Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-03

with the one indicated by Congress, and
overlooked the fact that the "Wednesday
after the first Monday OF December might
be the second Wednesday Of the month. In
consequence, the electoral vote OF the State
was cast one week later than the appointed
day. He said he desired In this connection
to deny the iDslnustiOn which had been
made that the action of the Legislature was
due to an intention on their part to hold the
State law supreme and above the Federal
law. No such intention had ever been en-
tertained. He agreed with the Senator from
Ohio (Thurman) that there was no doubt as
to the illegality of the vote thus cast. He
regarded the act of Congress as mandatory,
being designed to secure uniformity ia the
time OF meeting of the electoral colleges.
Mr.. Jones, Of Florida, thought the discus
sion OF the Georgia question premature, but
desired to express his dissent from the con-
clusions of the Senators from OHIO and
Georgia Thurman and Hill on that point.
He said the constitutional provision under
which the act Of Congress was passed pro-
vided that Congress "maY" prescribe the
day, and that IL It shall undertake to
exercise the power Of prescribing the day it
'shall' make the day uniform throughout
the country. He did not regard this as
mandatory either as to the time or place Of
meeting. II for reasons over which human
authority could have no control, such as
AOfClEA 1Uf6SIOus OTEGCu Vi LuC DcaGc, OE
the prevalence OF an epidemic, the electors
of State were prevented from meeting
at the State capitol, the vote of that
State ought nevertheless to be counted
by Congress. He thought that 10 any such
case 1t would be proper to make an excep-
tion, and he would hesitate long before dis
franchising a State under such circum-
stances.
A short colIoquy took place between
MaEars Hill .IOn1a and Maruov, ofkar xr,hfoh
Edmunds' amendment was rejected by a
party vote of 35 to %.
Discussion of the resolution was then
resumed.
Mr.. Eaton said he wanted the decision of
the Senate on disputed question, whether
the President of the Senate had the right to
count the electoral vote. He there
fore, moved to amend that part of the
resolutions requiring the tellers of the two
Houses to make list of the votes as they
shall be declared, by striking therefrom the
words ''as they shall be decIared,n and sub
stituting in lieu thereof the words "as the
certificates shall be opened by the President
OF the Senate"
Mr.. Thurman opposed Mr. Eaton's amend
ment as unnecessary, for the reason that
the words "ss they shall be declared" had
never been taken, even by implication, to
convey the idea that the President of the
Senate had the right to count the vote in
the sense of deciding for whom the vote
was or was not cast.
The discussion was continued By Messrs.
Blaine, Thurman, Morgan, Hill, Eaton,
Bsyard and others.
Mr.. Eaton's amendment was rejected
ayes %, nays 33-the vote not being party
one, nor q test of the Senate upon the
merits OF the proposition. Affirmative
responses largely came from the Republi-
can side, while the negative vote included
much Of the strength Of the supporters Of
the resolutions, who were apparently indis-
posed to imperii their success In the House
by appending the amendment.
The resolutions reported by Mr.. Morgan
as substitute for the original resolution
on the subject were then adopted on a viOG
OOce vote, and the Clelk was directed to in
form the House accordingly.
The pension appropriation bill was then
taken up, In order to allow Mr.. Voorhees, to
speak on the pending amendment known
as the "sixty surgeons biil," and, at the
conclusion of Lis remarks, the Senate ad
journed.
THE INTERoCEANIC SHIP CANAL.
The select committee of the House
on the Interoceanic Ship Canal
held short session this morn
ing and consumed the time till the
hour of adjournment in discussion with
out arriving at any conclusion. Il was de-
veloped that the majority of the committee
favor the ship railroad scheme Of Captain
Eads, though wide divergence of opinion
seems to exist as to the precise manner In
which the government shall be asked to
lend its countenance and Endorsement. The
committee adjourned till Saturday, when it
is believed a vote will be reached upon q
definite proposition touching the Eads
scheme as opposed to either of the proposed
canals.