The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-05-25
Last Nights Dispatches.
SENATE,

WASHINGTON, MAY 24.-The Senat.
resumed consideration of MIR. Morgan
Joint rule regulating the electoral count.
Mr.. Teller said the bill was plausible Oh
its face but not fair in fact. 1t was
temporary expedient. Its principle wa
bad. 1t was a step towards an arrange
ment by which the two houses should q,
into the whole question of qualification o
electors an d all facts respecting elections
1t was dangerous power and it was {
temptation in the hands of a politically
divided body.
Mr.. Ingalls, opposed sthe sresolution al
insufficient. The next election would .not
be decided by Juggling, He proposed g
substitute to test the sense of the house
Mr.. ingalls, measure was to vote by states
upon each disputed question, each state
havlng one vote. a quorum being two
thirds OF the states, and majority of all
states shall be necessary to a decision
Mr.. Ingals held that this proceeding was
analogous and logical
Mr.. Conkling said he who receives a
majority of the votes of the electors. the
constitution says, shall be delared Presi-
dent.
Mr.. Thurman opposed the amendment
OF Mr.. ingalls, because the resolution was
Tor counting the votes, not for electing the
President. He discussed the intentions
OF the founders of the government and
the plans proposed at same length.
Mr.: Edmunds also spoke, quoting SEN
ator Davis letter, published to-day, and
said that In his allusion to Capitalization
Mr. Davis must have had this measure in
his mind. 1t undertook to constitute an
unbrldled dominion over sovereign states
in the matter of the Presidency
After long argument Mr.. Edmunds
said he would vote for a bill By which
Congress should no longer be a mere
spectator of the count, but should see the
will of the states legally expressed and
prevail. He did not think any political
majority would be so corrupt Eas to disre-
gard law guaranteeing the rights of a
state. At the close of his speech. Mr..
ingalls, having withdrawn bis amendment,
Mr.. Edmunds moved as a substitute for
the pending resolution his own bill, re-
Gently reported adversely from the select
committee. 1t provides that each state
may try and determine before the time
liked for the meeting of its electors any
controversy concerning their appointment
and such determination shall be conclusive
evidence of the lawful title of the electors
and shall govern in counting the electoral
vote, as provided in the constitution and
by subsequent sections of the bill. The
amendment was rejected-yeas 13, nays
27. a party vote, the Republicans voting
yea, the Democrats no.
Mr.. Edmunds then moved TO insert in
Mr.. Morgan's resolution the second section
of his bill, being substantially the lang"
uaee given above.
Mr.. Thurman-Mr. President, the
states have that power under the constitu-
tion or they have not, if they have Hot il
can not be conferred on them by an act
of Congress or Joint rule. If they have
it they need no act of Congress to confer it
upon them.
Mr.. Edmunds-The state does not need
any act OF Congress to confer upon it that
power, but tie two houses of Congress
need this provision to govern them against
the determination of some party or other
to SO adjust this thing as that it shall
be guided By no rule except its passion,
or avarce at the time. That
is what it is addressed to, not to the states,
Mr.. Eaton intimated that Mr. Edmunds'
70 otion was bHncombe.
Mr.. Edmunds retorted that it was buE-
oombe in the sense that he had no right to
expect that this. Senate would adopt it.
rejected 26 to a.
Mr.. Teller offered an amendment that
nothing in this rule shall draw in question
The number of votes on which any elector
has been appointed. Rejected.
The resolution then passed-25 to "A. a
party vote.
Mr.. Bayard attempted to call up his
Supervisors bill, but the Republicans
fiibustering, the Senate adjourned.