The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-03-08


yesterday.
Mr.. Reagan supported the point OF or
der, and argued against the resolution
as proposing a new question, which had
not been presented to the two houses In
Joint session. He expressed his great re-
eret that where his side of the House
had good, valid substantial objections to
the electoral count, that any other oblec-
tions. which could not command the re-
spect of party or of country, had been
made.
After some further discussion the
Speaker said, with my best respects ior
all parties concerned, the Chair consid-
ers that the great mistake and wrong was
committed yesterday in the joint session
OF the two houses, in this that the presl-
ding officer refused to receive, even for
opening, reading and information, a
package which had all the surroundings
of an authentic paper in respect to the
electoral count.
If the presiding officer Of the joint con-
vention yesterday was wrong, he does
not think he possesses the power, nor
does he believe in technical sense that
the action OF the joint convention can be
reviewed in this House in the manner
proposed, and yet there is above all a
fact in which this matter rests; that fact
is, whether this House should have pos
session of this paper. To that extent,
and that extent only, the Chair thinks
the resolution of the gentleman from IL
linois (,aulfiald ia in order
Messrs. Springer, O'Brien, Caulheld,
Sparks and Poppleton were all address
ing the Speaker at once, and worrying him
and the House with all sorts of questions
and objections. They were suddenly
Joined by Beebe Of New York, who, in a
most excited manner, protested against
the action of the Speaker, who, shouting
at the top of his voice, in expressions
which, in the uproar and excitement,
were entirely unintelligible at the repor-
ter's desk. At this time every member
of the Democratic side, and nearly every
one on the Republican side was on his
feet.
AS this wild scene was enacted the
sergeant.at-arms, with his mace of office,
appeared in the most disorderly parts Of
the assemblage, and Mr.. Beebe stepped
down from his high position and address
sed the Speaker in moderate tone from
his own place. Then the spaces behind
the outer row of desks were cleared. BY
degrees the storm lulled, and although
there were some lesser renewals oft,
the Speaker managed, at2 O'Clock, in
getting the House fairly into two hours
discussion on the Vermont objections,
The debate was opened by Mr.. Popple-
ton, who soon yielded to enable Mr. He:
witt, of New York, to relate how he had
come into possession of the package pro-
duced by him yesterday, and he had last
seen it in the possession of the secretary
of the Senate, who said it was the private
property of Mr.. Ferry, and he proposed
as friend of Mr.. Ferry to retain it. Af-
ter good deal of Colloquy in regard to
what had become Of the paper, a mes
senger from the Senate came into the
hall and rendered the package to Mr..
Hewitt, who refused to receive it, and
thereupon announced the fact to the
House. No immediate action was taken
in the matter The young lad who car
ried the package retained it in his pos
session, and took seat awaiting the ac-
ton of the House, and the discussion
Mr.. Hendee explaining that
case of Vermont was only a minor form
of the case in Oregon, the exception be-
ing that in Oregon Cronin had the GER
tifcate of the Governor, while Aldrich,
the person claiming to be an elector in
the Vermont case, had not, but acted en-
tirely on his own motion.
Mr.. Garfield read letter from Mr. Cor
ham, secretary of the Senate, saying he
had put the package pdrporting to be the
second certificate in his pocket, as the
package looked like private communi-
,ation, but being admonished that his re-
,eption of might be construed as a re-
,eption oft by President Ferry, he took
t from his pocket and placed it on the |
lesk, and since that time he had not
een the package.
Mr.. Hewitt remarked that the package |
lad been brought to him by messenger
rom the Senate, who would not tell from
whom he had received it.
The Speaker asked Mr. Garfield to
uspend his remarks till order was re-
tored.
Mr.. Stone, one of the tellers, said he
aw the secretary of the Senate throw
he package under the table among the
that he, Stone, wrote a note to
lr. Hewitt, and that Mr.. Hewitt and he
lad conversation, during which he saw
he secretary take the package from un-
Ter the desk and put it in his pocket.
The debate was closed by Mr., Field,
gho expressed deep regret that day
lad been consumed in an attempt to rec
ify mistake of the President of the
enate; an egregious mistake, which the
gnity and self respect of the House
ompelled it to rectify if possible. He
7ould not go into any question about the
ote of Vermont, whether it was good or
ad. All he knew was, that question
ad arisen respecting it, when the Presi-
ent of the Senate assumed to decide for
imself. He denied that the President
the Senate had power to do anything
xcept keep order, and do what had been
ommitted to him under the electoral
Nv, and all know that this was the very
uestion that lay at the foundation of all
ebates on the subject. From the be-
inning of the session it had been main
lined by the Republicans that the Pres
lent of the Senate could count the vote,
nd on that they had stirred up the peo-
le, had subsidized presses, had procured
gal opinions, and what had they come
, at last2 The Senate itself had in sol
mn debate repudiated the doctrine as
OF worth one moments consideration,
nd the President of the United
tates, in a solemn message to
Ongress, declared that never in the his
'ry ofthe government had the President
the Senate assumed to decide any
lestion That official did now assume ,
decide this question, whether or not
lat was a return to be opened by him. |
the members Of the House consented |
that let them look to the future, Obstd
incipes was the rule ofprudence and the {
lie of law. The Commons of England |
I'd gained the liberties of the English /
.ople, which had made the Anglo-Saxon
ce the glory of the earth, by standing :
, a. - s,lInak ,,,o.e;oy, tbak oopaarnad | !,