Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-08
FORTY-SiXTH CONGRESS-.
Eyfro SnSciOp
The Senate.

The Senate.
INDIAN TERRITORY INVASION.
WASHINGTON, May 7.-On motion of Senator
Ingalls,, resolution was adopted calling on
the President to communicate to the Senate in
formation to the present occupation of In
dian Territory by whites.
MILITARY AT THE POLLS.
The House bill to prohibit military interfer-
ence in elections was read twice. and by vote
of "a against 81 the Senate disagreed to mo-
ton of Edmunds to refer to the committee on
judiciary and then laid it on the table to be
called up hereafter.
sPoFFORD- KELLOGG.
Consideration was then resumed of the reso-
luton asking for authority to take testimony
in the contested case of Spofford against Kel-
logg, and Senator Carpenter continued his re-
marks in support of Kellogg INT to the seat.
Senator Carpenter argued that whenever an
officer or tribunal clothed with authority has
made due inquiry into case before it and pre-.
nounced Judgment or determined a matter, that
is the end of the question. If this were not so,
there would be no end to litigation. The duty
of the Senate IN contests was Judicial, and the
Senate must perform its duties in a judicial
sense. The resolution ought not to pass, be-
cause the Senate had no jurisdiction over a
matter already decided
Senator Morgan said Spofford stated in a me-
mortal presented early in the season that very
recently he had discovered and material
evidence which made Kellogg's election null
and void, because he had personally used cor
rupt influences to procure it. If this be true
it could not be said that kellogg presented the
qualifications of a Senator within the meaning
of the constitution for who obtained
place by bribery and corruption had such
qualification would entitle him to seat in
this body. The subject, under the circum-
stances stated, was always subject to investi-
cation till it was finally decided, and there was
nothing to preclude the Senate from taking &C
ton on the memorial.
Senator Salisbury said in the discussion Of
this resolution by the Senator from Massachus-
etts, Hoar, he had declared the question had
already been decided by the Senate on it's mer-
its in favor Of Kellogg, and the committee had
been charged by that Senator with "a pre-
tence,' by the Senator from New York, Conk.
ling, with "a scheme,' and by the Senator
from Wisconsin, Carpenter, with ''a spirit of
revolution" He salisbury, in replying to
all these charges and insinnations, said the
committee fathered scheme, no pretense, no
spirit of revolution, but simply asked authori-
ty to take testimony in order to lay all the
facts before the Senate for Intelligent action,
and to conduct the examination in the interest
of truth and fairness.
Senator Edmunds submitted an amendment
to the pending resolution authorizing the COM
mittee to take testimony only 80 far as re-
lates to the charge of personal misconduct on
the part of said Kellogg, that may render him
liable to expulsion censure. He wished to
contine the investigation to this point, because
the question Of Kellogg's right to seat had
already been determined on its merits. He did
not deny the power of the Senate to reverse
this decision. He did not deny the power of
this body to pass resolution saying the legis-
ture of Vermont did ot elect him, Edmunds,
aud next day saying that it did. He was to-
day Senator, tomorrow not a Senator, &C
cording to the caprice of the Senate. This
body had the power to do this because it could
do as it liked, but it would be a fragrant viola
ton of duty to exercise power that way. So
it was here. The resolution declaring kell gg
entitled to scat might have been recorded and
il 4 Senator who voted in the majority so
moved, then rejected but the rules required
that such action must be taken within fixed
time and any body of men who violated the
fundamental theory of having the decisions of
this body reversed and changed otherwise than
by the fixed and present law, were taking 8
step most dangerous to Justice, liberty anc
good government.
Senator Edmunds amendment was rejected
yeas TO- nays II.
Senator Conkling submitted the amendment
to the pending resolution providing that The
inquiry shall be confined to matters alleged il
the memorial of Mr.. Spofford to be new anc
different from those covered by the previous
inquiry. Disagreed to, yeas 20, nays ~.
Senator Hoar submitttd an amendment tt
the resolution as follows "And said commit
tee are further instructed to inquire and repOr
whether bribery or other corrupt or unlawful
measures were used to secure the alleged cleo
ton of Spofford, the memorialist.'
Senator Salisbury said he was Instructed by
the committee to accept the amendment
Senator Edmunds offered amendment
recognizing the validity and fnality Of thu
decision which secured Kellogg his seat. Thi
was 0jSarreed to. yeas ~. naYS III.
Senator Logan offered an amendment en-
powering and directing the committee furthe
to make inquiry whether any unlawful or cor
rupt means used to disorganize the legis
lttive body that elected Kellogg, that
might elect Spofford, the memorialist.
Senator Conkling briefly supported tn
amendment
Senator Voorhees, asked him whether the il
quiry might not reach the President?
Senator Kellogg replied, and said in discus
were not to consider what individuals or pei
sons might be effected and expressed his SUI
prise that the Senator from Indiana should b
opposed to the amendment.
Senator Voorhees, said he was satisfied tt
committee on privileges and elections woul
do Justice without the coercive measures Pre-
posed by the amendment The committee di
not desire dictation from the other side.
Senator Logan, in advocating his amendmer
said inasnluch the Democratic caucus ha
OVeElOOkeu Uue maGter, anu mao no de sire
cover up fraud, he thought there might be
complete examination, in order to see wheth
bribery corruption had been u.ed by tt
Democrats to break up the legislature th
elected Kellogg, and enable them to organi
one to elect Spofford, the memorialist.
Senator Blaine asked the Democrats wi
they did not look at the other side of the que
ton? Why did they shirk?
Senator Eaton said they would not shirk, b
would vote down the amendment.
Senator Voorhees, said Senator Blaine h
many set speeches implying cowardice and fiji
ing away. Let the Senator dismiss them
none on the Democratic side were shirki,
The Senator should apply his plantation ms
ners in the dark part of Maine. The Sena
also made use of terms which implied inferi
ity and want of courage and manliness on
part of others, while implying superiority
himself. With a personal regard for the Sc
tor for long years, he would appeal to the S
ator to dismiss these set speeches from his
cabulary. The Senator, with his high, dash
spirit arraigned the Democratic side of
chamber because they would not support
amendment of the Senator from Illinois
GAM, while they had, by agreeing to the anne
ment of the Senator from Massachusetts, (Ho
covered the entire ground of that branch of
inquiry.
Senator Blaine read Logan's amendment
show that it and Hoar's amendm mt were
similar, the former making inquiry about