Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-01-23
Congress-.
r II E 3 E N A T E .

WASHINGTON, January %. 1S77.-ln The
Senate to-day, tie report of the committee o
fourteen was taken up, the galleries being
dense y packed.
MIR. Sherman, Of Ohio, opposed the bill 10
Icugthy argument. He conteDded that the bll
violated the Constitution 10 several particulars
1t assumed to delegate powers which Congress
did not possess. 1t placed the choice OF Presl
dent ia the hands OF one map; 1t undertook tl
give the TWO Houses, by their concurrent acton,
power to reject the vote OF any elector or any
Stale, whereas the Constitution said that all
cases which required the concurrent action OF
the Two Houses should be subjected to the veto
of the President,
MIR. Conklipg, ofN. Y, followed, land opened
by saying that he bad appreciated the tremen'
dous magnitude of the question now before the
country. He had read diligently all the pre-
cedens on the subject, and had searched, also,
all the utterances Of the men who had partlcI'
patcd in making the Constitution. lie aVowed
that in his Judgment the bill did not overpass
the Constitutional powers of Congress. Congress
had the power to make all needful rules Tor
carrying into effect any power devoVed upon
the United States or any officer thereof So
even if the Vice President was TO count the vote
o law can provide how the Vico President shall
execute his functions.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The Chair ruled that the Presidents message
remains on his table, and that Mr. Wood was,
therefore, not entitled to the floor to press bis
resolution for its reference to select committee
with power to send for persons aad papers.
The message will, therefore, be considered at a
future time.
a memorial from merchants oil Boston 10
reference to a settlement of the electoral count
was presented, but objection was made to It's
reading.
Gov, Swami, Of Nd, Chairman OF the For,
cign Affairs Committee submitted letter from
the Secretary CT State, setting forth that the
Mexican commission has closed its labors. and
that Mexico is now ready to pay to this Gov
ernmeut upwards of "a .000, 900 of indemnity
for losses sustained by citizens Of the U. S. un.
der the provisions OF the treaty ofJuy 4, 1868.
The communication was referred
A memorial from citizens Of St. Louis, pray.
ing the passage of the electoral count bill, was
not permitted to be presented.
A report from the Eelectiou Committee de-
claring Butts, from the p district Of South
Carolns, entitled to q seat in the House, was
adopted, and Butts sworn iu, taking the Iron
clad oath.
The minority lcl,art of the Committee on the
Duties and Powers OF the House-Whlch gives
to the President Of Senate the power to couat
the electoral pnt.---T,lS then taken up and MIR.
Scelye, of Mass. addressed the House upon the
issues of the day, in which he favored the plan
of adjustment Of Tic joint committee and in ia
vcr Of the majority report.
T. O. Williams, Of Wis, followed 10 violent
puritan speech in Justification Of Ruger's con.
duet 10 South Carolina and Grants foreign,
financial and Southern policy.
As stump Grafton It was . success and ire
uucntly drought down the House lie advo
Gated the Use Of lronps il ip the opinion Of tho
Pr siIcut necessary.
MIR. Tucker, al VirEInli, neXl addressed the
House in IN argument il favor Of the majority
report OF tbs committee, and Al the same time
favoring tho adoption Of the plan Of adjustment
as reported by the joint committee On counting
tho electoral vote. Mr.. II. spoke with great
power and ability, elciting earnest attention
and making marked impression.