The Osceola times., 1877-10-27

elected from the First, fOutth and sixth
districts, but silent as 10 the other districts
lnasmuch, however, as John McEmery was
never de facto governor Of Louisiana, aud
never, in point Of fact, exercised or per.
formed the functions Of that Office, IL is not
deemed necessary to make here any state.
ment concerning the regularity or irregular.
ity of the credentials coming from that
source. Another set OF credentials was
signed by VIM. Pitt Kellogg as governor of
Louisiana, with the seal of the state attached
all bearing different dates, and all of which
reached the hands Of the clerk
through different channels, declar.
ing persons elected from each
district except the second; as TO which dis.
trict no certificate seems to have been Is.
sued by Gov. Kellogg to any one. The law
Of Louisiana prescribing the character OF
credentials, provides that As soon as possible
after the expiration Of the time of making
returns OF the election for representatives in
congress, n certificate Of returns shall be on
tered on record by the secretary Of state, and
signed by the governor, and that copy
thereof subscribed by those officers shall be
delivered TO the persons so elected, and
another copy transmitted to the clerk OF the
house of representatives. These credentials,
signed by Gov. Kellogg, are in no sense in
compliance with the requirements OF the law
Of Louisiana. They do not even purport to
be a copy OF the certificates. On the con.
trary, they are the simple declaration OF Gov.
Kellogg that certain persons were elected,
without even stating the sources OF his in.
formation, and they no more constitute ere.
dentials within the meaning OF the law Of
Louisiana, than similar statement from the
treasurer or other state official would. They
cannot, therefore, be recognized by the
clerk. The other set OF credentials is signed
by Gov. Nichols and secretary Of state Ar.
rago, with the seal of the state attached.
They declare persons elected in each of the
districts Of Louisiana, and conflict with the
certificates signed by Gov. Kellogg, In refer.
ence to two districts only. These credeu.
tials comply with the law OF Louisiana in
every respect, and the clerk has accordingly
placed on the roll the names Of the persons
contained in them.
On motion Of Mr.. Wood, the house pro.
ceeded 10 the election Of speaker.
Mr.. Clymer nominated Samuel j. Randall,
and Mr.. Hale nominated James A. Garfield.
Messrs. Clymer, Banning, Fort and Foster
were appointed tellers, and Mr.. Clymer an.
nounced the result: For Samuel J. Randall,
149 votes; for James A. Garfield, 132 and Mr..
Randall was declared elected.
The speaker before taking the chair said:
Gentlemen Of the house of representatives.
Elevated for the second time by your gen.
erosity TO the exalted dignity Of speaker OF
this house, | thank you with grateful heart.
shall endeavor, with even temper but with
rigid firmness, to perform the duties Of the
Office, and respond ado luately to the conf.
dence reposed in me to conforming my &C.
tion to the clearly expressed will OF the house.
Yet fully realizing the dclicscy and difficulty
OF the position, solicit your advice and assist
at tla f..
your forbearancc and indulgence. Wemeet
under circumstances imperiously demand.
ing that all considerations Of class and sec.
tion or party shall be subordinate TO the
loftier and more patriotic object OF doing
what is hest for the whole country and all
its people. Since adjournment an admins.
tration has been inducted into Office, which
is obeyed as the actual government, regard
less of the grave events which marked it's
birth. And this house, animated by spirit
OF true patriotism, desiring, first, public
tranquility, under law, will frankly approve
any sincere, permanent policy looking to
complete paciication by constitutional
methods, AMI to the consequent promotion Of
the general welfare, hut it should be held
our sacred duty TO provide legislation which
will render impossible repetition Of the
wrongs which have occurred, and of the
dangers which threaten us. l assume that
we will take no step backward in the work
OF retrenchment and reform auspiciously
begun by the last house. Under n'atured
and definite plans of reduction OF the cx.
penscs Of the government, il Is certain that
still greater reductions can be made without
impairing the efficiency Of its administra-
tion. To have an honest administration il
should be frugal. Never was II more urgent
then now, with the general financial distress,
and with labor depressed with heavy bur.
dens 10 exercise the sternest economy, when
the iron rule OF hard necessity darkens every
household in the land, extravaganza on TIE
part Of the peoples servants Is an unpardon.
able crime. II is partly because of that
wholesome policy so faithfully carried out
that am permitted this day 10 speak from
this place, invoking for our deliberations
that tolerance of opinion which secures har.
monious action, right and clear judgment,
which purifes legislation, and that mutual
confidence and respect shall subsit between
the house and its presiding officer.
| Lam now ready TO take the oath prescribed
by law.
The oath Of Office was administered to the
speaker, who then administered the oath to
the members. Most of the southern members
took the qualified oath.
Objection was made to swearing in of
Messrs. Cain and Rainey, Of South Carolina,
Messrs. Daily, Ely and Robertson, OF Louisi
ana, and Mr.. Pacheco, Of California, and
those members stood aside.
Mr.. Clymer offered a resolution electing as
clerk, Geo. NJ. Adams, Of Kentucky; ser.
geantat arms, John g. Thompson, OF Ohio;
doorkeeper, John W. Polk, Of Missouri;
postmaster, James NJ. Stewart, OF Virgins,
and as chaplain, Rev. DIR. John Poisel, OF
MARYLAND, and the resolution was adopted
without a division.
The oath Of Office was then administered
to these officers, Messrs. Stewart and Polk
taking a modified oath.
Committees were then appointed TO inform
the senate of the organization OF the house,
and to inform the president that the house
is ready 10 receive any communication he
may desire to make. Adjourned.
In the House on the l7th, after the
reading of the Journal the disputed election
case from the fourth district OF Louisiana
was taken up.
Mr. Gibson offered a substitute providing
for the immediate swearing in Of J. Il. Elan.
After some debate, the sub stitute was
adopted-yeas, IA; nays, 1l9. Mr.. Elan
took the modified oath.
Mr. Frye offered resolution reciting that
Charles 4. Nash had presented a certificate
Of election, signed by Governor Kellogg, then
duly recognized and setting a. governor of
Louisiana, but that the clerk Of the house had
declined to put Mr.. Nash's name on the roll,
but had substituted the name OF L. w. Rob-
ertson, on the authority Of paper signedby
Governor Nichols, and directing t ,et the
name Of Mr. Robertson be struck from the
roll, and that Mr.. Nash be sworn In. After
some debate, the substitute offered by Mr..
Ellis that Mr.. Robertson be sworn in, was
agreed to, and the modified oath OF Office was
Administered 10 Mr.. Robertson.
Tho ease Of Mr.. Pacheco. of California was
tba,. talen mn uhen Mr. Garfield moved