Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-01-23
44th Congress, Second session.

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sion to inquire into the changes which
nave taken place in the relative value O.
goid and silver, the causes thereof, Sc
Inc CHAIR laid before the Senate the
hnal report o. Col. w. 2. Craighill
corps Oh engineers, upon the survey fol
q me OF water communication from the
ONO or Great Kanawha river to tide
water in Virginia.
HOUSEWIFE. Orion. president of the
Western Union Telegraph Company
was arraigned, charged with CONTEMPT
ior not appearing before committee OF
the House in obedience to a subpoena. and
Ior failure to produce certain papers.
MI. Orton's answer was read bv the
cieFR, ID which he claimed that the pa
pers were not in his possession, and that
the executive committee of the company
nave directed that no messages be given
up except with the consent of the send
CT ne discialmed being Intentionally in
contempt. The answer was referred to
tne judiciary committee, and Mr.. Orion
was Ienanded to the custody of the SER
seant t'arms. A resolution was adopt
ca aecianng that any attempt to pre-
Juice or excite the public mind in re-
gafu 20 settlement of the presidential
question IN advance OF the authority
PROVIDED Tor in the constitution is I'M
wise, unpatriotic, and full of danger to
tne country. Several propositions hav-
ing political bearing, offered from the
democratic side, failed for want of the
requisite twO-thirds vote.
SENATE.-Tuesday, Jan. 16th.-Mr.
Patterson presented a petition from d.
IL. Chamberlain and other State officials
OF South Carolina, giving their version
OF the recent troubles in that State. Mr..
PATERSON introduced q resolution re-
cognlzlng the Chamberlain government
as the lawful government in South Car
oiina, which was referred to the commit
zee on privileges and elections. Mr..
winners called up the message Of the
PRESIDENT In relation to the occupancy of
petersburg by troops on election day.
November 9TH last, and offered q resolu-
tlon that the committee on the judiciary
De requested to inquire whether the con-
structlon of the law by the President and
Attorney General in their instructions
10 marshals last September was correct.
me resolution was adopted.
HoUSE.-A resolution was adopted.
after debate, authorizing the committee
on the powers. privileges and duties of
the House in relation to the electoral
vote 10 SEND for persons and papers and
10 SIT during the sessions of the House.
Mr. Lynde, from the Judiciary commit
tee, made report relative to the refusal
OF the members OF the Louisiana return
ing board to produce before COMPRESSION
al investigating committee certain pa
pers demanded. The report concludes
with q resolution directing the sergeant
alarms to take into custody Wells,
Anderson, Cassenove and Kenner, the
members of the board, and bring them
before the bar of the House for con-
tempt of its privileges. The report led
to lengthy debate, when its further
consideration was postponed until the
next day.
SENATE Wednesday, Jan. 17th.-
Mr.. Morton called up the message of the
President in regard to the occupation of
Petersburg, Va, by the military on the
18th OF November, when a debate of a
political character ensued, participated
In by Messrs. Morton and Withers and
Johnston, OF Va. The reportof the COM
mittee on rules for the government of
the Senate was further considered and
adopted.
HoUsE.-A resolution was offered and
referred instructing the special commit
tee on the powers, privileges and duties
OF the House to inquire and report what
number of electoral votes is necessary
under the constitution to elect o Presi-
dent and Vice President of the United
States. The House resumed the consl-
deration of the resolution reported from
the Judiciary committee, with reference
to the arrest of the Louisiana returning
board for contempt in refusing to furnish
the Louisiana investigating committee
with the election returns in that State
During the debate Mr.. Banks created a
sensation by declaring that the United
States ought never to suffer the State of
Louisiana to be deprived of the posses
sion OF these returns except by a power
greater than those of the United States
He was replied to with great warmth by
Mr.. Cox, after which the resolution for
the arrest OF the board was adopted by a
vote of l58 yeas to 81 nays-a strict par
ty VOTE
SENATE.-Thursday, Jan. 1Sth.-A
petition was presented from merchants
and others Of Philadelphia, asking an
amieable settlement of the questions
growing out OF the presidential contest.
Mr.. Jones, of Florida, introduced petit
ton from Wilkinson Cali, James E.
Yonge, Robert b. Hilton and Robert
Bullock, democrats, claiming to have
been elected electors OF President and
Vice President for the State of Florida,
and praying that objection may be made
to the counting of any ell ctoral votes
except those cast by.them. Mr. Ed
munds, chairman Of the special commit
tee appointed to devise means for the
satisfactory count of the electoral vote,
presented the report of the committee,
h II
commended is not what is called COM
promise but a measure of justice in aid
of the exercise Of constitutional govern
ment. The report is signed by all the
members of the Joint committee, with
the exception OF Senator Morton.
HOUSE.-In the House, the resolutions
reported from the committee on the
privileges aud duties of the House in
counting the electoral vote was called up
and speeches were made by Messrs.
Knott and Burchard. Mr.. Payne pre-
scented the report agreed upon concur
renuy by the Senate and House commit
tees fer counting the electoral vote, and
called attention TO the fact that the bill
provided for an earlier day for the meet
ing of the joint convention than that
now fixed by law-instead of the second
| "Wednesday in February it was to be two
weeks earlier.
SENATE. = Friday. Jan. 19th.-Mr. Ed
MINDS gave notice that he would the
next day call up the bill providing for
the electoral count and push it to an
early vote. Mr.. Wallace's resolutions in
regard to counting the electoral vote
were called up and Mr.. BoSy concluded
his speech, in which be severely arraigu-
ed Mr.. Packard and the Louisiana re-
turning board Senator Morton defend
led Packard's- character, and Senator
Sherman that of the returning board
HoUsE.-In the House resolution
was adopted declaring that Mr.. VIVA.
Orion, president of the Western Union
Telegraph Company, was not in con-
tempt of the House, and authorizing his
discharge. J. NJ. Wells and Thomas G.
Anderson, members of the Louisiana re-
turning board, were arraigned at the bar
of the House. The Speaker asked the
prisoners what excuse they had to offer
for not appearing before Mr.. Morrison Is
committee and for falling to produce
certain books and papers called for in the
subpoena duces tecADa, to which they re-
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