Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-04-06
THE SENATE.
Report Of Proceedings Of the Sen
ate in Extraordinary Session.

aC0 III EXTRAORDINARY 00SSlOu.
WASHINGTON, April 5,-The Vice.
President laid before the Senate a
communication from the Secretary
of State, transmitting a copy of the
response of the Russian government
to the communication made to it by
the United States minister, of the
Senate resolution on the death of
the late Emperor of Russia. Ordered
printed.
The pending business, being the
resolution for the election of officers
Of the Senate, was then taken up,
and the usual motion made by Mr..
Harris to go into executive session
was, as usual, voted down; yeas 26;
nays 80.
Mr. Saunders stated that he had
transferred to Mr.. Malone, who was
temporarily absent from the cham
Der, the pair which had previously
existed between himself and Mr..
Williams, and that he (Saunders)
would, therefore, vote "no."
Mr.. Beck desired to say that the
transfer was not made with the
consent of his colleague, who had re-
ferred to him all matters of this kind,
and he protested against the transu
fer in that way. The appearance of
Mr.. Malone in the chamber at this
moment put an end to further dis
cussion, and the roll call was con-
cluded
Mr.. Mcpherson asked leave to
present petition of certain citizens
of New Jersey and New York.
Mr. Hoar objected.
MIR. Mcpherson thought it a
strange proceeding, to deny the
right of petition. He had a petition
reciting the fact that Michael Boy
ton, citizen of the United States,
had been arrested and thrown into
prison by the British Government,
on vague charges of melting crime
and violence, and had been de-
MED the right of trial before a
jury of his peers, and calling upon
/ Congress to demand that the United
States Government should interfere
for his protectio.. The petition was
signed by members of certain land
leagues in New Jersey aud New
York. Does the Senator still object d?
| Mr.. Hoar-The Senate desires to
elect officers to record all business,
and as soon as that is done the pc
tition can be received.
M. McPherson-I would like to
ask the Senator whether we have
not recording officers? Is there
any lack of officers in the Senate ?
The Senator thinks that the thing is
to be determined in violation of the
Constitution of the United States
by the minority of the Senate.
:, Mr.; McP Pherson-I do not believe
1t is done in violation of the Consti-
tuuon. l believe the Constitution
projects the rights of the minority.
oeheVe that the rules of the Senate
were agreed to for the purpose of
protecting Legislation. 7 submit a.
petition signed by certain citizens Of
New York and New Jersey calling
attention to the fact that a citizen Of
the United States is held in prison
contrary to law and justice. The
Senator refuses to have the petition
considered and referred to the COM
mittee on foreign relations. The
Senator rises 10 his place and de-
clares that even the case of this
poor man shall not be considered
until it pleases the majority on that
side to first disorganize the Senate
and then reorganize it. This is the
sstrangest proceeding I have seen in
'nts most singular of all proceedings.
several delatory motions having
neen voted dawn, Mr.. Morgan took
the 1oor. He called attention to the
present condition of the Senate, and