The New York herald., 1878-12-14
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON. Dec l3 1873.
The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the senate CON-
municstion from the Secretary of War. inclosing a
letter from the Chief of the Engineer Corps stating
that under the law as it stands if the Office of
Chief OF Engineers should become no appoint
ment to fill the vacancy could be made. The secre-
tary submits tho draft Of bill to remedy this Diff
Guilty Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs
Also communication from the Secretary Of War
calling attention to the of William English late
cadet at West Point, and suggesting such lesisa-
ton will enable the President to appoint him
ond lieutenant in the army. Rsferred to the Com
mittee on Military Affairs.
Also communication from the late Constitutional
Convention of California demonstrating against any
treaty with France which Will reduce the import
duties on wines and spirits. Referred to the Com
mittec Foreign Affairs.
Also o communication from the joint commission
appointed to complete the Washington Monument,
transmitting copies of reports showing the extent
and progress Of the work. Referred to the Committee
on Public Buildings aud Grounds.
Mr.. KERSAN, (dom.) Of NY, presented resolutions
OF the City Council Of Brooklyn. n r. fsyorins the
passage Of the bill granting pension to the widow
Of Rear Admiral Paulding. Referred to the Com
mittee on Pensions.
On motion of Mr.. MCDONALD, tdem.) of Ind, it was
meet Oh Monday next.
Mr.. DENNIS, (den.) of Ind. presented petition of
the Baltimore Academy OF Sciences and the Baltimore
Medical Association favoring the appointment OF a
commission OF competent persons to inquire as to
the cause OF epidemic diseases and the manner Of
treatment, means OF prevention &c. Referred to a
select committee appointed to consider that subject
Bills were introduced and referred as follows--
By AIR. COKE, (dem.) of Texas-To authorize the
Secretary Of War to contract with the Galveston and
(ufna f1iafa cfr
its line of road TO Rio Granda City. opposite Camargo
Mexico, coast defence aud tor the purpose OF
tabiEhing commercial and military rail highway
to the Rio Grande. Referred to the Committee on
Railroads.
by Mr.. PLUMB rep.) OF Kan.--To provide for the
temporary increase of the army III an emergency
Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs
FEES OF PENSION ATTORNEYS.
duced b to amend the laws reatire 10
Ar. CoSxIISG said this bill concerned tho fees of
pension attorneys. He opposed recent act on that
sion attorney, under the operations of which attor
neys had refused to act. This bill to him with
letters from persons entitled to pensions complain
ing that under the guse OF projecting them, prov
sion had been put upon the statute books which pre-
vented them from securing the services of the attor
neys they desired.
THE MaNHArrAN BANK.
MIR. MORRILL,. trep.i OF VT. from the Committee on
Finances, reported favorsbiy the Senate bill to
authorize the issue of certain duplicate registered
bonds to the Manhattan Savings Institution OF New
York city and In explanation OF the bill said Il
and WAS also recommended by the Secretary OF the
Treasury. Passed.
authorizes the Secretary Of the Treasury to
duplicates OF the bonds amounting in the aggregate
to $lGvOOVJ. alleged to have been stolen from the
Manhattan savings Institution the 9th of Octo-
ber 1878 The bonds are 10 be held by the Treasurer
of the United states In trust the suid institution
for such time ia the Judgment the Secretary Of
the Treasury will secure the Treasurer against loss
Mr.. BECK dem.) OF KY. called up the House bill to
repeal much of the Sundry Civil Appropriation
bill for the present fiscal year as appropriates to
Charles +. Birkett the sum SJ25o6 20. late indian
agent st the Ponca Agency and moved that it he
terred to the Committee on Appropriations.
Mr.. BECK explained his connection with the bill
at the last session. and said he introduced it ut
the request of respectable attorney. He examined
the bin then as far he could ut the request Of the
Cominittee on Appropriations and believed il to be
right II the Committee on Appropriations or him
self had been imposed upon he would cheerfuy vote
for the bill Of the House to repeal the The bill
was referred to tbs Committee on Appropriations.
Mr.. MORGAN, tdenl.l, of Ala, gave notice that on
Wednesday next lac would call up the bill for the
lief OF the Methodist Publishing House. of Nashville
Tenn. reported fayurably by the Committee ON
Claims at the last session.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.
The morning hour having expired the Senate
being the bill Of Mr.. Edmunds to amend sundry pro-
visions OF chapter !, title g. OF the Revised statutes
OF the United states relating y Presidential elections
and to provide for and regulate the counting Of tho
votes for President and Vice Pres dent and the dec-
sion OF questions arising thereon.
REyARKs OF .fI. BAYAED.
Mr.. BAYARD tiem) OF Del. said The Importance of
this subject alone induced him, a member Of the
special committee which reported tine bill, to take
part in the discussion. The great difficulties sur
rounding this question OF counting the electoral vote
wonld be readily apparent to any who would
stuay the formation 2. the scheme OF our govern.
mcnt. Onr fathers had approached this subject aud
had always. failed to satisfactorily dispose OF IT,
There was an urgent need nov to settle this
question, anc he held that the present time
Mas especially propitious. because the two
houses of Congress we're controlled by different
politicaI parties and measure wiiicu would receive
nhaart NJ IA ffkgG la. r.h
this subject should be. nvn-pArtsan meas
urc. This nation needed rest and peace and not
further agitation. Tho man who would serve his
country would seek give her rest 70 aliay con-
fusion and compose strife. The countrys worst foe
YVES the fomenter OF now discords. He viewed
this bill AZ measure tending to peace
and quiet, tending to restore confidence to
the public mind. and any who could
vote TOR i; should 40 50, unless som. serious con.
stituiional difficulty stood in the way. He argued
that the pill vested power in the two houses
Congress- anu next referred to the constitutional
bill met his fnyor. because 1t resfrmed IN clear and
explicit terms the power OF the State this sub
ect Of appointing electors II wiped out all pretext
and confided everything To the state itself. The
state had the sole power 20 execute that act and the
voice OF the State should be conclusive.
DUPLICATE RETUGNs.
He then referred 10 duplicate returns from States.
and said we mad had in the unhappy past bitter
pcrcnce in regard to duplicate returns. Nothing OF
the kind was known until 1872. Previous 10 that
time there had been spirit Of honesty which would
stamp with lnihlly the euOrt OF minority at
tempting to overturn the will of the majority In a
state. those who Committed permitted the COM
mission OF fraud would sooner or later perish by
iraud This bill ought to DO in the political interests
of all parties. Gradually this country coming
back % acts of and Justice and the people
Weighing the acts OF men and parties. Parti-
sanslip might seek 10 slay this era OF good foeing
but IL would fail.
In conclusion Mr.. Bsyard referred 10 the late pest
lence the south and said the small rivulets pr
vato bcnehcence side and of gratitude ON the
other had grown into mighty river Of good feeling
He hoped this bill would pass. IL tended to smooth
the path of progress - difficult subject.
Mr.. tAToS, tdeIn.D of Conn, opposed the bill OF
any other this subject. In his Judgment there
could De constitutiunally, legislation upon this
subject. There ought not to be any intcrpostion by
Congress between the States and the constitution
regard to choosing electors IL the constitution II
defective in this respect let il be amended. III
argued that this Congress could make law In re
gard counting the electoral vote that would bind
the neat Congress, upon which the counting of tn,
vote would deyoive. He then referred TO tho Elec
toral Commission OF last year and said the choice
the people the United states defraudcd by the
illegal at of an unconstitutional commission.
During u cullyquy between Mr.. Eaton and Mr.