Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-03-02
Defeat Ct The FillihusterS.
WASHINGTON; March |

semnieu at Ten o CLOCK, but no legislative business
could be transacted, the objections in the YER
mont case having been disposed OF in favor of
HAYES last night.
The senate awaited the action of the house on
that matter.
No business whatever has been transacted in
the senate though nearly all the senators have
been in or about the chamber the whole day,
awaiting notification from the house of represen-
tahve that 1t was ready to resume the Joint meet
ing and continue the count.
AT 100 L. NJ message was received from the
house by Mr.. Adams, its clerk announcing the
action of that body on the Vermont case, and the
immediately repaired 10 the hall of the house for
the purpose of resumlng the count.
Upon returning at II 80 p. NJ. the objections
presented in joint meeting TO one of the votes OF
Wisconsin was read.
A resolution that the vote be counted was pass
ed without debate.
The house was notified of the action of the
senate.
HOUSE.
After the passage of a number OF bills reno wing
disabilities, OBrien moved call Of the house, al
though the speaker counted the members and
found quorum present.
OBrien and other fllibusters still insisted, and
the speaker, under the law, was forced TO allow
vote on the call, which resulted yeas GS, nays l69
so the call OF the house was refused.
This movement occupied an hour and a quarter
of the time of the house.
1t was followed up by a motion TO reconsider
the vote, although Wood made point of order
that such motion could not be consd cred
Hale moved to lay the motion to reconsider on
the table.
This was agreed to. yeas ia, nays 6J.
As soon as the vote was announced the strug-
gle for recognition by the speaker WAS made be-
tween Wood, Poplleton, Caulfield and Mills, each
having proposition 10 transmit which he claimed
to be of the highest privilege.
Poppleton offered a resolution prepared hv Caul-
oil md ha alorI ,taI; :,
The resolution was in the form of a preamble.
That sealed package addressed to the president
Of the senate, purPorting to contain the vote of
Vermont was delivered yesterday to the president
of the sena'e by Mr. Hewitt.
That 1t appears by telegram from the clerk of
the United States District court of Vermont, that
a dur licate of such return was deposited in that
Office the 18th Of December, 1876.
That such package had been made part of the
objection to the certificate Of Vermont and still
remained unopened.
That the objection cannot be considered until
such package is opened according to law.
That such package is retained by the president
or the secretary of the senate.
And therefore resolving that the refusal of the
preside nj Of the senate to open such package in
the presence of two houses, was a violation Of law
and of the privileges of the house.
That until such package shall be opened, the
counting of the vote cannot proceed further ac.
cordiDg to the constitution and law.
That the senate be requested to meet the house
IN joint session, that such package may be opened
and proceedings had according to law
AS the clerk finished the reading of the resolu =
tion the speaker announced the opening of u new
legislative day.
As the reading of the journal commenced,
Springer insisted that it should be read in detail
which would occupy several hours.
Wood came to the rescue, and moved that the
reading be dispensed with.
The motion was agreed to--yeas Us, nays IS.
When the result was announced, Wood raised
the point of order that nothing IS competent for
the house to do but proceed to consider the obiec-
tions to Vermont. and that the r position offered
by Poppleton was not in order.
Csulfed argued on the other side.
Reagan supported the point of order, and argu-
ed against the resolution as proposing new ques-
ton which has not been presented to the joint
meeting of the two houses.
During this discussion there was a scene OF the
widest excitement, owing to the persistent efforts
OF the impractcable to prevent the house pro-
ceedng with the discussion of the objection to the
Vermont count.
Among the most violent was Beebe of New
York, who not satisfied with his efforts to attract
attention on the iioor mounted his desk and made
the widest gestiCuaions and proestations against
the action of the speaker.
Every member on the floor was in his seat and
at least half dozen were shouting all at once at
the top of their voices. The denomination was
Kissed, both from the floor and the galleries.
After some further discussion, the speaker SAID {:
with the highest respect for all parties concern
ed, the chair considers that great mistake and
wrong was committed yesterday in the joint ses-
sion of the two no uses in this that the presiding
officer refused to receive open or read for
iu!ol nation package which had all the surround
Jugs of an authentic paper in respect to cleo
tOral vote of Vermont. The chair does not think
that in any aspect of this he conld be called
Upon to rule that the action of the presiding Off
Ger of the joint convention yesterday was wrong
lie does not think he possesses the power, nor
does he believe that in technical sense the ac-
ton of the joint convention can be reviewed in
this house in the manner proposed The chair
therefore rules the resolution out of order"
AT % p. NJ, the house at last reached point
where discussion commenced.
The discussion was opened by Poppeton of
Ohio in support OF the objections to the vote of
Vermont.
Mr.. Hewitt related how he had come into pos.
secession of the package produced by him yes
terday. and how he had last seen it in possession
of the Secretary of the Senate who stated that it
was the private property of MIR. Ferry, and he
proposed friend of Mr.. Ferry TO return it.
After good deal of colloquy in regard to the
paper a messenger from the Senate came into
the Hall and rendered the package TO Mr.. Hewitt
who refused to receive it and therefore announced
the fact to the House. No immediate action was
taken on the matter.
The young lad who carried the package re-
tanned in his possession aud took a seat awaiting
the action of the House, and the discussion pro-
ceeded
The members who participated in the discus
sion were Joyce, liendee and Dennson of w.
Poppleton and Munroe of o., Hooker and Money
of Miss, w son of West Virginia, Marsh of Pa
Raymond of Ind. snd Long of Louisiana.
Mr.. Garfield reaG a letter from Mr.. Gorham
Secretary Of the Senate, relative to how the
package came into his possession, and his dispo.
sition OF it.
Mr.. Hewitt remarked that the package had
been brought to him by a messenger from the
Senate, who would not tell from whom he had
received it,
MIR. Garfield said in conclusion that if any body
has been deceived by the pretence that ought
to have paper opened in this House, coming in
such roundabout, unauthorized way, let all such
pretences be cleared away, and let them vote
with knowledge of the fact that vote for the
resolution is simply a vote to prevent count and
to bring us into anarchy.
The discussion was closed by Mr. Field of N
T., who expressed deep regret that the day had
4 uad in att 10. Il.