The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-02-03
CONGRESSIONAL.
PROCEEDINGS IN THE TWO HOUSES
YESTERDAY.
The Senate Discusses the Electoral Count
Resolution, Leading Senators Taking
Part In the DIscuHAIOn-PTeIiy
Talk by Cox In the House
Indian Affairs Again.
SENATE.

| WAbhAhhtVNl GeptuM4 S'|4ip NhhA
laid before the Senate communication
from the President reciting the CirCum
stances under which the recent Com
mission to visit the PonCa Indians was ap
pointed, and transmitting their report
with minority report by Mr.. Allen, to-
gether with testimony taken by the Com
mission, and also enclosing the deOlara
tion made by the PonCa Indian UhieiE
who visited Washington in December last
in which they express 9 determination Ia
remain at their present location in the
Indian territory. The President reviews
the history OF the POnCa wrongs, and rec
Commends ample reparation be made, in,
Guiding the allotment OF lands In severAlty
to these Indians In Dakota or In the In
dian Territory, and says In conclusion that
without inquiring into the particular
share Of the blame which may attach Ia
any department he feels sufficient RESPONSE
billty for the wrongs to these Indians to
make him anxious that full reparation be
made during this administration.
The Chair also laid before the Senate @
communication from the Secretary Of the
Interior transmitting, In response to 9
resolution OF the Senate, o copy Of the re-
port OF the Uute Commission.
Mr.. Mcpherson, from the the Commit.
tee on Naval Affairs. reported a bill Rp.
propriating 500 900 for the preparation,
equipment and supply OF q war vessel Ia
be sent in search OF the Arctic expedition
steamer Jeanette, and gave notice that
he would call up the bill in the morning
hour tomorrow,
Mr.. Edmunds said tho Constitution ex.
pressly declares that the persons having
the highest number Of votes shall be Pres
dent and Vice President, and that neither
the Senate, the House, nor the three com
bined had any power 10 reverse that deCla'
ration Of the Constitution. He was will
Ing to take this method OF now disposing
Of or deciding the question. He, however
advocated and moved an amendment strik'
ing out the "Hall Of the House OF Repre-
sentatives," not because he believed thai
II made the slightest difference In the
present case, but precedent made II history,
The time might come, as 1t had come
when carrying these archives an eighth Of q
not.know, might be adangerous:ex pOsure oI
them ;that the Constitution made the Presi
dent OF the Senate the custodian OF the
returns, and the true and only wise place
for the count was the place where the
President Of tho Senate officially and
lightfully belongs.
Mr.. Garland in support OF the resolu.
tionB remarked that tho Vice President,
who was President OF the Senate, would
not be shorn OF any power devolved on
him by the constitution as he was made
presiding officer oil the convention aud
was authorized to announce the result.
All controversy on that point and also aE
to the Georgia vote Ia avoided Ia the plan
proposed. On the latter point he would
say he did not agree with the Senator
from Ohio Thurman that the vote ol
Georgia ought not be counted. He had
q very grave doubt upon It. He did not
think q State should be disiranChised be
cause Of the negligence Of her officials
or any like trivial gauso.
Mr.. ingalls, advocated the amendment
OF Mr.. Edmunds on three considerations:
| Tie first was one OF etiquette. AS they had
emanateI In the Senate, the Senate
should invite the House to the Senate
chamber instead OF declaring tha the Ben
ate without the invitation Of the HOUSE
would 70 to the ball Of that body.
On being reminded by M Morgan tha'
the resolutions had been amended 90 AE
to make them concurrent, Mr.. lnHallt
admitted that they were on that account
less obnoxious 10 the criticism Just men
toned, and proceeded to the second con
sideration. This was that II might be ad
visable for the Senate 10 retain the power
OF baying the count In tho Senate by the
officer designated for that purpose by The
Constitution, as emergencies might arise
recurring II 10 exercise thiI
power. He was one Of the teller
10 announce the result OF the eleCtora
count four years ago. During that count
the information was received that on
certain day, while the Senate was on III
way 10 the House, an attack was to bt
made on the officers Of the Senate having
charge Of the certificates, and In the re-
Bulung confusion the papers we're 10 bt
stolen or destroyed. This may have been
merely a runner, but precautions were
taken at the time In order that the threat
ened attack might not be accomplished
He mentioned the incident to show thai
/ circumstances might again arise In WHICH
II would not he desirable 10 expose the
certificates 10 the danger 10 which Mr.
: Edmunds had alluded. His third eonbider
, atiCn was that II, after the resolutions wenj
TO the House, that body should fail 10 pasi
them by mex. Wednesday, the Senate
would have committed itself In q way tc
prevent II from proceeding 10 count thu
I votes In It's own chamber. On the othei
hand the Senate would be at liberty with
out the action Of the House 10 proceed L
discharge lie constitutional duty on tht
day appointed by the Constitution. He re
gafdedLhe amendment OF Mr. Edmunds a
| presenting the only practical question In
yolved In the discussion.
Mt. Hill (Ga.), after observing that th
election OF Garfield and Arthur was con
ceded, and not the slightest inBln
uation had been given from any quarte
that that result was 10 he disturbed, pro
: ceeded 10 explain that the meeting OF lh
. Georgia electoral college on Wednesda,
after the first Monday, pursuant 10 th
law Of the Stale, instead Of the first We'd
nesday In December, As directed by 81
act OF Congress, was due solely 10 mistak
made BY the Legislature which passed th
. law. The Legislature supposed the da
designated BY It was identical with The on
indicated by Congress, and overlooked III
fact that the Wednesday hiler the frs
Monday Ia December might BE- the seCOn
Wednesday OF tue month, In ConseguenC
The electoral vote 1.-The State ives cast on
week later than the appointed day. II
said he desired In thlS connection to den
| The insinuation which had been mad
that the action oi the Legislature was du
TO an intention on their part to hold Lh
EtaIe supreme 10 the Federal aw no auc
Intentions have ever been entertained
} lie agteed with the Senator from Obi
|, IfThuEmaul that there was no doubt as I
the Illegally Of the vote thus cast He tt
garied The act ct Congress as mandatory
being designed 10 secure uniformity 10 IN
a. 4 AZ ,..Halias ~ ISlhnlaRnI 0nllaOaj