Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-03-07
FORTY-FIFrH CONGRESS-.
Extra Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, March G.
Wallace submitted a resolution that the credes-
tals Of l.. O. c. Lamar from Mississippi, be taken
| from the table, and that he be sworn.
Anthony moved that the senate adjourn; reject
| cd, yeas ID. nays &c. many republicans voting
with the democrats in opposition to the motion to
adjourn.
| Blaine spoke in favor of swearing in Lamar
and said his credentials entirely regular, and
he was just as much entitled to be sworn in he
(Blaine) or aay other senator sworn in yesterday
A lively debate ensued upon the resolution Of
Wallace.
Spencer of Alabama called for the reading of
the report of Boutwell's committee upon Missis-
spp affairs submitted at the last session of Con-
gress, but the senate refused TO have the report
read.
Dawes advocated the swearing in of Lamar.
Blaine argued the report in the Mississippi case
might show that the Legislature which elected La
mar was not legal body, but all this was a mat
ter for subsequent inquiry by the senate. Lamar
should be sworn in now.
Spencer of Alabama sent to the clerks desk and
had read as part of his remarks the report of
Boutwells committee on Mississippi affairs, sub
mitted a, the last session.
After the reading of the report of Mr.. Bout
wells committee upon Mississippi affairs, the dis
cussion upon the admission of Lamar was con-
tinued by Messrs. Morton, Wadleigh, Dawes,
Mcmillan and others.
Spencer moved to amend the resolution of Wal
lace as to refer the credentials Of Lamar to the
committee on privileges and elections.
The amendment was rejected, yeas l, (Wad-
leigh nays 81.
The senate then by vote of yeas 81 nays l.,
sWadleisl), adopted the resolution offered by
Wallace.
Spencer, who would have vote in the negative,
was paired with Merlin on, who would have vot-
ed in the affirmative.
Lamar was sworn in by the vice president
Ilamlin from the committee appointed yester-
day to wait upon the president and notify him the
senate was ready for susiness, reported the pres-
dent would communicate with the senate to-mor-
row in regard to executive business.
Blaire submitted the following:
solved, That the oath of office required by
| law he now administered by the vice president to
| W iam Pitt Kellogg whose credentials as SEN
| ator from the state of Louisiana were presented
on the Doth of January, 1877.
| Bayard asked the senator TO withdraw that res
olution for the present, that he might submit one
to have General John T. Morgan, senator elect
| from Alabama, sworn in, whose case similar
! to that of Lamar.
Blaine said that the case of Kellogg came be-
fore either that of Lamar of Morgan in its ORDER
therefore it had better be acted on now.
Bayard then submitted the following substitute
| for the resolution of Blaine:
That the credentials of William Pitt Kellogg,
claiming 10 be a senator from the state of Louis
lana, do now lie upoh the table until the appoint
ment of a committee on privileges and elections,
| TO whom they can be referred.
| Mr.. Blaine said, | do not DESIRE Mr.. President,
10 detain the senate by any lengthy presentation
of Mr.. Kelloggs case, regarding him as do, as
regularly and duly elected senator from the state
of Louisiana, could wish there would be no OBJ
| lection to his being sworn in. | believe that he
was elected by the legal legislature of Louisiana.
| believe he elected by and represents the le-
| gal government of Louisiana, and | do not see
now to-day, and that is the main points desire to
present, how any senator who voted in this cham
| Der that the electoral vote of Louisiana legally
and properly was cast for Rutherford Il. Hayes
and yourself. Mr. President, is permitted to doubt
that 5. b. Packard is equally of right the COVER
| nor of that state. There may be some technical
ity, there may be some keen form of logic which
l have not yet heard and which do not think
| shall ever be able to comprehend, by which q man
| who had nearly a thousand votes more than the
electoral ticket received, not elected governor
when the electoral ticket was chosen, and | frank
ly repeat that am not permitted to doubt, nc
man is permitted to doubt legally to-day Certain
ly the other side of the chamber is not permitted
to doubt legally that the electoral vote of Louis
lana was properly cast for Hayes and Wheeler
1t decided by the tribunal created by that side
| of the chamber. The senator from Connecticut
(Eaton) bows to me. lie and am guiltless Of
that tribunal, (laughter) but with the single ex
ception Of the senator from Conn.,, every gentle
man on that side of the chamber in the congres.
just closed, voted to establish that tribunal. and il
day of the political millennium he'd at last dawnet
and that we have now established tribunal dis
tnguished above all human instrumentalities fol