Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-11-23
FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
Extra Session.
SENATE.

1"Vu'N n'' 9noM mat The pending question was
the motion OF lloar to lay on the table the resoIu.
ton to discharge the Committee on elections from
luither consideration OF Buffers credentials
lie argued that lloar had Withdrawn that mo-
ton by unanimous consent.
Sohkhng, alter some preliminary remarks said
MI fresldent-Ihis proceeding Yesterday was
not accidental or careless. The motion to Law on
the table was not a stray motion. The Senator
from Massachusetts had, think, considered il,
Other senators had considered il also. 1t was not
oy sccldent that lost not one moment when the
motion was made, IN demanding the yeas and
nays upon il.
My purpose was to put the motion to lay on the
table beyond reach OF recall or power of with
drawal by ANYBODY. | have no hesitation in
avowlng my reason for this. There have been, if
not rumors, whispers of new and strange ALI
ances. 1t IS TO be hoped they are holy alliances
There had been whispers of all isnces pending for
some time and which were yesterday su spected TO
have rlpened into certain alliances relied upon to
transfer tue majority from one side to the other
side of the Senate.
felt 1t my right to ascertain bv the earliest
method who were the allies, the reserves and re-
crults, ana DOW many there are. | was quite par
uculsr to get upon the Journal the fact that the
senate bad ordered the yeas and nays to be taken
my object OF course being that the Nth rule of the
Senate might operate.
speak Of my motive and purpose in order to
convince the senator from Ohio that it is next to
impossible that such n mistake was permitted as ne
now wants the journal to assert.
When the senator from Delaware rose and ask
ed to be allowed some remarks, and suggested q
withdrawal OF the motion to lay on the table,
saw very clearly, As dio other senators who attend
ed to IT, that the senator from Massachusetts had
not IN bis mind at the moment the 44th rule, MOI
the TACT that an impossible barrier had been put
between him and all power to withdraw his mo-
uon. Nobody rose to interrupt in order to read
RUE OF the Senate, and every BODY, think knew
that the mental operation of the senator from
Massachusetts, could not over;h brow the rules OF
undo what the Senate had done.
The senator from Delaware proceeded subse-
quently TO guard against the possibility of mis-
take. took occasion to remind the Senate and
the char OF the state OF the question. then said
wv hen tkis motion was made to lay this resou-
ton ON the liable senator was that senator) de-
manded the yeas and nays. The yeas and nays
were ordered. The rule Of the Senate declares
that after that no senator can Withdraw motion.
Did any other senator set right or set the chair
right (becsuse had the acquesence of the chair
at the time) when asserted that the motion had
not been Withdrawn. Then was the time for the
honorable senator from Ohio to insist as he does
how.
Thurman-What does the senator mean by say
ing he had the acquiescence OF the chair The
record does not say the chair uttered q word.
Conking-Let me set me friend right. The
char did make a remark and the record shows it,
Indicating clearly that he regarded the motion to
lao on the table as pending, and as cutting off de-
bate.
submit, Mr.. President, that the journal ought
not to be amended 50 TO get rid of the motion to
lay on the table 1t cannot be so amended unless
the Senate should vote that when to senators in
conversation, one saying 81 should like to make a
remark, and the other saying 81 have no objec-
ton and withdraw my motion for that purpose"
such dialogue between two senators oblterates
a rule of the Senate and sponges from the journal
an order which bad been put there by one fifth of
The Senate, that the yeas and nays shall be taken,
anu reVerses the whole proceeding, all upon the
theory, as must understand 1t, that what the sen
ator from Mas, achusetts thought at the time, and
what he said to the senator from Delaware. Ii
lantamount to the chair propounding to the SEN
alto another question, namely, whether in spite OF
the order ior yeas and nays this motion should be
Withdrawn by unanimous consent, and then de
clarine the assent or dissent of the Senate when
ascertained
Deg to say for one, that had the chair submit
ted that question, should have been intent as
| could be upon ANYTHING to interposing an objec-
ton, having myself asked fol the yeas and nays,
to the end that this motion to lie the table
should be voted upon, and that should thus
know by whose votes 1t is that success is hoped
tor In a motion TO discharge the committee OF
privileges and elections IRON case never investi.
gated there or here, and to bring it here TO be
carried by main force, by the force of numbers,
when it had been ascertaiLed somewhere that
numbers could be procured
Bayard spoke Of the respect he had for the rules
OF the Senate and said he held that the courtesy
extended to him yesterday by unanimous consent
did no, dispace the motion to lay on the table By
the senator from Massachusetts (lIoar). So fa
as he (Bayard) could, he proposed to leave the
matter just where 1t was when the unanimous con-
sent was given him to explain his views.
The senator from New York (Conkling) had
spoken of whispers throughout the Senate cham
Der, of holy or unholy alliances. He (Bayard)
could only say that he had never heard such VIII
pers, and so far as he knew there were no ALI
ances upon which he did not invite the fullest
light
Window, fiom appropriation committee, report
ed with amendments the House joint resolution
relative to the Paris exposition.
The resolution was placed on the calendar.
The Senate then by yeas 49, nays 81, refused to
lay on the table the resoction of Thurman to dis
charge the committee on elections from further
consideration of Buffers credentials.
Davis Illinois, Conover of Florida. and Patter-
son of South Carolina, voted with the democrats
on the motion.
The question being on the adoption of the reso-
luton of Edmund-, who moved to amend the res
olution as to discharge the committee from fur
ther consideration of Kellogg senator from
Louisiana, and the senator from south Carolina,
debate followed.
Edmunds motion to insert the name of Kellogg
as senator from Louisiana was rejected. Yeas,
30, nays 81.
Conkling then submitted an amendment as 70 l.
lows:
Resolved, That the committee on elections be
directed to report on the matter OF the credentials
of William Z, Kellogg and Henry NJ. Spotford,
claiming seats "a senators from Louisiana, aud
that meanwhile the case of South Carolina be
postponed.
Rejected; yeas 80, nays 3d.
Edmunds then submitted an amendment to dis
charge the com niltee from further consideration
of the credentials of Kellogg, Spotford, Butler
and Corbn.
This was also rcjected--yeas 80, nays 80.
Edmunds then moved further consideration OF
this whole snhje Get be postponed until Monday
next, aud this was rejected yeas 80, nays 80.
AT two clock in the after noon, Edmunds NOV
ed that the Senate adjourn till Monday next,
which resulted in yeas 81, navs 81 tie vote,
Conoyer voting with the republicans in the sffl M
alive.
The vote being tie the Vice President voted
in the atiii NATIVE, and the Senate adjourned.
House.
Several bills were introduced at the opening of
the House, and referred.
Hale of Maine, as question of privilege, Of
fered a resolution discharging the committee on
elections from a further consideration of the con-
tested election case OF Bedford Patterson, from
the State Of Colorado.
He stated that the case had occupied the atten-
tion of the House ten days. and was then referred
to the election committee That was y days ago
and nothing has been heard from that committee