West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1877-10-27

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public interest. lSigncdl II. II. HAYES.
WAsHINGTON, ID. c., October 10, 10 p. nm.
XLYTH CONGRESS--EXTRA SESSION.
ToBERl1.-Scn0tc-Th Senators were
early in their places, aud the usual
hustle attending the opening session pre-
vailed. The oath of office was admins
tered to Stanley Matthews, of Ohio, elected
IN place of John Sherman, resigned; J.
Donald Cameron, of Pennsylvania in place
OF Simon Cameron, resigned, and ID. L. Arm
strong, appointed from Missouri, rice l.. "
Bogy, deceased. The usual Committee was
appointed TO Join n committee of The House
aud inform the President that quorum of
the two Houses had assembled. Adjourned
until twelve o'clock tomorrow Senators
absent, Morton, Mcmillan and Thorn....
Housc-At the opening of the session the
galleries were crowded, and the
corridors for two hours previously almost
impassable. At twelve o'clock Mr. Adams
called the House To order, read the Presi-
dents prOclamat on converting Congress
and called the roll of members by States
beginning with Maine. When Louisiana
was reached the Clerk made the following
statement: There We're received from the
State of Louisiana, letters bearing date the
10Th OF December, 1876, and declaring GER
tain person elected from First, Fourth and
Sixth Districts, but silent as to other
Districts. Inasmuch however MS John Me-
Emery was never de facto Governor of
Louisiana, and never i'm point of fact
exercised or performed the functions of
that ottice, ii rs not deemed necessary to
make here any statement concerning the
regularity or the irregularity of the
credentials coming from the source. An.
other set of credentials was signed by VIM
Pitt Kellogg, as Governor ofI.ouisiana. with
the seal of the State attached, all
bearing different dates, and all of w ich
reached the hands of the clerk through diff
ferent channels, declaring the persons
elected from each of the districts except
the Second, rs to which district no rertifi-
cate seems To have been issued by Governor
Kellogg to any one. The law of Louisiana
prescribing the character of the creden-
tlals, provides that, as soon as possible after
the expiration of the time of making the re-
turns OF election for Representatives in
| Congress, n certificate of returns shall he
entered on record by the Secretary of State
ana signed by the Governor, and that a copy
thereof, subscribed by these officers, shall
| be delivered to the persons so elected, and
/ another copy transmitted to the Clerk of
/ the House of Representatives These Gre
dentials, signed by Governor Kellogg, are,
In no sense, in compi lance with the require
ment of the law of Louisiana. They do
not even purport To be a copy OF the
certificates. On the contrary, they are n
| slnp declaration, by Governor Kellogg,
! that certain persons were elected, without
even stating the sources of his information.
and they no more constitute credentials,
within the meaning of the law of Louisiana
than similar statement from the Treasurer
or other State official would do. They can
not, therefore, be recognized by the Clerk.
The other set of credentials is signed by
Gov. Nichols and the Secretary Of State
Arrago, with the Seal OF the State attached.
They declare the persons elected in each of
/ the districts OF Louisiana, and conflict with
| the certificate signed by Governor Kellogg
! IN reference to two districts only The cre-
dentials comply with the laws of Louisiana
IN every respect, and the Clerk has, accord
ingIy, placed on the roll the names of the
persons contained in them" Mr.. Samuel
! j. Randall was put in nomination for
| Speaker by the Democrats, and James A.
Garfield for the Republicans Mr.. Randall
was elected by a vote of one hundred and
Iorty-nine to one hundred and thirty-two.
/ The following officers were also elected
Sergeant-at-Arms, John G. Thompson, of
Ohio Doorkeeper John ID. Polk, of florida
/ as Postmaster, James NJ. Stewart of Nir.
ginia,. and as Chaplain, Rev. DR.. John
Poisel, of Maryland.
OCTOBER l6.-Scndtc--A committee was
! appointed to wait upon the President and
| notify him that a quorum of the two houses
had assembled. ldr. Thurman introduced
| a bill to amend the Pacific Railroad acts so
as to create sinking fund for the liuuida.
] ton OF the indebtedness due the Govern.
ment by the Pacific Railroad Companies.
! Referred. Memorials of the MS
| souri, Legislature i'm favor of the re.
moval OF the National Capital to the Missis-
sippi Valley, and in relation to a National
| system OF leyees for the Mississippi River
| were referred. Mr.. Sargent submitted a
resolution requesting the President of the
| Unied States to transmit to the Senate. If
/ not Incompatible with the public interest
statement OF appropriations and expend.
lures OF the Navy Department. from March
| t. 1889, to June 80, 1876 Passed. with an
amendment of Mr. Davis, of West Vir.
gina, to have similar statement from
/ the War Department. 80. .HOuss-Mr. Cox
raised the point of order that disputed
elections must be considered in order.
4 Objected to, and Colorado was lost. 4
/ long discussion took place on the question
| OF swearing in the two South Carolina
members, Rainy and Cain, whose names
! were put on the roll by the Clerk
i Mr.. Cox wanted the question referred To
I the Committee on Elections, but il was con
tended, among others by two Democrats
\ Mills and Peter, that as the gentlemen had
l the usual legal certificate of election. they
j should be sworn in. Then their right To-
seats might be referred. This view pre.
/ vailed, and Rainey and Cain were sworn in
\ The objection was Withdrawn ia the case Of
I Mr.. Harrell, OF Louisiana, and he also was
/ sworn in. The case Of Mr.. Elan. of Lon.
l isiana, was discussed, but no result reached
\ The Presidents message was read and re-.
/ ierrcd 90 the Committee Of the Whole