Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-12-14
FORTY.FIFTH CONGR Ess.
SECOND SESSION.
WASHINGTON. December Is.
senate.

efficient collection of the revenue from cigars.
Tue senate resumed consideration of the Ed
mund' Electoral bill, and Mr.. Bayard spoke iu its
favor.
MIR. Bayard said that the great difficulty sur
rounding this question Of counting the electoral
vote would be readily apparent TO anyone who
would study the formation Of the scheme of our
government. Our fathers had approached this
subject aud always failed to satisfactorily dispose
OF II. There was 40 urgent need now to settle
this question. aud he held that the present. time
was especially propitious, because the two houses
OF congress were controlled by different political
parties, and a measure which would receive the
assent Of both houses would be - the one on this
subject should be, non partisan measure.
THIS nation peeded rest and peace, and not
full agitation. The man who would rye his
country best would seek to give her rest, to sllay
confusion, aud compose strife. The country's
worst foe was the formation OF new dscords.
tie viewed this bill - . measure tending to
peace and quiet. tending to restore confidence to
the public mind, and any man who could vote for
II should do so unless some serious constitutional
dfhcuty stood in the way.
lie argued that the bill vested no new power in
the two houses Of congress, and next referred to
the constitutional power vested 10 congress, and
IN States. The bill met his favor because it re-
affirmed in clear and explicit terms the power of
the State over this subject Of appointing electors.
IL washed out all pretext OF federal super vision
over the selection Of electt and conhded every
thing to The state itself. The State has the sole
power to execute that act, and the voice of Stat.
| should be CONCLUSIVE.
lie then referred to the duplicate returns from
the States, and said that We had had IN the unhap
py past b tier experience in regard to duplicate
returns. Nothing of the kind was known until
1872. + evious to that time there had been .
spirit Of honesty which would stamp with iufamv
the effort Of aoy minority attempting to overturn
the wall Of the majority in State. Those who
committed or permitted TO commission Of fraud
would sooner or later perish By fraad.
The bill ought to be IN the political interest Of
oil the parties. Gradually this counsry VA COM
ing back to acts Of reason and justice, and the
people were weighing the acts OF men and parties.
Psrtisanship might seek TO stay this era Of good
feeling, but il would fail.
ln conclusion Mr.. Bsysid referred to the late
peslence in the South and said the small rivulets
Of private bene6ciaries on one side and the mag
er Of good feeling lie hoped this bill would pass
as II tends to the path Of progress over Q difficult
subject.
Mr.. Eaton opposed the bill or any other on this
subject. In bis judg ment there could be constitu
ti0pally no legislation npon this subject. There
ought not to be interposition by congress between
the States and constitution in regard to choosing
electors. II the constitution 10 defective in this
respect let it be amended. He argued that this
congress would make no law 10 regard to count
ing the electoral vote that would bind the next
congress- upon which the counting Of the vote
would dsvolve.
Mr.. Eaton then referred to the electoral COM
mission Of last year, and said that the choice Of
the people Of the United States was defrsudsd by
the illegal act of an unconstitutional commission.
During . colOquey between Mesrs. Eaton and
Edmunds upon the debate, Mr.. Eaton spoke Of II
| ~ boys play.
MI Ednunds-I think it Is.
Mr.. Estou--l think it 10, and IL my friend ed
mund) won't interfere there will be one less boy
in the play. (Laughter.)
Mr.. Merrimsn supported the bill at some con-
siderable length.
Short opposition speeches we're made BY Messrs
Garland. Hill and Thurman.
After some further discussion between Messrs.
Hosr. COcknell and Edmunds, the bill WAS passed
yeas IS, nays 20.
After the roll call Mr.. Cockrell said that be
favored . number Of the provisions Of this bill,
and could one or two provisions Of it been chang.
ed he would have voted for l..
The bill as passed provides that the electors OF
president and vice president shall be appointed in
each State on the first Tuesday 10 October in
every fourth year, and on the same day in Octo-
Der whenever there shall be vacancy in both Of
the offices Of president aud vice president the cleo
10 meet and give their votes for president
and vice president on the second Monday Of jan
usry next following, at such place IN each Stats
- the legislature of such State shall direct.
10 case Of = vacancy in both the ofbces OF presi-
dent and vice president occurring more than two
months next preceding the first Tuesday in Oct,
the secretary Of state shall cause . notification
thereof to be made to the executive of every
State.
1t further 10 provided that each State may pro-
vide by law (if enacted prior to the day named
for the appointment Of electors) for the appoint
ment of such electors for the trial and deteruins
ton of any controversy concerning their appoint
ment before the time fixed for their meeting the
second Monday in January.
The electoral vote shall be counted BY the two
houses of congress on the second Monday Of Feb.
aucceeding meeting of the eleCtOrn Everv
objection shall be made in writing. stating the
reasons, And be signed by at least one senator and
one member Of the house.
1t further provides for the separation Of the
two houses, and the action upon all objections A.
ter two hours debate in each house under the I've
minute rule. No vote objected to shall be count
ed except by the Affirmative voice Of both houses.
No debate 10 to be allowed when the two houses
are in joint session.
After the passage of the electoral bill, Mr..
Blaine moved to take up the resolution submitted
by him on the first day Of the session, in regard
10 citizsns being deprived Of their constitutional
rights, so that 1t would be unfinished business on
Monday.
Mr. wsdloigb objected. and said that the senate
bill to revise, consolidate and amend the statute
relating to patents had precedence and he would
press its consider alton.
Mr.. Blaine said that if his resolution was to
pass was important that it be passed before the
holidays.
Mr.. Wadeigh said that the resolution would
lead to discussion, while the patent bill would
not.
Mr. Blaine said that the sepstor did not know
the resolution would provoke diccsssion.
Mr. WAdleigh moved to sdjodrn.
Messrs. Blaine Eduunds and others on the re-
publican side objected and called for the yeas and
nays.
The motion to adjourn was agree to, yeas "a.
maps Is.
Adjourned to Monday.
House.
Mr.. Kenha of w. Va, to personal explsna-
ton, referred to the sweeping charges made in
the Bile press against members Of the commit
tee on enrolled bills, for drunkenness At the close
of the last session. He denounced such charges
as unqualifedly false, and filed statements Of the
Speaker and other officers OF the House in suppor
of his statement.
The bills ON the Speakers table since last Sos
sion were referred to the committees, excep,
where objections were made, ~ WAS the case with
this bill.
| The resolution looking to the investig alton Of
| the official conduct of j. j. Davenport, United
States Supervisor of elections, was adopted with
out objection, after being amended 50 - to make
the investigation extend to his conduct on the day
| of registration.
Mr. Davis Of North Carolins. from the commit
tee on claims, reported bill Originally introduc
| ed nv Mr. PhilliDs of knns amending the ac