Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-03-10
FORTY.FIFTH CONGRESS-.
Senate.

Vice-President Wheeler in the chair.
All the new senators sworn in in their seats
Mr.. Wallace (Dem.), of Pennsylvania, sub
mitted n resolution that the credentials of l..
Q. G. Lamar Oem. J. senator elect from Missis-
sippi, be taken from the table, and that he be
sworn.
Mr.. Blaine (Rep.), of Maine, said that his
credentials were proper, and Mr.. Lamar, had
the same right to be sworn in that he CHR.
Blaine) or any other senator had. Mr.. Dawes
Wep), of Massachusetts, believes with Mr..
Blaine, but Mr.. Morton IRep.l, of Indiana,
objected observing that the Legislature which
elected Mr. Lamar was not the proper Legisa-
ture of the State. After some discussion Dir
Lamar was admitted to seat by a vote of 81 to l.
Mr.. Blaine then introduced resolution ad-
scat, saying that he believed Mr.. Kellogg was
elected by the legal Legislature of that State
and that he represents the legal government
of the State He said: :" 1 do not see how to-
dayand that is the main point l desire to
present--how any senator who voted in this
chamber that the electoral vote of Louisiana
was legally and properly cast for Ruther-
ford b. Hayes and yourself, Mr.. President, is
permitted to doubt that S. b. Packard is equally
of right the governor of that State. There may
be some technicality there may be some keen
form of logic, by which man who had nearly
thousand votes more than the electoral ticket
received, was not elected governor when the
electoral ticket was chosen. The tribunal took
the question into consideration, and heard it
deliberately argued, and decided that the cleo
toral vote of Louisiana be onged to Hayes and
Wheeler"
A discussion arose between Mr.. Blaine and
Mr.. Thurman Dem. }, of Ohio, and Mr.. Blaine
in concluding his remarks, said:
81 know that there has been a great deal
said here and there in the corridors of the
Capitol, around and about in by places and in
high places, of late, that some arrangement
had been made by which Packard was not to be
recognized and upheld; that he was to be al
lowed to slide by. and Nichols was to be accep-
ted as governor of Louisiana. want to know
who had the authority to make any such ar
rangement. l wish to know if any senator on
this floor will state in his place that any person
speaking for the administration that was COM
ing in or the one that was going out, had any
. right to make any such arrangements. deny
it. deny it without being authorized to speak
for the administration that now exists; but l
deny it on the simple, broad ground that it is
an impossibility that the administration of
President Hayes could do it. l deny it on the
broad ground that President Hayes possesses
character, common sense, self-respect, patriot
ism, all Of which he has in high measure and in
eminent degree. l deny it on all the grounds
that can influence human action on all the
grounds on which men can be held to personal
and political and official responsibility. l deny
it for him, and l shall find myself grievously
disappointed, wounded and Inundated, if my
denial is not indicated in the policy of the adj
ministration. But whether it be indicated or
whether it be not, 1 care not. 1t is not the
duty of a senator to inquire what the policy of
an administration may be, but what it ought to
be; and I hope Republican Senate will say
that on this point there shall be no authority
in this land large enough to compromise the
honor of the national administration, or the
good name of the great Republican party that
called that administration into existence"
Applause in the galleriesl