Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-02-10
UNITED STATES CONGRESS-.
senate.

i. Edmunds, Of Vermont, Oliver =. Morton, q
Indiana, and Frederick 4. Frelinghuyson, OF
New Jeasoy.
Mr.. Stevenson nominated Allen q. Thurman
of Ohio, ard Thomas Il. Bayard OF Delaware
and said no Joined with the senator from New
Hampshire In expressing tho hope that tho,
would receive the unanimous vote of the Senate
They were unanimously elected.
Joseph q. Bailey, elected United States sona
tor from Tennessee 10 ill the vacancy caused
by the death of Andrew Johnson, presented
himself and took the oath of Office.
Resolutions were presented and discussed
relative to tho gubernatorial question in South
Carolina, but no action was taken on them.
The Senate discussed the bill reported by the
Judiciary committee to amend tho Pacific rail
road acts so Ms to provide sinking fund for
the liquidation Of the indebtedness due the
government by said roads,
The Chair laid before the Senate the creden-
tials of George Il. Hoar, elected United States
senator from Massachusetts, for term of six
years from March 4, 1877, to succeed Senator
Boutwell,, and Mr.. Bayard (Dem.), of Delaware,
presented the credentials Of the Hon. Eli Sauls.
bury, elected United States senator from the
State of Delaware for six years from March 4,
1877.
A large number Of petitions were presented
by various senators, signed by male and female
residents of the different States, asking the
adoption of sixteenth amendment to the Con-
stitution Of the United States, prohibiting the
States from DISTINGUISHING persons on account
Of sex, all of which were referred to the COM
mttcd on privileges and elections
Mr. Hamlin (Rep.), of Maine, at the request
of several senators, submitted resolution di-
rectng the committee ON rules to inquire what,
if any, rules should be adopted for the admis-
sion of persons to the Capitol during the can
wasting of the votes for President and Vice
President of the United States, and that the
l. tal -,
mittee on rules of the House of Representa-
tives Agreed TO.
Mr.. Cooper (Dem.), of Tennessee presented
the credentials Of the Hon. Frank Hereford
elected United States senator from the State Of
West Virginia to fill the vacancy caused by the
death of the Hon. Allen T. Caperton.
The Chair laid before the Senate the creden-
tails of John r. Mcpherson, elected United
States senator from New Jersey for six years
from March 4, 1877.
The president pro tenn. laid before the Senate
a communication from certain associate justices
of the supreme court, stating that they had Sc
lected Hon. JOS. p. Bradley to be member of
the Electoral commission.
Various petitions were presented in favor Of
the repeal of the law imposing taxes on banking
capital and deposits, all of which were referred
to the committee on finance.
House.
Mr.. Payne Dem.), of Ohio, offered a resolu-
ton that the House now proceed to the election
of the five members of the commission on the
Presidential electoral count. Adopted.
Mr.. Lamar Oem.) of Mississippi, rose and
put in nomination Messrs. Payne, of Ohio,
Hunton, of Virginia. Abbott, of Massachusetts,,
Garfield, of Ohio, and Hoar, Of Massachusetts.
The vote was taken. and the appointment of
MessrA Payne, HuntOn, Abbott, Garfield and
Hoar received large majority of the votes, and
were declared elected to act for the House.
Mr.. Banning Dem.), of Ohio, introduced
bill providing that the first session of every
Congress shall begin on the fourth of March.
Mr.. Hubbell Rep.). of Michigan, introduced
a bill chartering a freight railroad company
from tide water on the Atlantic to the Missouri
river.
The House considered the bill authorizing
the secretary of the treasury to pay James b.
Eads, constructor of the jetties at the mouth of
the Mississippi river, s5O0000, the pending
question being on the amendment offered Ivy
Mr. Buclsner CDem.), of Missouri, directing the
payment to be made in United States bonds.
The substitute was rejected-yeas, SO nays
162.
