Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-03-15
sENATE-EXTRA SESSION.

THE Senate of the Forty fifth Congress
convened in extra session on the 5th and elected
Mr. Ferry, OF Michigan, as President pro tenn. The
roll of the new yelected Senators was called and
Messrs. Anthony, Beck, Blaine, Hotr, David
Davis, H. G.. Davis, Krkwood McPherson
Plumb, Rollins, Salisbury, Teller Window
Coke, Garland. Harris, Hill Johnston and tIan-
som we!e sworn in A resolution was adopted
that the credentials OF Senators-elect in all dis
pIted or contested States should lie upon the
table until The 9TH, and in accordance with thi>
resolution. Messrs. Kellogg of Louisiana, Nor
gan of Alabama, Lamar Of Mississippi, Corbin
and Butler (conte tants) of South Carolina, We re
not sworn in, objections being made thereto
La ayette Grover, of Oregon, did rot respond to
his name, and no objection was made to his being
sworn in. ViCe-Prestdent Wheeler was escorted
into the chamber, and Mr.. Ferry presented him t.
the Senate and administered to him the oath of
office. After the inauguration ceremonies, an ad-
JOurnment was haa to the 9th.
A LENGTHY discussion occurred, on the
9Th, over a motion that L. Q. C. Lamar be sworn
in Senator from Mississippi, Mr.. Blaine
among theirs, arguing that his Iamars) Gre
dentials being entirely regular he should be
sworn in now, ri any question as to the legality
of the Legislature which elected him should be
matter Of sub, equent inquiry by the Senate.
After debate the resolution thar Mr.. Lamar be
sworn in was adopted-57 10 Mr. Wadleigh vo1-
ing in the negative; Mr.. Derrimon, who would
also have voted in the negative, war paired with
Mr.. Spencer. A resolution was then offered
by Mr.. Blaine that William Pitt Kellogg
be sworn in Senator from Louisiana. Mr.
Blaine then proceed to argue that Mr.. Kellogg
as elected by the legal Legislature of his State
and that the same Returning Board which had
rightfully decla ed that the Hayes Electoral ticket
in the State was elected had also declared who
constituted the Legislature of the State, which
body had chosen Mr.. Ke logg Senator and de
clared who was the legal Governor of the ate
r. Bayard took the floor to reply to MIR. Blaine
but yielded Tor motion to adjourn.
A MOTION was made, on the morning
of the 7th, that Lafayette Grover, senaor-elect
from oregon, be sworn in, which motion was OBJ
jected 10, and, subsequently, Mr.. Mitchell stated
that he had several petitions from citizens Of
Oregon oblecting to the seating of Mr.. Grover,
which petitions were read. charging that he pro-
cured his election by bribery and corrupt use of
money; that he, unlaWfuly and coriuptly, issued
c. rtifcate of election to Mr.. Cronin. and falsely
testified before the Commi tee on Privile and
Elec ions 10 sustain his act. Mr. Bayard replied
TO Mr. Blaine relative to the case of Mr. Kellogg
of Louisiana, claiming that his (Kellogg's) cGe-
den 1als did not present p'5noG fucie case, be-
cause they were signed by Mr. Packard. who was
not the Governor of the Stare, either de jure or
de foctO; on the contrary, The Senate must axe
cognizance of the public fact that Mr. Nichol 9
was Governor, and mad legal LEGISLATURE setting
in accord with him He Bayard) contended tn
the decision OF the Electoral Commits, ion had no
force in law to control the action of the Senate
this case. Mr.. Blaine re lied, reiterating the
assert on that the same authority of the State
which gave the Electoral vote TO hayes ALI
w eeler also declared he Packard Government
to be the legal State Government Mr. Morton
alsD advocated the C a ms of Mr.. kellogg, and a
TcsOlutlOu was HILL duOpIeQ-4S TO Sl-tiiaU the
credentials lie on the table until the app Iintment
of the Commi tee on Privileges and Elections.
The same disposition was made of the credentials
'f Messrs. Corbin AID Butler, of South Carolina.
An Executive session was held, at which obiec-
lions were made 10 the Cabinet nominations sent
in by the President, especially to those of Messr
Evarts, Schurz and Key.
A resolution was unanimously adopted,
on The Sth, that John T. Morgan be sworn in as
Senator from Alabama, and he took the oath Of
Office The case OF L. B. Grover, of Oregon. was
further considered. and Mr. Conkl ng advocated
his righi to be sworn in claiming that the case
was not analogous to that of Mr.. kellogg, Of
Louisiana. the TWO claims involving entirely dif-
fersnt principles. Mr.. Morton clsim,d that the
case # Mr.. Kellogg was regular on lis face, md
tha he came wi h the proper certificate signed by
the Governor and therefore had pri1d fdcie case,
which was not invalidated because there
another pretended Legislature and pretended
Governor in the State After remarks by uther
Senators, Mr.. Bayard stared that he was author
iZed % say That it was Mr.. Growers intention,
should he be admi ted, to call for the fullest in
vestigation of the charges agair st him. The reso-
luton that he be sworn in then agreed to
W thout division. and he took the GA h. In Ex-
ecutive session, the nomination of Mr.. Sherman
10 be Seer tary of the Treasury was confirmed all
the Republican Senators voting r confirmation
and twenty six Democra veting against it.