The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-23
Tnc r.nfes. from wasl,inEton.

Thc latest from sFashington.
AN INTERESTING SCENE IN THE sENATE-sEN.
AToR MORTON ADDRESSES THE BODY FROM
hts CHAIR ON THE ELECTORAL B1LL-aR.
FRELINaHUYsEN's REPLY on THE C0SsT1TU-
T1oNALTTY OF TIE PLAS--A VOTE TO BE
REACHED To.pAY-THE USE OF TROOPS IN
THE SOUTH DURING THE ELEcTI0N--EFP0RT
| OF THE REPUBLICANS TO DEFEAT TIE ELEC-
TORAL. BILL By DELAY-BLATNE SWORN INTO
oFfICE-MR. STEPHENS, OF GEORGIA
! SENATOR'S WHO WILL VOTE FOR AND AGAINST
TIE BILL To.pAY--ABsEET AND DOUBTFUL
| MEMBERS.
| rFrom our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, January 22.--This morn
ing, in anticipation OF the debate upon the
electoral bill, the galleries OF the Senate
were crowded with spectators, and the pri-
viIeged seats upon the floor were occupied
by representatives and distinguished men
among the latter were General Sherman
and Hon. William NJ. Evarts. ~
Att o'cloc!!:: Senator Morton, saying he
was almost TOO unwell to- address the Senate
Sitting in his chair), gave his objections to
the bill. The bill had grown out OF an ap-
prehension in the public mind that violence
would follow revolutionary measures to be
inaugurated by the House, one OF whose
members had threatened that hundred
thousand Democrats would be in Washing
ton on the 4th Of March. The shadow OF
intimidation had entered the Senate cham
Der, and this bill was the result.
rat this remark Senator Conkling got
out his paper and made motel But
the only real danger is in fear to stand
up and do ones whole duty. Hayes has
certainly been lawfully selected by the pa
pers and in the hearts OF the people," and
ought to be, and must be, inaugurated I'M
less counted out under this unfair bin. He
had always been an advocate OF States
rights, not of States sovereignty, and held
it was alone within the province OF lawful
Reconstructed authorities OF each State to
determine who had been elected electors !;
and the president OF the Senate must re-
ceive and count the votes OF only those who
are so decided by the canvassing boards to
have been lawfully appointed by the States.
II the president of. the Senate has not that
power, in the absence OF statute directing
who shall perform that duty, the votes for
Presidents have been illegally counted for
eighty-four years.
Senator Morton argued against the con-
stitutionality of the mixed board, as he
called it, on the ground that il the two
houses have the power to count they cannot
delegate that power. The commission, too,
was to be composed OF men selected with
reference to their political bias. although the
bill by a harmless sham sought to hide
the fact. Ii any outside tribunal must be
selected it should have been the whole Su-
prcmc Court. He was satisfied that no
Democratic senator would support the bill
il he thought there was any possible chance
for TiIden without going behind the return.
Without the bill they could not accomplish
that object, because the Constitution re-
quircs the votes to be counted as soon as
opened, aud no question OF dispute az to
eligibility OF presidential candidates or OF
electors can then be raised.
Senator Frelinshuysen replied, taking his
position square against the power alleged
to be lodged in the president OF the Senate,
and in support of the bill. Incidentally he
said the Democratic members OF the COM
mittee had shown great fairness in agreeing
to a measure III which the veriest caviller
cannot point out any inequality or injustice
to either party. II the bill shonld not be
passed the consequences might be serious,
as 4 President has certainly been elected,
and the House could not therefore elect on
the ground that nobody was elected. In
that event the outgoing President would
have to decide, at least temporarily, upon
whom the Administration should deyolye.
Senator Sherman endeavored to prevent
further discussion to-day by proposing to
take up other business, and the movement
was seconded by Senator Morton, who said
he believed not 4 half dozen Republican
senators would favor the bill if their judg-
ments were consulted; but some OF them
seem to have been bulldozed by threat
that the city and the capitol was to he filled
by a hundred thousand armed men.
Senator Edmunds said the armed Demo-
Gratis existed only in the Imagination OF
Senator Morton, and while lie did not wish
to precipitate the action of the Senate he
hoped every senator who wished to express
his views would do SO, as he felt it his duty
to insist upon vote tomorrow.
Senator Cameron deprecated haste, and il
Il
the bill, because he considered it a Demo
cratic measure. He was opposed to COM
promises, and feared Republican commit
teemen had good-naturedy yielded too
much to the Democrats. The Supreme
Court ought not to be drawn into politics.
They would lose the confidence OF the coun-
try, and very soon would be asking posi-
tons for their sons and sons-in-law.
Senator Edmunds said he would insist
upon deliberate promptness, as the bill
must be passed very soon to be OF any use.
It would not die by attempts to put it of,
but must be either passed or rejected, and
with notice already given he consented to
let the bill go over until tomorrow.
The Presidents message, in answer to a
resolution as to the use of troops in the
South, was read in the House. lie claims
to have acted under authority Of statutes
giving power to preserve peace at polls and
assist State authorities in suppressing tur'
bulence. The Democrats sought to have the
message referred to select committee OF
eleven, but the Republicans, showing dis