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

\ the question hereafter in the power of the ma
4 .joritv. IF the recent Vice President had fol-
! lowed tile precedent and allowed President
pro tenn to he elected at the last session of the
Senate, there would have been now no neces-
Isity for converting this special session. The
democratic side was tauiifed with seeking to
i do an indecent thing because it did not give
| unanimous consent to propositions made. in
contravention OF the law OF the land.
A vote was at once taken and the amend
merit was defeated-yeas 49, nays a. Mr..
Malone voted with the republicans and Sen.
David Davis did not vote. The original reso-
luton introduced by Mr.. Pendleton was then
adopted by q vote of Sd to 80, Mr. Davis, of
Illinois, did not vote, and Mr. Malone voted
with the republicans. The Chair then appoint
ed Senators Anthony and Pendleton to escort
the President pro TEN elect MIR. Bayard) to the
Chair.
On taking the chair Mr.. Bayard said "Sen-
ators: fully appreciate the honor put upon
me by this expression of your confidence, and
in assuming the duties OF President pro TEN
of the Senate, III obedience to the law and in
accorda ICE with the rules OF this tody and q
vote OF the majority, should have greater
ms5lyiags OF fulfilling acceptably the require
ments OF the post were it not for the assurance
that 50 long u shall continue to exercise its
| duties | shall receive your cooperation and
L
IDENTIFY invoke at your hands. We are all pain
! fully mindful ofthe unusual circumstances un-
der which we meet, and of the national be-
reavement which has caused this special SEES
sion of the Senate May it not be hoped that
touched by a sense of common sorrow and
chastened by grief that penetrates every house
hold in great family Of States our proceedings
may be marked by spirit of concession and harno-
ny and generous consideration for mutual dfreren-
encs OF opinion and softenng of partisan asperities
J and a hfgh Intent to perform duties In
ner responsive to the demand of the occasion and
the best interests of country? With such hopes
and in such spirit now assume and shall endeayor
to perform the duties Of the high position to which
your favor has assigned me.
Mr. Edmunds moved to admit the Senator-elect
from Rhode Island, (Mr, Aldrich,l and Mr. Pendle-
ton moved to adjourn.
Mr.. Morgan said that 1t had been intimated that
frauds prevailed in the Legislature Of New York,
and it had also been urged that that Legislature
had not had the power under the constitution to
elect Senators at the time they were elected Was
the Senate to admit without consideration members
who might turn afterwards not TO have been
duly elected?
Mr. Vest criticised the language of Mr. Edmunds
intimating that the democrats were attempting to
grasp prize made possible to them by an assasina-
tion The fouLlips of the assassin who had struck
Gown me resident had upon them invocation
Tor democratic success, but the Invocation had been
for fraction OF the republican party If there was
responsibility Tor the crime directly Indirectly
1t rested upon his political opponents not with
the democratic party He charged no one; but the
fnstnuafon that the democracy of the country had
any thing but tear for the dead President, sorrow
Tor MS family and execration for the miserable
sassin he declared to be absolutely false.
Mr. Hoar called Mr. Pendeton.s attention to the
1acb That IL was customary inform the executive
branch OF the government that the Senate then
organized.
Mr.. Pendleton expressed his Willingness to with
draw his motion to admit of that being done, but
Mr. Edmunds insisted upon his motion taking pre-
cedence.
Mr.. pendleton thereupon refused to withdraw his
motion, which at 2.55 carried, and the Senate
adjourned for the day.