be, all men
might say the due course of law had been
taken. 1t had appeared to the committee
charged with the onerous and unpleasant
duty of framing this bill, that If the const1-
tuition authorized them to lay down line
of procedure which should lead to any re-
suits through the calm, orderly adminlstra-
tion of law, it would be benefcent act for
the republic; on the contrary, If
Congress should fail to do this, our
poeterity, under this or some other
| form of government, no one could say,
would feel that this Congress had failed in
performing great duty. He then referred
to the labors of the committee, and said the
opposing political opinions, opposing poll
tical education and partisan feeling had
subsided on both sides, and the measure
| upon which they sOlemnly united in report
ing they recommended to the consideration
of the Senate. He then explained the provi-
sions of the bill at length
The speech attracted earnest attention.
House.
| A bill passed removing the political disa.
| bilities of Joel S. Kennard, of Georgia.
The House resumed the consideration of
the resolution reported from the Committee
on Privileges, and after speech by Mr..
Willis, of New York, Mr.. Seelye, of Massa-
ehusetts, obtained the floor, but yielded to
a motion for the House to go into COM
mittee of the whole on Indian appropriation.
The bill pending, which Mr.. Payne, OF
Ohio, gave notice that he would call up for
consideration on Tuesday, the bill re.
ported from the Joint committee on cleo
toral vote, the debate on the said bill to
proceed until Wednesday night, when he
would demand the previous question.
In committee of the whole speeches were
made by Wiltshire, of Arkansas, opposing
the power of the Vice President to count
the vote; by TarbOx, of Massachusetts, de.
claring that the judgment Of the people re-
volted az any attempt at compromise on the
presidential question, and by Chittenden
of New York, declaring himself strongly
in favor of the bill of the joint committee
on the electoral vote. The Indian bill was
then considered by sections, but without
disposing of it. Adjourned.