The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-02-01
FORTY.FOURTH CONGRESS.
Proceedings of the Second Sessio

On the 22d Mr.. Merrimon submitted
a resolution in the Senate declaring it is not
within the lawful reach OF the Senate to charge
committees ct the Senate with duties to be
performed away from the capitol while Con-
gress is in session. He said that recently one
State was without representation, and twelve
others with only half their usual representa-
ton. Mr.. Morton addressed the Senate at
length IN opposition to the bill for counting
the electoral vote. He believed the Republi.
cans had conceded everything in consenting
that the counting OF the votes should he taken
from the President of the Senate Mr. Cam
eron also opposed the bill.
The House, on the 22d, defeated a
resolution to inquire why the troops are being
removed from the frontier. A bill was intro
duced by Mr.. Frye to establish a court tor
President and Vice President It provides
that the court shall consist of the Chief Jus
tice OF the Supreme Court and six Judges of
the U. S. Circuit Court, to be selected by the
Chief Justice. MIR. Hunter moved to suspend
the rules and pass the joint resolution to
amend the constitution by providing that no
claims shall ever be allowed for property lost
in the rebellion, unless the person was LOYAL
to the government-lost, ll5 to 70, not two
thirds.
The Senate, on the 23d, resumed con-
sideration of the compromise bill, and Senator
Sherman spoke in opposition to it, giving as
one reason, that he believed it unconstitution-
al and a scheme by the Democrats to count in
Tilden. Senator Conkling favored the pas
sage OF the measure, but denied the power OF
the President OF the Senate to count the votes;
il the constitution gave all power to one man
it was not easy to see how Congress could
witness or verify the act. Whatever words
the President Of the Senate chose to utter the
two houses must listen to him. Mr. Conk-
ling being unable to conclude his speech fur
ther consideration OF the question was post
pOned one day.
Mr.. Burtz was admitted as a mem.
ber, and took the lron-clad oath, on the 23d.
Mr.. Seelye addressed the House at length upon
promise. MIR. Williams, OF Wis. believed the
count the electoral vote. Mr.. Tucker made
a cons itutional argument in the support OF
the compromise. The House then adjourned.
In the Senate, on the oath, the com.
promise bill was again taken up and Mr..
Sergeant spoke in opposition to the bill. He
argued that the power to count the electoral
mise measure lett the decision on ali ques-
tons with one man, the fifth Judge. He fur
ther opposed the bill because it degraded the
Supreme Court, and because it invited po-
litical party defeated by the ordinary forms, to
clamor for another hearing. He said it was a
surrender surrender Of. Of Republican rights. Mr.:
MED that the bill was a compromise; it
surrendered the rights OF none. Mr.. Morton
said he had over 500 letters from Indiana,
Ohio and other States approving his course in
opposing the compromise. Mr.. Mcdonald
had been through Indiana, and the general
voice of Republicans as well as Democrats
he tavored the bill: Morton never regarded Nc
principles: Senators Bayard, Chrtstiancy,
and Morrill, endorsed the measure, while
Blaine believes Congress does not possess the
power it proposes to transfer. Senator Thur
man also favored the bill.
In the House, in considering the
question of privileges, Mr.. McDill. OF Iowa,
thought the President OF the Senate alone
had power to count the vote. Mr.. Bright
and no returning board could oust its juris
diction. The committee on Pacific railroads
reported back favorably the bill tor an eight
years. extension to the Northern Pacific. The
message OF the President relating to troops in
the South on election day was referred to q
special committee of II with power to send
for orpersons and papers.
on the oath, debating the Presidential COM
promise bill and at 7:l0 a. m. on the 25th q
vote was reached and the measure adopted by
q vote of Al yeas to II nays. Eaton, Of Con-
necticut, was the only Democrat voting in the
the negative. The following is the vote in
detail: Ayes-Alcorn, Allison, Barnum, Bay
ard, Bogy, Booth, Boutwell,, Burnside, Chat
fee, Chrlstiancy, Cockerell, Conkling, Cooper,
Gragin,. Davis, Dawes, Dennis, Edmunds,
asan4S nghuysen aGS1dith"i;ite Sis aosdon Hoxe
Herman, McCreery, Mcdonald. McMijIan'
Maxey, Merrimon, Morrill,, Price, Randolph,
Ransom, Robertson, Salisbury, Sharon,
Stevenson, Teller, Thurman, Wallace, White.
Window, Withers and Wnght-47 Nays
Blaine, Bruce, Cameron PENN Cameron.
wis.,, Clayton, Conover, Dorsey, Eaton,