The Portland daily press., 1877-02-02
Forty Fourth Congressional Session,
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Feb. !.
The chaplain in the opening prayer invoked
Divine Providence to aid the two houses of Con-
gress and enable them to execute 10 the light
of the sun before all the people the grave mat
tiers of the day.
The credentials of Fl. NJ. Teller Senator
from Colorado for six years, were filed.
Mr.. Robertson presented resolutions which
he said were adopted at a mass meeting of
white and colored citizens at Barnwell Court
H0nse, South Carolina, JAN 18th, aud asked
that they be read and referred to the Commit
tee on Elections
Clerk began reading the resolutions.
Mr.. Sargent objected tho tie further reading
of the resolutions as they were not couched in
respectful language.
A sharp debate followed, after which Mr.
Sargent, at the request of Mr.. Robertson, with
drew the objection AID the reading was con-
cluded. They deny intimidation towards the
blacks and support the Hampton government
Referred to Committee on Elections.
MIR. Salisbury presented a lengthy printed
petition signed by bankers, merchants, clergy
men and others of New Orleans, in regard to
the condition of affairs in Louisiana, in which
the Kellogg government is charged with in
competency and denial made of the state
ments of fraud and violence charged against
the people of Louisiana.
Mr.. Howe moved the petition be referred to
the Committee on Elections and the committee
be instructed to summon such signers of the
petition as they may deem advisable to prove
the charges made.
After some discussion the motion was agreed
to,
Mr.. Edmunds submitted concurrent reso-
luton providing that the public proceedings of
the commission authorized by the electoral
count bill, as taken down under the direction
| of the commission, shall be printed in the Con.
gresslonal Record, and that extra numbers of
copies be printed for the use of the commits
sion and the two houses of Congress-
The chair appointed Messrs. Sargent and
| Allison tellers on the part of the Senate to
count the votes for President and Vice Presi-
| dent of the United States.
Subsequently Mr.. Sargent declined and Mr..
| ingalls, was appointed.
| The President pro TEN. slid it was his inten-
| ton to appoint one teller from the Republican
| and one from the Democratic side, but noticing
the appointments by the House he appointed
| two Republicans.
| Mr.. Mitchell, from the subcommittee on
| elections, to which was assigned the duty of in
| quiring into the eligibility to office under the
| constitution, raised point of order that the
| subcommittee could not report to the Senate,
| but must report to the full committee, which
would make report to the Senate.
Pending discussion on the point Of order the
| Senate proceeded at l o'clock, to the hall of
| the House of Representatives, to take part in
| the count of the electoral vote.
/ At $40 this afternoon the Senate returned
and legislative business was resumed.
The credentials of Jno. r. Mcpherson Of
| New sey were filed.
Senate resumed the consideration of the
point of order submitted by Mr. Merrmon
against receiving report of the sub conn ittee
on elections in regard to the eligibility of cleo
tors in New Jersey, Missouri and Virginia
After some discussion Mr.. Merrimon withdrew
his point of order, stating that the debate
showed bow the report came before the Senate
and he as member of the committee was not
responsible for any statement of law or lact in
the report.
The report was then read by Mr.. Mitchell.
and he gave notice that the report in the Ore
gon case should be submitted at an early day.
Mr.. Herman of the minority of the sub.
committee said he had not had time to prepare
a report but he could not agree with the report
of the committee in their conclusions In his
opinion Williamson, one of the New Jersey
electors, was eligible as he ceased to be U. s.
Commissioner when he acceped the Office of
Chancellor of the state.
AS TO the case of Frost the Missouri elector,
he was not disqualified on account of having
taken the oath as a lieutenant in the army and
subsequently joined the rebellion. Beside
Frost was relieved of political disabilities by
the act of May 90 1872.
The report of the subcommittee was ordered
to be printed.
Senate at Ais went into executive session
and when the doors were reopened took a re-
cess till 10 o'clock tomorrow morningd
HOUSE.
After prayer Mr.. Kasson called for the read
ing of the journal of yesterday in full in order
to consume time before the counting of the
votes and to prevent vote being taken on the
| resolutions from the Florida committee.
The Chair appointed as tellers on the part of
the House in counting the electoral votes,
Messrs. Cook of Georgia and Stone of Missouri
| Mr.. Kasson called attention to the fact that
both tellers had been chosen from the ma jority
and that it was customary in such cases to have
a representativeiof the minority appointed.
| The Speaker laid before The House COM
muncatlon from Justice Clifford, President OF
the electoral commission, stating that the
members thereof had taken the prescribed oath
and the commission was ready to perform its
duties.
The Senate resolution was agreed to for pub
| LEGATION of proceedings of the commission.
| Mr.. Payne offered resolution directing the
Clerk of the House to inform the Senate it was
ready to receive that body for the purpose OF
opening and counting the electoral votes fol
President and Vice President.
| Adopted.
The House took recess till 1855
After the adjournmeutof the joint commit
| the the House resumed Its legislative business.
Mr.. Hopkins of Pa. moved the previous ques-
ton on the resolution reported last night from
the Florida investigating committee, but OBJ
lection was made on the Republican side to any
action upon the matter until after the minority
report should have been presented.
The Speaker suggested that as the subject
was now unfinished business it should be al
lowed to go over and come up tomorrow as un j..
finished business.
Mr. Lapham of New York made the point
of order that the disputed electoral votes hav-
| ing been referred to committee it was not
competent for the House to pass now upon the
question.
The Speaker said that that was not point Of
order. 1t was question for the House to de.
| termine.
The Florida question was final
ly arranged so as to let it go over till Satur day
aud then at 3.35 the House took>a recess till 1C
| o'clock tomorrow