National Republican., 1878-04-16
FoRTY-FIFTH CONGRESS-
[Continued from F1rt Fdge.I

Dir. SWAMI presented the resoluuous OF
the Maryland Legislature, known as the Blair
resolutions, IN relation to the election Of Pres
idcnt. and asked their reference to the Judisi-
ary Committee.
Mr.. GARFIELD objected to the reception
Of the resolutions That question had been
settled by both Houses Of Congress, and he
raised the question Of consideration. ...
Tho SPEAKER said this vas matter for
reference Did he understand the gentleman
10 raise question Of orderf
Mr.. GARFIELD said that the only way he
could object was to raise the question of the
reception Of the resolutions. He objected TO
its reference to any committee; for TO refer IL
was TO put II In the line Of proceeding In
which Il would have to come up for considera-
tion at some time.
Mr.. cox IN. " had read the rule In rela-
tion to the call Of the States on Monday, and
which provided that bills and joint resolu-
tions might be offered for reference. He held
that under that rule the question Of considera-
ton could not be raised in this case.
Mr.. GARFIELD said he objected to the re-
ception Of tho resolution. That certainly
could be done. Suppose bill was offered
here to subvcrt the Government Were we
obliged TO receive II because " came In under
the Monday morning call ? This Is the only
time and place where II could be stopped. He
wanted . vote Of the House, so that the
lutions should be referred at all.
Mr.. STEPHENS (Ga.) said that the question
of the reception Of any measure might be
made by any member Of tho House. Anybody
might raise that question.
The SPEAKER. Under what rulef
Mr.. STEPHENS. Under general parliament
ary law but, in this case, he hoped the gentle
man from Ohio would not insist This paper
came from a sovereign State, and let 1t go to
the committee.
Mr. cox IN. " agreed that IL must be re.
ftrred under the rule. The States have some
rights yet, and In tho morning hour Of Monday
the Speaker has no alternative but to receive
any bills or resolutions of State Legislatures
that may be offered.
Mr.. HASKELL inquired II the House could
not determine to which committee q paper
should he sentp
The SPEAKER replied aflrmatively.
Mr.. HASKELL inquired whether II 1t could
do that II could not also determine whether
II should 20 TO committee at all or not.
| The SPEAKER said no for that would be a
denial Of the right Of Representative to have
paper referred. But this was in tho natdre Of
a menorial or petition from State legisla-
ture.
Mr.. SAMPSON argued that this came in just
as bill came, and that the question of con-
sidcratiOn could he raised.
| Mr.. SPRINGER had read that section Of the
law creating the Electoral Commission which
provided way for the trial Of the title OF tho
President.
The SPEAKER said that the right of pet.
| tiCn was guaranteed to States MS well Ms to in-
dividuals and this paper might have been put
in the petitiOn-box aud referred in the usual
way.
Mr.. THOMPSON would move to refer the
paper to a select committee Of fifteen, instead
Of regular committee. He made that motion
in good faith.
Mr.. SAMPSON said this paper was not ad.
dressed to Congress. 1t asks nothing, aud is
here informally.
The SPEAKER bad read the letter accom-.
panying it, which directed the Governor OF
Maryland to transmit copies of the resolution
| to Senators and Representatives.
Mr.. GARFIELD did not object to the form
of the resolution, but he insisted upon the
right of the House to say what disposition
should he made of any paDers before it. He
maintained that right, and objected TO the
reference 10 any committee.
| Mr.. O'NElLL hoped his colleague lMr.
THOMPSON would withdraw his motion for a
select committee. II was giving the matter
| too much dignity. These resolutions of the
state of Maryland were an insult to the House
and to the people of the country and they
should not lie received.
| Mr.. MILLS moved to refer the resolutions
to the Committee of the Whole on the state oi
| the Union.
Mr.. CONGER raised tho question of consid.
Grafton, and held that the Speaker must put
the question, "Wil tho House now consider
| the question of reference
| The SPEAKER said this question must be
| subject to the same rule that governs all Other
questions in the morning hour of Monday.
| Mr.. SOUTIIARD said that If Mr. CoNGER',
views prevailed the right of petition would be
subvertcd.
Mr.. BANKS said that the rule for the call o
States on Monday fixes the time when
bills &C., may be presented, and then the
| House can determine what IL will do with the
| bill or other paper presented under that call
Because 1t is the resolution Of the State Legis'
laturc makes no difference whatever. Sup
pose u State Legislature should pass u resolu'
tion accusing the Speaker or any other mem'
| ber Of Congress of n crime, are we bound to re-
ccive II? The right of the House to consider
any proposition is undeniable, and the House
| cannot surrender that privilege.
| Mr.. STEPHENS (Ga.) agreed with the gen
| tleinan from Massachusetts. Any parliament
ary body could determine whether 1t would
receive u paper or not. 1t was the right Of the
people to petition, but 1t was also the right OF
| tho House to say whether IL would receive
that petition or any other paper. No parlia'
mentary body could exist unless 1t could do
this. But the question is, is it right. is il ju-
dicous to do II in this case lie thought IL
would be an error and mistake not to refer
this document. IIc held, however, that at
any hour, morning, noon, or night, the House
could determine what it would do with any
paper. We could put a man out OF doors who
came into the Hall uninvited and we could
| likewise put paper out.
The SPEAKER said the gentleman drew a
| line of demarkation between the right to peti.
ton and tho right 10 receive; aud ii the
House refused to refer it would be practical
denial Of the right.
At two o'clock Mr.. HENDEE demanded the
regular order.
The SPEAKER said the District of Coum-
bia Committee WAS entitled to the floor.
| The above question wis therefore left un'
disposed Of and goes over us unfinished busi'
ness, the Speaker ruling that the District
Committee was entitled to the floor to tho cx
clusiOn OF all other matters.
Mr.. HENDEE said that the District Com
mittee had n large number of bills which they
were prepared To report, aud he asked that
Friday night next be assigned for their con
sideratiolI, so that they could go on with the
bill for the government of the District. The
order was made.
| The House then resumed the consideration
of the District government bill, as in Commit
tee of the Whole, Mr. HALE presiding.
THE report of the proceedings on District
matters will be found elsewhere.