The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-10-19
XLVTH CONGRESS---Extra Session
WAsHlNGToN, October IS, 1877.
SENATE

WAsMINGToN, October IS, 1877.
SENATE.
| The Louisiana question occupied the day.
Spotford's credentials were referred to the
committee.
! Mr.. Edmunds withdrew his motion to
discharge the committee from the further
consideration of kellogg's credentials.
Mr.. Whyte, OF Maryland, submitted the
following as an amendment to the reSolu-
ton referring the credentials. &c. "And
that said committee report thereon on or
before the 1st day of November, 1871"
| Mr.. Mitchell, who is acting chairman Of
| the committee, said he was afraid that
| would not give the committee time enough.
Mr.. Whyte spoke in favor OF bis amend
ment. and said the Kellogg case was re-
| ferred TO the committee last March. Since
then events in Louisiana had crystaliZed, so
that the whole matter was now embraced in
very narrow compass, which should not
three DAYS to settle the whole matter. The
chairman Of the committee (Mr. NJ orton)
was now i'll, and If the committee was not
instructed by the Senate the investigation
might be postponed until his recovery.
Mr.. Wadleigh, OF New Hampshire, said
il i was expected by the Senate that the
decision OF the Committee on Privileges
and Elections on this case should be final
if was asking too much Of the committee to
report bv November 1st. 1t might be that
he. as a member OF the committee, would
not come to the conclusion that the removal
of the State government in Louisiana by
military force could settle for the Senate
the question Of who was entitled TO
n seat therein. He did not think the
White League Of Louisiana, with its
bavonetS, revolvers, and guns, could
decide for him who was entitled to seat iii
the Senate from that State. But for the
pressure OF that league the Packard govern
ment would have remained the government
in fact, as he believed it was in law. lie
argued that the proceeding under which
Kellogg was elected senator was valid and
correct in form. The testimony in the
Louisiana case covered thousands OF pages,
and the committee could not examine all
of il and report TO the Senate by November
1St.
Mr.. Edmunds inquired Of the Senator
from MARYLAND (NIr Whytc) il he had any
knowledge of the Senate having adopted
resolution instructing committee when to
report. He (Mr. Edmunds) had been taught
70 believe that the adoption OF such reso-
luton would be virtually an affront to the
committee. The Senate might as we'll say
that the committee should report 1mmedl-
atelv as to say it should report by the ISL
OF November. Was it now thought best
not to inquire anything about who
was the legally elected senator from
Louisiana, but to take the last chap VINO
appeared as the due saint? That might De
Democratic doctrine, but he did not agree
! to it. The redress for any undue delay OF
the committee was found in the rules OF the
Senate, which authorized any senator, a.
any time, to move that committee be dis
charged from the further consideration OF
| subject il he thought there had been I'M
necessary delay in considering it.
Mr.. Gordon, Of Georgia, inquired il any
aay could be fixed for the committee to re-
port on the credentials Of Mr.. Spofford.
Several senators on the Republican side :
No. none whatever.
Mr. Thurman said at no time.slnce 1878
had the State Of Louisiana more than one
senator on this floor. He referred to The
various Investigations in regard TO that
State, and said now, after all these years
Of inquiry, we are told that this able
committee cannot make report by the
| 1st OF November. Every material fact was
before the Senate already, and senators
were simply shutting their eyes to the testl-
mony to say they could not decide this case.
| w nat was inc TctSOu lOI hIis .llSliDe ~
postpone the matter? Vast it intended to
postpone it for four years? Was there a
! dread OF a collision upon the railroad? Ii
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 essential to
postpone the matter.
Mr.. Edmunds said he did not understand
what the Senator meant by his paraphrase
about railroads.
Mr.. Thurman said he would never at
tempt to explain anything to the Senator
from Vermont which man OF the most or
binary comprehension could understand.
Such an attempt would be an insult to MS
intelligence. %
Mr.. Edmunds said senators on his side OF
the chamber were not runners OF any rail-
road at all. They always labored to pro-
mote the interests OF the people according
to law, and did not act Xix some others, TO
cover up differences. Liberty OF opinion
had always been contended for on his side
OF the chamber.
Mr.. Whyte, OF Maryland, said ne agreed
with the senator from Vermont, that It was
very uncommon thing 10 order or direct
any committee OF the Senate i'll regard TO
its duty but it was q parliamentary usage,
and parliamentary bodies had ordered COM
mittees to take charge Of matters. retire
from the chamber, and submit its report