Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-10-19

received the votes Of an immense majority of the
republican members Of the assembly
Edwards said that Kellogg credentials on their
face certainly bore some evidence of being valid.
The senators on one side of the chamber said last
| spring that the matter needed inquiry. Now the
same senators said that the Louisiana senatership
ought to be decided without inquiry into at all.
Mitchell argued that Spofford's credentials did
not constitute prima facie case upon which he
should be sworn in.
Bayard argued that Spofford had prima face
case, and said the affairs Of Louisiana had in the
minds OF the America people received absolute
and final settlement. He knew how nearly bal
anced the political power in the Senate Stood and
yet he begged the senators to believe him whenihe
declared that be would not by any questionable
act give the weight of his little finger to obtain
that power for the party with which he acted.
he man was blind who did not see that the drift
OF public opinion in this county was against all
| political schemiug. Did not the interest of this
country require that the best energies of every
senator should be bent in behalf of the people
and those passions aroused by party strife be
| hnshed. There was no need of further argument
there was no need OF further evidence in this
| Louisiana case. The senator's could not turn
their backs to facts which no one denied.
Messrs; Howe and Cheistiancy favored q refer
ence of the credentials.
| After the vote (given above) WHITE submitted
a resolution referring the credentials &C., aud
that said committee report there on before the
first day of November, 1877.
said that he was afraid it would not give the CON-
mittee time enough.
The discussion was continued by Wadleigh,
who said that it might be that he a member of
the committee would not come to the conclusion
that the removal of a State government in Louis
lsna by military force could settle for the senate
the question of who entitled to a seat therein.
lie did not think that the White League of Louis
lana, with It's bayoncts, revovers and guns could
decide for him who was entitled to a seat in the
| 10 to hat tata Rae xx.t ha A<f
| the League the Packard government would have
remained the government in fact, as believed 1t
was in law. The proceedings under which KEEL
logg was elected senator valid and correct in
form. The testimony in the Louisiana case COW
cred thousands OF pages, and the committee could
not examine all OF 1t and report to the Senate by
November LIST.
Edmunds said he had been taught to believe
that the adoption of such resolution would be
virtually an sffront to the committee. The SEN
ate might as well say the committee should re-
port Immediately as to say 1t should report by the
first of November.
Gordon inquired of any day could be fixed for
the committee to report on the credentials of
Spotiord.
Several senators on the republican side answer.
ed mo, none whatever
Thurman said that at no time since 1873 had
the State of Louisiana more than one senator on
this floor. lie referred to the various investiga-
tons IN regard to that State, and said, that now
after all these years of inquiry 1--WE are told that
this able committee cannot mske q report by Nov.
LIST. Every material fact was before the Senate
already. and the senators we're simply shutting
their eyes to testimony, to say they could not de-
eide this case.
What was the reason of this attempt to post
pone the matterf Was it intended to postpone it
for four yearss Was there dread of Q collision
upon the railroad If there was no dread of the
smashing Of cars as they came head to head on
the same track, he could not see why it was so es-
sen tn ha NIT
Edmunds did not understand what the senator
meant by his paraphrase about railroads.
Thurman said that he would never attempt to
explain anything TO the senator from Vermont,
which a man of most ordinary comprehe nsion
could understand. Such attempt would be an
insult to his intelligence.
Edmunds said that the senators on bis side of
the chamber were not runners OF any railroads ct
all. They always labored to promote the interest
OF the people according to law, and did not act
like some others to cover up differences. Liberty
of opinion had always been commended for on his
side of the chamber.
Whyte agreed with the senator from Vermont,
that it was a very uncommon thing to order or d-
rect any committee Of the Senate in regard to its
| duty, but it was parliamentary usage and par
| lamentary bodies had ordered committees to take
| charge OF matters retire from the chamber and
report Immediately. So that it was not such
| heinous offence to instruct a committee. So far
IS intending dsrespect to tue committee, he had
no such thought. He submitted his amendment
| for the reason that the chairman of the committee
on privileges and elections (Morton) was lyiug III
at bis residence in Indiana, and all regretted it
not possible for him to be here during the ex-
| ira session.
Edmunds-Yes, but there is always q chairman.
Wyhte-Yes, but there is always q delicacy
which prevails in this body, and offered the res.
olution insructing the committee to relieve the
senator from Oregon (MitchelD the vice chairman
who might feel the delicacy in calling the COM
mittee
Edmundsagreed that this was the first instance
IN the history of the Senate in which an attempt
had been made to instruct committee to report
upon an important question within given num-
Der Of days.
Wodeigh said the committee on privileges and
elections had examined the credentials of kellogg
and they were prepared to report that Kellogg
had prima iacie case and was entitled to his
seat.
salisbury said that as a member of the COM
mittee on privileges and elections he did not re-
gard the motion of the senator from Marylan to
instruct the committee, as an afront to that COM
mittee.
The motion of Whyte to instruct to committee
was rejected, yeas 81 nays IS.
Conklng said that there had been some doubt
expressed as to whether the credentials of Kellogg
were still before the committee, and he therefore
proposed to add to the resolution, the following
amendment
1.-The credentials of William p. Kellogg, claim.
| ing seat in the Senate, having been heretofore
referred to said committee, and now being before
it,"
He SAID he offered this amendment 80 as to
make it clearly evident to the committee that it
| should report on the case of Kellogg Is well Is
that of Spofford.
| Thurman said that the amendment virtually
declared that the ffty-ninth rule applied to the
executive session of the Senate alone. He argu-
ed that the rule was only for q session of Con.
gress. 1t provided that papers before q commit
tee at the end of the first session of Congress
should be returned to the respective committees
at the next succeeding session, but papers before
a committee of the Senate during q session called
| for executive business must be returned to the
clerk and referred to the committee by the Senate
again.
After some further discussion, during which
Conklng said the high priests of the democratic
party had been in session and consulting over tn is
| fifty ninth rule, and he modified his amendment
so as to read: "And the same committee shal
also consider and report upon the credentials of
| William Pitt Kellogg"
The amendment was agreed TO and the resolu-
| ton passed as amended.
| Thurman then moved that J. P. Eustis be sworn
as senator from La. for the term commencing
| March 4, 1873
Edmunds said there was privileged motion on
the table, and called up the resolution submitted
by him yesterday, to have the committee on priv
ieges and elections discharged from further con.
sideration of the credentials of Kellogg.
Il hos De-.