Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-10-14

officer had been affirmed. He hoped
that that action of the Senate would
not, be regarded as precedent.
Congress, by an act of 1892, had
declared that the presiding officer
Of the Senate should succeed, in
certain contingencies, to the office of
President of the United States. He
contended that the President pro
tenn, having once been elected, the
Constitution fixed the tenure of his
office A more unwise precedent had
never been established by the Senate
than that which declared that that
body should have power in case of
nything unfortunate happening to
the present incumbent of the Presi-
Dental Office, to enter into a con
tract for the Presidencyfo for the United
States.
A vote was taken on Senator Lo-
gans resolution and it was adopted
yeas 36, nays 81. Senator Davis, of
Illinois, refrained from voting, and
ISenator Bayard, when his name was
called, said Il propose to withhold
my vote, I have never obtained
office by my vote, and never shall
retain it by my vote. am glad the
question is taken up tosday."
Senator Davis, of Illinois, was
then escorted to the chair by Senators
Bayard and Anthony, the respective
Democratic and Republican candi-
dates for the same Office.
On taking the chair, Senator
Davis sad: "Senators: The honor
just conferred, comes as the seat
which l now accupy in this body did,
without any expectations on my part.
If it carried any party obligations, [
should be constrained to decline this
high compliment. [ do not accept it
as a tribute to any personal merit,
but rather as a recognition of an in>
dependent position which [ have
long occupied in the politics of the
country. I am profoundly grateful
for this mark of confidence, and it
shall be my endeavor and so it will
be my duty to administer the trust
with impartiality and with entire
fairness. Not having been trained
in the parliamentary practice, I shall
beg the indulgence of the Senate in
this respect, and l hope for a gener-
GUS cooperation on all sides"
On motion of Senator Logan, a
committee consisting of Senators
Bayard and Logan was appointed by
the chair to wait upon the President
and announce to him the election of
Davis, of Illinois, as President pro
tempOre.
The resolution offered yesterday
by Senator Kellogg, calling for the
papers in the State Department in
the case of Vincinzo Rebello was
adopted, after being amended so as
to be addressed to the President in
stead of to the Secretary of State.
| Senator Voorhees, stated that he
had received a communication from
a lady which had induced him to
offer the following resolution:
Resolved, That the joint commit
tee on library be instructed to in
quire into the expediency of causir.:
medal to be made in gold, com
memorative of the tragic and most
lamentable death of James A. Gar
field, late President of the Unite j
States.
The resolution was referred to the
} committee on the library, together
) with the letter alluded to, which
makes the suggestion that gol6
, medal be struck and presented te
Harry Garfield, the late President
eldest son, and that similar bronze
: mcGals be presented to the Presi-
3 dent, Cabinet, members of the Sen
t ate and House of Representative
l and surgeons who attended Presi
l dent Garfeli.
9 Senator Sherman, in this connec
, ton, said that his colleague and b
1 had deemed it advisable not to max,
e any formal announcement of Presi
/ dent Garield's death at this session
y but to await the action of the tw,
Houses of Congress at the regula
e session, when, no doubt, proper cere
s monies would be ordered.
i Adjourned.