The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-23

a
COMPANY IN MAISE-sNoW-sToRM IN
NEW YoRK-A -THoUsAED-DoI
LAR FIRE IN ERIE, PA.-THE PRESIDENT
PROMISES TO SIGN THE ELECTORAL BILL
SHOULD IT PAsS-HoNOES TO THE, r. US.
SIAN VISITORS AT NORTHUMBERLAND OF
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES LEE, OF NORFOLK
A BOSTON BANK OFFICER ROBBED IN AN
NG-sALooN-FoREIGN ITEMS, &C., &C.
XLTvTHCONGRESS--Se Second Session
WASHINGTON. January %, 1877.
SENATE. il ,fEfa
During the morning hour Mr.. Merrimon
spoke In opposition to sending committees
OF the Senate away from the city to take
testimony. He said the result Of sending
committees away was to deprive States OF
representation on the floor OF the Senate
when questions OF great importance were
being considered.
Senator Morton argued that Hayes had
been elected President He said suppose
that all agreed, in the absence OF legislation,
that the president Of the Senate must count
the votes. The tellers were mere facilities
for making the calculations and keeping
the account. They counted what the pres
dent OF the Senate handed them. The count
ing of votes was q ceremony to which the
two houses were witnesses. The Constitu-
ton provides that "the president of the
Senate shall, in the presence Of the two
houses, open all the certificates, and
the vote shall then he counted, and
il no candidate has Il majority
of all the electors appointed the
Mr.. Morton argued that the question Of
eligibility OF the electors was matter left
with the States under The I'M JUNCTION OF the
Constitution. Very few Republicans re-
spect this bill, and, if at all, it will be taken
| as a dose OF castor-oil. Senator Edmunds
burned his ships behind him when he de-
MED the power Of the president OF the Sem
ate to count the votes in the. absence OF
/ legislation. lie thus seemed to make it a
necessity to accept this bill. This bill is
the product of the Mississippi plan. The
dark shadow OF intimidation has fallen upon
this chamber. There is no power to 60
behind the returns OF the election Of cleo
tors, certified by the proper canvassing
officers OF the States. Neither State courts.
United States courts, nor Congress can do
it. And for Congress or the commission to
60 behind the decision OF the returning
officers Of the State would be revolution,
and draw to Congress the power that was
intended to be left to the States. The bill
is q compromise in which the Republican
party has yielded the vital point, and will
take place alongside with the compromises
OF 1850 and 1920. Compromise measures
generally succeed. for time, and
result disastrously. The vital point
Of the bill. and the most objection
| able, is that which confers the jurisdiction
OF this commission. They are invested
with the powers which belong to both
houses. 1t is the duty OF the president Of
the Senate to determine and present the
true certificate from the electors of a State,
and when q certificate comes into his hands
he must investigate and determine whether
it comes from the electors OF the State. He
must decide that question upon his peril,
and present that certificate to the two
houses Of Congress.
Mr.. Morton spoke an hour, when liz
health interrupted him. He maintained
that the president OF the Senate had the
power to count the vote. He claimed that
HAYES was elected, and declared the bill was
yielding to the Democrats.
| Mr.. Frelnghuysen followed, and argued
the conStitutionality Of the bill.
! Mr.. Cameron, OF Pennsylvania, opposed
tic bill as Democratic measure.
Mr.. Edmunds. said he would press the
bill to vote Tomorrow. even il the Senate
would have given one night to the counting.
| The Chair laid before the Senate Z COM
munication from the Secretary OF War, en-
closing the report OF Lieutcnant-Colonel Q.
A. Gilmore, OF the Engineer corps, in re-
gard to the survey of the line OF water
communication from the mouth Of st. Ma
ry's river, GA, through Florida by way Of
| Okofonokee swamp, to the Gulf OF Mexico.
| Ordered to be printed and lie on the table.
Adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
| 4 message from the President was laid
| before the House i'll response to resolu-
ton calling for copies Of orders given for
| the use of troops in Virginia, South Caro-
| lima, Louisiana, and Florida during the
election. Copies Of the orders were trans
| mitted with the message. The. President
defends his action as being simply in the
performance Of his duty under the Consti-
tuition and laws, and says that II he had had
more troops at his disposal he would have
stationed them so as to prevent the VIOLA
ton of the election laws in those States,
and also in Alabama, Mississippi, and Geor-
gia.
Mr.. Wood, OF New York, moved to refer
the message to select committee Of eleven
to inquire whether there has been any I'M
warrantable exercise of authority for which
the President is Justly responsible.
4 vote on the resolution was prevented
by parliamentary device. 1t comes up as
| unfinished business tomorrow.
Norfolk Items. d.
VISIT or RUSSIAN OFFICERS TO THE GOsPoRT