The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-01-17
Forty Fourth Congressional Session.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. Jan 16.

WASHINGTON. y an 16.
MI. Patterson presented lengthy petition of
D. 81. Chamberlain, r. FL. Greaves, F. L.
Cardoza, R. B. Elliott, John r. Talcott and
others of South Carolina. He said he would
not ask to have it read, but moved that it be
printed in the Record.
Mr.. Alcorn objected to anything being print
ed in the Record without being read in the
Senate.
Ordered printed in the Record.
Mr. Sherman, from the finance committee,
reported back the House bill AUTHORIZE Dg the
coming of a standard silver dollar and restoring
its legal tender character without recommends
ton. Placed on the calendar.
The bill amending Pacific Railroad acts was
postponed till next Tuesday.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Anthony was
passed, calling on the President for Informal
ton relative to tina revolt in Turkey.
Resolution recognizing Chamberlain as the
lawful governor of South Carolina by the feder-
al government was referred to the election
committee.
The message of the President relative to
troops in Petersburg was taken up and Mr..
Johnston made long speech.
Mr.. Johnston argued there was perfect peace
in the state. The colored people had their
rights and the two races lived together in har-
mOny. The President had no authority to
send troops to Petersburg because there had
been street fight at the previous election. 1t
was never intended by the government that the
power of the United States should be evoked
for the mere purpose of keeping the peace.
The Constitution contemplated the use of the
army only In concert with the state authorities
10 suppressiug domestic violence. He then
quoted from the:ercular of the Attorney Gem
eral of the United States of September last,
giving instructions to the U. S.lmarshals, and
said that if the Attorney General was right in
his construction of the law, deputy marshal
could take the governor of a state from his Of
flee, or judge from the bench and compel
hat fr hIo md
state might be overthrown. Marshals of the
United States should not be partisans or use
tie power of their office for one party or the
other
He then quoted at length from English law
requiring the removal of the troops from the
neignborhood OF voting places and said in that
country, although it was monarchy, the
statutes provided for the removal of troops
from the voting places, but in our republic it
seemed they were removed to the voting place
on the day of election to prevent two or more
persons from fighting in the street.
Mr.. Withers said the Congress of the United
States have been engaged several weeks past
i'll considering how to count the electoral vote.
1t was true the presence or absence of troops at
small town in Virginia might be small
matter. but the question involved was whether
the Executive department of the government t
should be permitted to control the ballot by
the army of the United States and thus destroy
the freedom Of elections If this could ba done
with impunity Congress has been wasting
time in talking about counting the electoral
vote. The presence of the military at the
polls for the purpose of influencing the1popu-
lar will filled him with alarm for the Safety
and perpetuity of free government.
He then commented on the message of the
President in regard to the occupation of Peters
burg by the military and said inunendo against
slanderous. Under the constitution the United
STATES could occupy state with troops only for
the purpose of repelling invasion or suppress
ing do nestle violence, and in the latter case
the Governor or Legislature of the state may
cali upon the federal government for aid
Neither of these conditions existed in Virginia
on the 7rh of November last, but on the con-
trary the Governor protested in language
which would live for all time against the occu
patton of Petersburg by troops. He denied
intimidation or violence existed in Petersburg
during the late canvass or at the late election.
He referred to the history of other republics,
and asked what were the three things which pre-.
coded their downfall. They were corruption,
fraud and violence. We had corruption.
Fraud had been practiced in the late election
as every one knew, and who could say when
the third step would be taken. The people of
Virginia were honestly devoted to the prnc-
Piles of constitutional liberty but they had pass
ed through the affection and knew what it was
to suffer. They had lived under despotic pow
er in the past and could live under it in the fu-
lure. IL was 1Or Northern pe0t lie 10 say Wneth-
er they would give their consent to the change.
Mr.. Wbyte said that the difficulty in regard
to sending troops into state grew out Of the
legislation of 1866. The act of Congress of
that year provided that troops might be sent
into state to keep the peace at the polls.
That was broad authority and the laws should
be amended by removing the words ''to keep
the peace at the polls"
The resolution submitted by MI. Withers
was agreed to.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
report of the Committee on Rules, revising the
rules for the government of the Senate, which
were agreed to in the Committee of the Whole
and reported to tie Senate.
Pending discussion the Senate adjourned
HOUSE.
Bill authorizing the appointment of COM
mission to attend the international convention
to inquire into the relative value of gold and
silver was laid on the table, 125 to 104.
The House adopted resolution to permit the
committee on privileges and duties OF the House
to send for papers and persons and to sit dur
ing the sessions Of the House, by vote OF 149
yeas to 20 nays.
Mr. Lynde of Wisconsin, from the Judiciary
Committee. made report from that committee
relative to the refusal of Messrs. Wells, Ander-
son, Cassanave and Kenner, the members of