The House passed the bill appropriating
$500. 900 to be paid to James B. Eads for the
of ietties, ETC., at the mouth of the
Mississippi river.
Mr.. Cox Dem.), of New York, chairman of
the committee on election frauds in New York.
made report in connection with the alleged
with the mails in the New York post
office, exonerating Postmaster James and his
from all suspicion of fraud or
with the said mails. Adopted.
The Speaker laid before the House the bill
the board of commissioners of the
police of the District of Columbia
The question was put: "Shall the bill pass
the Presidents veto?' and it
was decided in the atfirmative-yeas, 1853
nays, 10.
nv. Il, L. kl,n
message from the President saying that the
appointed to reorganize the army
had reported that it was not at this time pre-
pared to submit plan for the reorganization
Referred.
The Speaker laid before the House a commu-
nication from the four associate justices desig-
mated by the Electoral bill as members of the
judicial branch of the commission, announcing
that they had selected Justice Joseph p. Brad
ley as the fifth member of the judicial branch
of the commission.
After discussion, the majority resolution de-
claring that Colorado is State and that Mr..
Bedford is entitled to his seat in the House was
adopted. Mr.. Belford was then sworn in.
Mr.. Cox (Dem.), of New York, called up the
papers in the Florida election case, and the
titles of the papers were read as follows: " An
authenticated copy of an act to declare and
the appointment by the State of Flori-
da of electors for President and Vice-President,"
and "Wilkinson Call et al. against Charles II.
Pcarce ct al.-Records of proceedings in the
nature of quo acd,rdnto.' Mr.. Conger, (Rep),
of Michigan objected, and the Speaker then
placed the papers in the petition box.
THE JOINT CONVENTION.
The Joint convention of the Senate and House
met in the House chamber on February LIST to
canvass the electoral votes. The president of
the Senate took the chair, having the Speaker
Oh his left, and then, when the senators and
,1ars oil tod fhn Of
Senate rose, and, using the gavel to enforce
order and silence, said The joint convention
of the two houses of Congress for counting the
votes for President and Vice-President will now
come to ORDER
Then, while perfect silence reigned in the
the president Of the Senate said:
+" In obedience with the Constitution, the
Senate and House of Representatives have met
to be present at the opening of the certificates
and the counting and declaring of the results of
the electoral votes for the office of President
and Vice-President of the United States. for the
term of four years, commencing on the fourth
day of March next In compliance with the law,
the president of the Senate now proceeds, in the
presence of the two houses, to open all of the
certificates of the several States, and in their
a phabetical order, beginning with the State of
Alabama" The canvassing begun by States in
alphabetical order, Alabama being first. No
objection was made to the declaration of the
Notc Oh lulS Sldtc anu
Arkansas ditto; California, Hayes, and Wheeler,
Colorado, ditto; Delaware, 1iden and Hendricks
Then Florida was reached. The reading of
the first certificate showed the four votes of
Florida for Hayes and Wheeler. Then the
presiding officer handed to the teller another
certificate received from the same State, which,
on being read by Mr.. Stone showed the four
votes of Florida for 1iden and Hendricks. The
former certificate was authenticated by Gov
Stearns the latter by Attorney General Cooke
A third certificate was an authorization of the
act of electors who voted for Tilden and Hen
bricks, and is made by Gov. Drew.
The presiding officer asked whether there
were objections to counting the vote of the
State of Florida.
Mr.. Field Dem of New York, rose and sent
to the clerks desk written objection to the
first certificate (for Hayes and Wheeler) signed
by Senators Jones, Cooper and Mcdonald, and
by Representatives Field, Tucker, jerks and
Springer.
The presiding oflicer-"Are there further OBJ
jections to the counting of the votes of the
State of Florida? (After pause.) If there be
none the certificates and papers, together with
other papers accompanying the same, as well as
the objections presented, will now be trans
mitted to the Electoral college commission for
INDIGNANT and decision The Senate will now