Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-12-23
Sunset Cox, Of New York,
Dangerously III.
Death of a Leader Among
Georgia Republicans,
And Also of An Aged Ex>
Confederate Brigadier.
XLVI. CONGRESS.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. Dec. %.


Notwithstanding Senator Ed
monds objection on account of the
absence of a quorum and the necesi-
ty for an executive session, the SEN
ate, on motion of Senator Morgan,
took up the resolution offered by
him in June last, declaring that the
president of the senate is not con-
stitutionally authorized to count the
electoral votes, so as to determine
what votes shall be received and
counted or what votes rejected.
Senator Morgan spoke at length in
support of the resolution.
He was followed by Senator Ed
munds in opposition thereto, after
which, on motion of the latter the
senate went into executive session.
When the doors were re-oper ed,
Senator Booth introduced bill IC
incorporate the maritime canal com
pany of Nicaragua. Referred to the
committee on commerce.
Onmotion of Senator Butler, senate
bill authorizing the auditing of the &C
counts of B. S. James, South Car
olina mail contractor, in 1869, was
taken up and passed.
On motion of Senator Lamar
senate bill granting the right OF
way to the county of Warren, Miss,
and to the Vicksburg and Memphis
railroad company through the United
States cemetary, a tract of land neal
Eicksburg, was taken up and passed
Senator Brown introduced bill
making an appropriation to improve
the Chattahoochie river. Referred.
Adjourned to January 5th.
HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. %.
After prayer by the chaplain the
speaker, as is usual, directed the
clerk to read the journal of yester-
day, whereupon Mr.. Bowman, Of
Massachusetts,, rose to a question OF
privilege, relating to the disgraceful
proceedings which had occurred in
the house yesterday. The speaker
said that the chair would prefer that
the gentlemen should wait until the
journal should have been read.
Mr.. Bowman said that it was OF
that point that he wished the speaker
to rule. A rule of the house statec
that members should not be held tc
answer nor be subject to the censure
OF the house for anything said in
debate if further debate or business
had intervened He desired to know
whether the reading of the journal
could be construed as such interven-
ing business as would shut off further
proceedings by the house for gross
violation of it's dignity.
The speaker said that the reading
of the journal would take from the
house none of its privileges. I'M
mediately after the reading of the
journal Mr.. McLane, of Maryland,
rose, and as the question affecting
the dignity of the house, called at
tention to the scene of disorder
which took place on the floor yes-
terday and which he characterized as
offensive, derogatory and discredit-
able to the house as a parliamen.
tary body. He called upon both
offending members, before any
Gtner I business was entered on to re-
neV1 themselves of that offense by
ample apology. No response having
been made by either of the nennhar5s
immediately concerned Mr. Rownoo,
of Massachusetts,, rose to ~" n"d.o-., lnll
what he called substantive ro1n' nroTa
sition. He spoke of the scene enopot ~
yesterday as crime, and as an Insult
offered to the house, to congress, anf
to the country. There was not, ht
said, a man present who did not yes
terday hang his head in shame, anc
dld not regard that scene as per-
SOnal disgrace, and all over thu
country and world men reading this
morning morning of the pot house brawl
gambling house quarrel and fight
Tltn hsts' only prevented by force.
that took place yesterday.
Mr.. Harris, of Virginia, suooestod
that perhaps both offending oI mem %
oerS were now willing to make an
apology, and if so they ought to have
The opportunity at once.
nI Mr. Haskell, of Kansas, suggested
mat other members had been euiltv
s,,,o Un conduct equally worthy of cen.
tion f. e. MeLane insisted on his cues
t-on oI privilege and offered q rooo