Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-01-24
WASHINGTON.
rongressIenal Proceedings,

AohANNlONl 0naAoAJ AZ 49, 80 w.
ate a message was laid before hat body
from the President of the United States
~irclosing . report Of the secretary Of
State in answer to q resolution Of Mr.,
Anthony adopted the 18th instant, trans
hitting copies of correspondence had
With diplomatic officers of the United
States ia Turkey in regard to the revolt
10 the Turkish provinces. Ordered
printed and to lie on the table.
The credentials Of senators elect Win
dom, of Minnesotasan d Bailey and Har-
ris, of Tennessee, were placed on file.
Mr.. Wright, from the committee on
claims, reported favorably the senate
bill to extend for two years the act to
establish a Southern claims commits
sion. Placed on the calendar.
Mr., Wright gave notice that he would
ask for the bill to be considered to-mor-
row morning.
The chair laid before the senate the
resolution Of Me-. Sherman directing the
sergeant.at-srms to arrest auy person
who BY applause or dissent disturbed the
order Of the senate; also the resolution
Of Mr.. Gordon declaring hat the State
government in South Carolina repre-
scented by Wade Hampton was the lawful
government Of the State, but as neither
senator was in the chamber the resolu-
tons were laid aside.
Consideration was then resumed Of
unfinished business and the bill in re.
gard to counting the electoral vote. Mr..
Conkling, who was entitled to the floor
not having arrived, a recess was taken
for ten minutes, when the senate ress-
sembled. Mr.. Conkling not having yet
arrived, Mr.. Sargent took the floor and
spoke in opposition to the bill.
Mr.. Sargent said he had endeavored to
bring his mind to an assent of the pro.
visions Of this bill, frat, because be de.
sired that results might be worked out Of
the complications satisfactorily to the
whole country; and second, because he
desired that equal aud exact justice
shall be dane to every candidate at the
late Presidential election and to the par
ties which put those candidates for
ward, but be did not believe that this
bill would accomplish any such re-
suit. There were suspicious Of I'M
fairness about the bill It gave i'm,
proper powers to the tribunal which 1t
created. If fairness was desired, the
bill was very unfortunate, because the
result to be accomplished by it depended
upon ems man to be selected and Os yet
unknown. The supporters Of the bill
hal addressed their arguments to two
questions. First-Was the bill c%onstitu
tional? Second-Was it ~expedient|
BE then argued that il Was never in
tended that congress should count the
, electoral vote or discriminate between
the returns. If the trainers Of ths
constitution bad intended to lodge
a any such power in congress, a few
I words would have made it certain. |
> was not intended to lodge such danger
\ GUS power 10 congress, because the twC
houses could themselves create an ext
. gency IN which tie constitution provided
y tina. the house should elect a Prsstden
and the senate a Vice President II
argued that the power to count tn
2 electoral vote was lodged ia tbu
president Of The senate. Sargean
quoted Of length from the Madison
papers, and areaed that The elsQqe &C th
e constitution 10 regard 10 counting th
electoral vote, as al Hsst agreed upon b
the constitutional conversion, read
4 " The president Of the senate shall ope
all certificates, and The vote shalI be the
! aud there cogn;sd 10 the presence Of h
4 ~ssasts and house Of representatives.
It was referred to The committee on rev
b sion, aud subsequently reported 10 res'
The president Of tie senate shall, i
The presence Of the senate aud house
:, representatives, open all certificates an
ls the vote shall then be counted" tt
70 members o. the committee on r%evisio
argued that the clause as revised and r
ID ported was substantially the same
ii. that originally agreed upon by the col
ID y%ention.