The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-01-23

Discussion Ofthe Joint Committee
Speeches by Edmunds and Morton N
President Grant Answers House
as to the Use Of Troops In
the Southern States.
HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, January 90.

MIR. JhrOCRmort0n offered q resolution
directing the Committee on Military AT.
fairs TO inquire into the cause Of the re.
moval OF troops from the frontier,
sufficient force remained there
70 protect II, and the number Of troops
stationed at Washington. The resolution
was deleated-yeus 142, nays 81, not two.
thirds in the affirmative.
sUSDRY HILLS.
Bills were introduced by Mr.. Frye to
establish n court for the trial Of the con.
tested election for the offices of President
and Vice President. 1t provides that
the election may be contested by any
eligible person who has received u vote
for President, and that the court for the
trial Of such contested election shall con-
sist Of the Chief Justice Of the Supreme
Court, &c., the Judges Of the Circuit or
District Courts to be seIectedby the Chief
Justice.
By Mr.. Caulfeld: To regulate the
disposition Of troops in the District OF
Columbia.
By Mr.. sayler: To reform the civil
service.
MOTIONS TO SUSPEND RULES.
Mr.. Seeleye moved to suspend the
rules and take up for consideration the
bill to allow the Chootaw nation to bring
suit in the United States Court of Claims
against the United States. Rejected
Yeas lao, nays "a, less than two.thirds
voting in the affirmative.
Mr.. Hunter moved 10 suspend the rules
and pass q joint resolution to amend the
Constitution by providing that no claim
shall be ever allowed or paid by the
United States for property used, con-
sumed, injured or destroyed during the
late rebellion, unless it belonged to per.
sons who were loyal to the Government.
LoSt-Yeas, 1875, nays ~, not two.thirds.
Mr.. Ashe moved TO suspend the rules
and pass bill to refund to the State Of
North Carolina the net proceeds from
the sale Of 900 bales OF cotton belonging
to that State, seized after the close oi the
late rebellion. Lost-7G to 10.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Mr.. Wood, Of New York, offered n
referring the Presidents
message 10 select Committee of II to
inquire and report whether there has
been any exercise Of authority, that is
not warranted by the Constitution and
laws, in the Use Of troops, for which the
President is Justly responsible, with
power 10 send for persons and papers.
Objections were made by Kasson, Hale
and Wilson. OF Iowa, which were over
ruled by the Speaker, but on diIalory
motion by Kasson the vote was not taken
on the resolution, which went over until
tomorrow and the House adjourned.
SENATE.
During the morning hour Mr.. Merri-
mon spoke in opposition to sending n
committee Of the Senate away from the
city to take testimony. Recently one
State was without representation, and
twelve other States were with only one.
half representation, the Senator's being
away on investigating committees. He
believed all testimony could be taken BY
a commission appointed for the purpose,
and introduced u bill providing for
taking testimony and collecting iniorma.
tion to be used by Congress. lie also
submitted 4 resolution declaring that it
is not within the lawful authority Of the
Senate TO charge committees OF the Sem
ate with duties 10 be performed away
from the capital while the Senate is in
session; both Of which were referred. :.
The Chair laid before the Senate a
telegram from the Chicago Board Of
Trade, approving the bill reported on
Thursday in regard to counting the elec.
toral vote. Laid on the table.
MR.. MOTION ON THE ELECTORAL BILL.
Consideration was resumed of the bill
in regard to the counting OF the electoral
vote, and Mr.. Morton took the floor. lie
said the bill was the product of the
Mississippi plan. The shadow OF intim.
dation had entered the Senate chamber.
He believed that Rutherford b, HAYES
had been elected President under the
forms OF law and according 10 law. and
should he be counted in as eighteen other
Presidents had been and inaugurated,
there would be no revolution. There
have been many loose opinions expressed
because OF frat Impressions without
examination. On this question | have
done so myself; have u bad habit of
saying what thought at the time but en-.
deavor to atone for il, by correcting it
when found that l was mistaken. |
am no admirer OF the reticence OF the
political owls who keep silent and
look wise until they are out Of the woods,
and then give prolonged hoot. | had
supposed that all agreed that, in tue alb.
sence OF other legislation; the President Of
the Senate must count the votes. The
President OF the Senate did count the vote
for seyenty.two years. TelIers were mere
facilities for making calculations and
keeping account. They counted what the
PreSidentiot the Senate handed them down
TO count, and handing them down the Ger.
titicates to count was declaration Of the
vote. 1t continued from 1889 TO 1871.
The resolution appointing tellers pro.
Vided that they were to make list of the
votes as they were declared, and the
counting of the votes was ceremony 10
which the two Houses were witnesses, The
Constitution provides that the President
OF the Senate shall in the presence Of The
two houses open all the certificates. The
votes shall then be counted, and il no one
mo candidate-has n majority OF all the
electors appointed, the House shall i'm.
mediately proceed to elect. The process
contemplated was very simple one,
simply to open the certificates and count
the votes, but contemplated no time or
place 10 try the question Of the eligibili.
~ OF either Of tho candidates or Of the
electors.
WHETHER THE ELECTORS WERE EIdrnLE
was a matter left to the States under the
injunctions OF the Constitution, The
handing down OF the certificates by the
President Of the Senate was . declara.
tion oi the vote contained in II.
Very few Republicans respect this bill.
Twill be taken by Republicans, II taken
at all as dose Of castor oil. Mr.. Ed.
munds burned his ships behind the bill
when he denied the power Of the Presi.
dent Of tho Senate TO count the votes In
the absence Of legislation. He thus
seemed TO make it necessity to accept
1t has been announced by a member Of
Congress that
ONE MILLIoN OF MEN,.
a ,n to Ia hnrn ~, A. 1a1 ,AIfN.'..