The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-01-31
ALL THE LATEST.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-Yesterday
and to-day have been exciting field
days for the Electoral bill. Conk
ling supported it in an able speech
Thurman followed, speaking likewise
in support of the bill. Blaine and
Dawes both spoke against it.
After long night debate, the bill
finally came to a vote at Z o'clock
this morning. To the surprise OF
everybody all the Democrats, except
Mr.. Eaton OF Connecticut, voted for
the bill.
The vote on the bill was as follows
In favor of it-27 Democrats, 20 Re
publicans; against it Democrat
and II Republicans.
The absentees were Davis, Hitch
cock, Logan, Oglesby and Spencer.
All the Southern Republican Sen
ators voted without exception against
the bill, and are bitterly opposed
!, to it.
The bill will now 60 to the House
as it passed the Senate, and a vote
, on it will be forced tomorrow. Four
hours have been allowed members
J, for debate, so that the speeches can
not be very long. 1t is certain that
vote on the bill will be reached in
2 the House before to morrow night.
There is now not the least doubt
of it's passage by an overwhelming
, majority. The Democratic members
f are almost solidly for it, and a large
number of Republicans will also vote
: for it.
, WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-The House
; met at 10 a. M, and Immediately re-
0 sumed the discussion of the Electo-
Y raj bill Hooker of Mississippi ar
+ gued against the right of the Presi-
n dent of the Senate to count the vote.
d The bill involved no new idea; it was
perfectly constitutional and exactly
in concordance with the ideas that
had been asserted in regard to the
y rights and powers of the House. 1t
,, was simply the delegation of these
u powers to another body right which
& the House clearly had.
/ Hartridge of Georgia, also argued
e that the bill was constitutional and
) vindicated the course Of the 70 Use
y in the matter.
u FELTON, of Georgia, followed in the
e same strain.
, Mills of Texas, opposed the bill as
, unconstitutional. He thought the
u House should observe the forms OF
- law. The change of power from one
= party to another was always attended
= with danger. The proposition tc
% form tribunal of judges, to drag
- them from the bench into politics
was an unholy alliance between the
% legislative and judicial departments
- of the government, fraught with ter
q rible evils in future for the country
le On the part of the House, it was s
It practical abdication of its rights and
!. powers; a REIMBURSEMENT of all il
ia had claimed and which it should have
!. insisted upon, as sustained by tn
constitution and laws.
,e Lamar, of Mississippi, regretted
D. that he was compelled to differ will
al the gentleman. The tribunal wai
D merely an agency to ascertain which
le were good and which had votes and
r. who were elected electors. He de-
lie MED the right of the President of the
d Senate to count the votes. He
thought that the bill would relieve
the country of the terrible excitement
IS now prevailing from one end of the
J. country to the other. AS for the
l. tribunal it was clearly constitutional
g. He did not agree with the gentle
q man from Texas Mr.. Mills) that il
e was dragging the judges into politics
'e He thought the selection of these
l. very judges one of the most pleasing
J. features in the bill. The Supreme
s. Court had always stood between tn.
IS country and obnoxious to legislation
After discussion by several mem
=, bers, each being allowed ten minute.
&c Payne closed the debate. He refer
a. red to the arduous labors Of the join
., committee in framing this bill, ant
n pointed out with great force the ur
ID gent necessity Of some measure o
III compromise.
n The House then proceeded to vote
"a The Speaker said that he would ex
10 ercise his privilege as a member ant
~ voted in the affirmative.
The vote resulted-ayes ISL
nays S6.
AZ The foreshadowing of the Louisi
in NJ,