The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-25
J. Tne ]. Lntes :, from !. ;yyashinrson.

aToRAI,stBrIE OPENED BY Nh. SARGENT
Il SPEECHES or MEssRs. tEDMuEDs, HAMLIE,
| CoNxLrRG, BAYAR y, cHR1sTIANcY. AND
! & OTHERS HOW SENATOR'S AhUBED ,THEM-
SELVES WHILE TIE DEBATE WAS IN PR0.
GREss-MoRToN, WITH ANEW OF DEFEAT
iING'THE BILL, AT 1885 MOVES TO ADJOURN
THE NOTION REJECTED. s@,s.. 81, IL
| ~ rFrom our Regular Correspondent
W4sHINGToN; January 24.-The Senate
met an hour earlier than usunl, but Che eager
crowd was there before them waiting to
hearth debate. 81 q p p astt@sta@s
Senator Sargent opened the discussion,
arguing against the constitutionalty of the
electoral bill. He held that the president
Of the Senate was especially entrusted with
the power and duty Of counting the vote.
This, he thought, was "a surrender Of the
Republican party and an Infringement OF
the rights of Hayes: II shut off the right
to inquire into the Mississippi election be
cause only one return had been made there
from yet IL the right was accorded in one
case it ought in ell. It was bred Of fears Of
civil war; but he thought there was no dam
ger, and wanted to know who's afraid. Il
Senator Edmunds said Sargent and his
associates had ten months ago voted that
either house had power to exclude votes in
the count This bill, then, looked like Re-
publican victory, il either, party had the
advantage. -i,it:E .e..i5
Senator Hamlin called attention to the ORR
ginal certificate from Georgia in the Jeffer-
son-Burr election, in which Jefferson, as
president Of the Senate, directed the return
to be counted, as evidence that he did actu-
ally Judge OF the returns. - So.
When Senator Conkling arose the privi-
legged seats, which had been sadly depleted
during the speech two hours and q half) OF
Sargent, were rapidly filed. He was graft
fed, he said, to present a memorial from
thirty-seven Republicans and three Demo
Gratis, citizens of Indiana, congratulating
the committee upon the result OF their Ia
bors, and urging the passage Of the electo-
raj bill. Among the names appended he
recognized those Of Benjamin HARRISON,
the late Republican candidate for Governor,
and other distinguished Republicans. Every
eye was on Morton when these words were
uttered, and when Conkling crossed the
aisle, and with profound bow placed the
telegram in his hands, senators smiled, and
the rustic Of quiet applause spread around
the galleries. =
Mr.. Conkling recapitulated his argument
Of yesterday, and reviewed all legislation
bearing upon the subject from 1900 to the
adoption OF the twenty-second joint rule.
showing that the power Of both houses to
count the electoral vote was acknowl-
edged. The Morton bill, which twice
passed the Senate and was defeated by
motion to reconsider, be showed, placed it
entirely within the power OF either house
to determine the election, and gave unlim-
tied power to go behind the certificates.
Quoting report Of Morton, as chairman
of the Committee on Elections, he read
clause alleging that there is imminent dam
ger OF revolution where there is question
as to the vote OF a State. in which there is
alleged to have been fraud, and some mode
Of determining in advance the power to-
Judge between conflicting certificates
should be provided in advance, else the ne
cessity OF the case will devolve that duty
upon the president OF the Senate, and his
decision would be final. "1f," said Conk-
ling, shaking the report towards Morton,
"if there was ever political hell.gate,
paved and honey -combed with political
dynamite. there it is !"
He denied that the bill was compromise.
The grand tribunal would be but commit
tee OF the houses, and act as teller would.
The fact that part of the grand committee
consisted Of persons not members OF either
house did not dEest it Of its character as
committee. Witness the silver commission
and the military commission. Suppose
committee of Congress were appointed to
observe the transit of Jupiter, and the, ver-
cradle senator from Connecticut Orr. Eaton)
were Of that committee, would the addition
Of Professor Henry to prevent him from
observing Venus divest it Of its character
as committee? .....sr
He showed that Morton had voted this
session for proposition to leave disputed
questions to the president OF the Senate, the
Speaker of the. House, and the Chief Jus
tice, he not then having constitutional scru-
pies about arbitration. a.:
Replying to question by Mr.. Dawes,
Mr.. Conkling said the scope OF the powers
of the grand commission would only be
limited by their construction OF the power
given to Congress by the Constitution, but
; subject to review by the two houses. The
/ boundaries of that power are left to them to
decide, because if it were left to discussion
by the four hundred members Of Congress
. the metes and bounds would not be estab-
lished by March, 1878.
1 Senator Morton read kilograms from In
/ diana approving his course, and said he had
many from New York disappearing OF the
/ bill. ,L.t| -. ~ - i ,..a
Senator Mcdonald, of Indiana, said he
was Mt Indianapolis on Monday, and after
conversation with "a great many Republic
! cans he heard but one opinion, and that
was in favor OF the BILL.
| Senator Morton said he feared his col
league was not a correct exponent OF Re-
publican sentiment in Indiana.
| After a recess of two hours the Senate re-
assembled at 8 P. 81. Hundreds of specta-
tors crowded the galleries, and members OF
| the lower house fringed the outer circle OF
senators. -. ;. .l... j.. Ia .ras
! Senator Bayard spoke for two hours in
support OF the BILL and Mr.. Christiancy
| followed on the same sides ~ 4.