The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-10-13

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WASHINGTON, Oct 10Th, 1881.
The assembling of the special session Of the
Senate was witnessed by large number ol
persons, who as early as II o'clock filled the
galleries to their utmost capacity The desk
formerly occupied by Senator Burnside was
tasteiuliy draped with black, while several
bouquets ornamented the desks oi prominent
senators. The senators-elect Aldrich, Lap
ham and Miller, occupied seats upon the floor
on the Republican side.
The Senate was called to order by Mr.
Harris, who, after prayed by Chaplain Bull
lock, who alluded in q feeling manner to the
death Of President Garfield, Senator Burnside
| and Secretary Burch, called the Senate to or
der and directed the clerk to report to the
Senate the message of the President conven-
| ing this session of the Senate. The President
proclamation having been read, Mr. Pen,lle-
! ton moved the adoption of the following reso-
| luton. THAT Thomas F. Bayard, senator
| from the State of Delaware, is hereby chosen
| President pro tempore of the Senate"
! Mr.. Eilmunds said that of course he did not
object to the present consideration of the reso-
luton but he thought that under existing cir
cumstances it was his duty to present The
credentials OF the Senators-elect, which be
thereupon did. The credentials having been
read, Mr.. Edmunds moved that the oath o.
| Office be administered to those gentlemen by
Senator Anthony, the senior Senator.
Mr.. Pendleton moved to lay the motion Oh
the table Carried-yeas 36, nays "a. Mr.
| Davis Qlls.) voted with the republicans in the
negative Mr.. Malone did not vote, and
Messrs. Platt and Fair were paired
| Mr.. Edmunds said that no reason had been
given why the Senators eject should not be
allowed to take part in the organization
of the Senate, and he therefore moved to
amend Mr.. Pendleton's resolution by provid-
ing for the immediate qualification of the
| Senators elect, the oath OF office to be admin
istered by Senator Anthony.
| In support of his motion Mr. Edmunds said
the Senate had met under extraordinary cir
cumstances, occasioned by events. the conse-
quences of which might have put it within
the legal technical power Of q bare majority Of
the States conditOnaly to provide for the presi-
dental succession, and to provide it, when. if
their sister States were consulted different
| provision might be made. To provide for it
now was 10 exclude the chosen representa-
| tives of two States who stood here ready to do
their duty. Mr.. Edmunds contended that
| there was nOthingin the constitution or in the
statutes which would prevent the oath from
being administered before the election of a
President pro tenn, and he intimsted chat the
democratic side had some Interior motive in
preventing the new Senators from participa-
ting in the organization.
Mr. Garland replied that the democratic
Senators believed that they were acting law
fully. and had no apologies to make. If they
made mistake it was a mistake which they
would regret The only object in calling this
| body together, as far as the country knew,was
| to place some one between this government
and possible anarchy in the case of the death
or taking away by any means of the President
of the United States. Hence it was a high
| duty to elect at once president pro tenn. it
| took precedence OF all other questions. The
democratic side proposed decently and ac-
cording to law to fill a possible gap at the
earliest possible moment. By unanimous
consent the law of 1889 might be set aside,
but the democrats preferred to stand upon the
statute in performing so important duty.
Mr.. Edmunds in reply commended that it was
competent tor the Senate to do what it had
done in 1858, when the oaths of Office were
administered by a Senator not the presiding
officer.
A yea and nay vote on Mr.. Edmund's
| amendment resulted in its defeat by q vote of
33 to 81.
Mr. Edmunds then offered another amend
ment substituting the name of Senator An
theny for that of Senator Bayard as President
pro tenn, which was rejected.
Mr.. Edmunds then proposed an amendment
providing that Thos. F. Bayard shall be elect
ed President presiding officer for this day on
ly, and argued in support of the amendment,
contending that it would comply with both
the letter and spirit of the law, and would
allow the States of New York and Rhode Is
land to have voice in the election of per-
manent President pro tenn.
Mr.. Edmunds said that the fruit which the
democratic party might gain by their present
course would turn to ashes of the bitterest de-
scription. But that was for the future for
the present he would appeal to the democrats
by the precedents of their party, by the spirit
and letter of the constitution, to give New
York and Rhode Island the right to raise
their voices with their sister States in the
choice of presiding officer.
Mr. Beck confessed his inability to under
stand why the President pro tenn. should be
elected for this day and another election held
tomorrow. He wanted to stand by the law.
Have a president pro tenn. elected and leave