The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-02-07
UNITED STATES CONGRESS-.
Senate.

Senate.
Tie House substitute for the Senate bill
granting 4 pension Of S37 a month to soldiers
who have lost both an arm and a leg was read
and referred TO the committee OH pensions.
Mr.. Conkling Otcp.), of New York, presented
petitions from a large number of manufacturers
and business men praying that party feeling
and the strife for party advantage be discarded
in asccrtaining the result of the election for
President and Vicc-Prcsidcnt.
4 petition asking Congress to consider the
political situation from Il patriotic point of
view, having been read. Mr.. Frclinghuysrn
(Rcp.l. Of New Jersey. said that he sympatliZ-
cd with the sentiments Of the petitioners. He
believed that there was patriotism enough and
craftsmanship enough in the representatives Of
the American people to reach a satisfactory con-
c!usion Of the present embarrassment, and he
hoped that patriotism and craftsmanship would
be exercised. If Congress should reach q salts
factory solution of the complications which all
now deprecated, the effect would prove n boon
to this nation worthy of the memorial here.
The chair laid before the Senate a letter from
Il. {. Palmer. secretary Of the Democratic con-
~vcntion. held at Columbus. Ohio. III the eighth
Of January. inclosing n copy of the resolutions
adopted by the said convention III regard to the
present Presidential difficulties. Referred to
the special committee Of seven.
An amendment TO the third rule, to compelthe
attendance of absent senators whenever it shall
he asccrtailled that II quorum is not present.
was laid over.
IIr. Patterson Itcp.), of South Carolina. pre-
scented a petition Of d. II. Chamberlain, r. H..
Grcavcs, F.. L.. CORDOBA and others, Of South
Carolina. setting forth that many of the state
mcnts in the petition of Wade Hampton and
others, recently presented in the Senate, are
untrue, others are calculated to mislcad the
Senate. and important facts are omitted. The
petitioners then review at great length the
condition of affairs in South Carolina, and
claim that they were legally elected to their
various offices. Ordered printed. Mr.. Patter-
son submitted II resolution declaring that the
State government now existing i'll South Caro-
lima. and represented by D.. II. Chamberlain. is
the lawful government of said State that it is
republican in form. and every assistance should
be given to it by the United States, to tho end
that the laws may faithfully executed. Re
fcrred to the committee Oh privileges and cleo
lions.
Nh. Sherman (Rep.l. of Ohio, from the COM
mittec on finance. reported back the House bill
authorizing the coming of the standard silver
dollar aid restoring it, legal tender character.
Placed Oh the calendar.
Mr.. WitllcrS (Dem.l J. Of Virginia, called up
tie message Of the President in regard to the
occupation of Petersburg, Va. by the military
on Nov. 7. and submitted Il resolution relative
to the conStrrr,ioH OF the laws touching the
elective franchise ,rolnTlga cd in general orders
bv tie Encouragement. and fOran examination
OF the same bv the committee onthe Judiciary.
Resolution agreed to.
Mr.. Morton called up the Presidents mes
sage in regard to the occupancy of Peters
burg. Va, b. troops on election day. and replied
at length to the remarks of McssrI. Johnston
and WitlirrS. oc Virginia. He defended the ar-
ton of tn" President. and argued that, under
the law. the President had the right to send
troGpSto thu polls il any State for the purpose
of Keeping the peace. Mr.. Johnston (Dcn.).
of Virginia. sail that if he was satisti-
cd that outragcs had been committed
in Petersburg he would be as quick to
denouncc them as the senator from Indiana a;
but he denied that violence existed in that city.
and a. detailed by NJ. Morton. The matter
after further discussion was laid aside.
, House.
Mr.. Hewitt (Dem.l. of New York. presented
the credentials of David Dudley Field, of New
York. who was then sworn in as a member O.
the House.
The House in committee of the Whole passed
the Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation Hill.
Mr.. Knott DEM, of Kentucky, offered Il
resolution declaring that the answer Of the wit
ness, Z. W. Barnes, Of the Western Union Tcle-
graph Co.. that he had, since his arrest, been
superseded as al officer of the company. and
that if he could now obtain possession of the
dispatches he would surrender them. was not
sufficient. and that said Barnes was in contempt
of tie authority OF the HOUSE in refusing Ia
produce certain kilograms demanded Of him.
and rcli,aiding him TO the custody of the SER
gcart-lt-arnM till he shall purge himself of this
: contempt. or until ne shall nc discharged by
! order Of the House. The resolution was adopt
CG--vcaS. l3l nays. - and Ar. Barnes was
rclnaIdcd TO the cuSt"d! Of the s,r5eant-at-
arms.
Mr.. Knott (Dcm.l. "f Kentucky, froin the
committee 20 ascertain the privileges OF the
House in the counting Of the electoral vote,
made Il rcI,urt recommending the adoption OF
the following resolutions:
Rrrnir,F u. tirSt-Illat the Constitution Of tho
United States does not confer on the president
II the SENATE The power to examine and asc"r-
,aiu votes to he counted a electoral votes fGl
President and Ticc-prcsiIcnt
Srcond-Ihat the only power which the Con-
%Stitutiun ~confcrS OH the president of the Senate
in regard to the electoral votes for President
and Ticc-Presidelt is to receive the sealed Lists
transmitted to him by the several ~clcctorn
clerks. to keep the same safe, and open all Ger
~tilicateS, or those purpUrting to he such, i'll the
presence of the Senate and House of Repre-
scntativcs.
Third-That the Constitution does confer o.
the Senate and House Of Representatives the
power to examine and ascertain the votes to lt
counted as electoral votes.
F~ourtl-That in !he execution OF that power
in respect 10 the counting of the electoral vote
the House has at least equal power with tM'
Senate.
Fifth-That in the counting.of the ~clectora
votes no vote can BE- counted against the judg
ment and determination of the House of Repre-
sentati"cs. .
Sixth-That the committee have leave to ri
again and repert hereafter further matter fol
the consideration of the House.
The report. with the minority report submit