Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-10-17
The Opening OF Congress.

cial session at noon yesterday, the at
tendance in both houses being full. In the
Senate President Wheeler assumed
the chair, and proclamation Of the Presi-
dent calling the special session was
read, after which Hons. Stanly Mat
thews, of Ohio J. Donald Cameron, of
PENNSYLVANIA, and D. II. Armstrong,
of Missouri, were sworn in as Senators.
Messrs, Anthony and Bayard were ap-
pointed committee to wait upon the
President and inform him that the Sem
ate was in session and ready to receive
any communication he might choose
to make. Mr.. Edmonds offered a reso-
luton that the standing and other COM
mittees of the Senate, be revived and
continues until futher order by the
Senate, but at the suggestion
of Senator Thurman it was laid over
until to-day. The Senate then adjourn
ed till u NJ. to-day.
In the House Mr.. George NJ. Adams.
clerk OF the Forty-fourth Congress, call
ed that body to order according to law,
and read The Presidents proclamation.
The roll was then called and Mr.. Adams
made an explanation Of the reasons in
iuencing him in awarding the contested
seats in Louisiana and Florida. In re-
card to the member from Colorado Mr..
Adams said he had declined to put the
name Of either Belford, republican, or
Patterson, democrat, on the list-the
former for the reason that he was not
elected on the day provided by law,
and the latter because he had presented
only returns, and not credentials. Mr..
Hale, of Maine, there-upon offered a
resolution declaring that the clerk OF
the Forty-forth Congress had set aside
the certificate of Bedford without war
rant Of law. and directing that the name
ofPatterson be stricken from the roll
and that of Bedford inserted. Mr.. Cox
made the point that the clerk had the
-ey.alnsiun control of the roll till the
House was organized, and MIR. Adams
said the motion was to strike out name
that was not there and insert name
that had been omitted. The point OF
order was sustained and Mr.. Hale APP
pealed from the decision, which Mr..
Adams declined to submit to the House,
not believing that under his oath he
would be justified in so doing. The
House then proceeded to the election OF
Speaker, when Hon. Samuel j. Ran
dali was chosen, receiving. l49 votes
1872 votes cast for Hon. James A. Gar
field, of Ohio, the republican caucus
nominee. In assuming the chair Mr.
Randall delivered brief address, in
which, after adyerting to the circum-
stances attending the induction Of the
present national administration into
power, he expressed the opinion that
the House, animated by spirit Of true
patriotism, should approve any sincere
policy looking to complete pacification
and the advancement of all constitution
al methods for the general welfare. He
urged the providing oflegislation which
will render impossible a repetition Of
the wrongs which have occurred and Of
the dangers which threaten. He also
alluded to the retrenchment inaugurateo
by the last Congress. and assumed that
this Congress would take no steps back
ward in that direction. which we may
say does not appear encouraging for the
subsidy jobbers. The organization O
theHouse was completed by the cleo
ton of the nominees Of the democratic
caucus, as follows /: Clerk, George M
Adams, of Kentucky sergeant-at-arms.
J. G. Thompson, Of Ohio; doorkeeper,
J. W. Polk, Of Missouria postmaster.
J. NJ. Stuart of Virginia chaplain.
Rev. John Poisal, Of the Southern
Methodist Church. After the drawing
for seats had been concluded the House
adjourned until today.