Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-10-20
SPECIAL SESSION OF THE SENATE.

The assembling of the special session o.
the United States Senate, on the 10th in
slant, was witnessed by large number o.
persons who, as early as II o'clock, filled
the galleries to their utmost capacity. The
desk formerly occupied by Senator Burnside
was tastefully draped with black, while sever
al boquets, ornamented the desks of promi'
nent Senators. Senators.elect Aldrich, Lap
ham and Miller occupied seats upon the
floor on the Republican side. The Senate
was called to order by Senator Harris, who
after prayer by Cha plain Bullock, alluded
in feeling manner to the deaths of Presi'
dent Garfield, Senator Burnside and Secre'
tary Burch. He said: II have been re-
quested by number of Senators on both
sides Of the Chamber to call the Senate to
order. If there be no objection, | will call
the Senate to order, that We may proceed
with its business. The Senate will please
come to order and the Clerk will report to
the Senate the message of the President con-
vening this session of the Senate"
The Presidents proclamation having been
read, Mr.. Pendleton moved the adoption Of
the following resolution:
"That Thos. F. Rayard, Senator from the
State of Delaware, is hereby chosen Presi'
dent pro tenn. of the Senate"
Mr.. Edmunds said that, of course, he did
not object to the present consideration OF the
resolution, but be thought that under the ex.
isting circumstances, it was his duty to pre-.
sent the credentials of the Senators elect,
which he thereupon did. The credentials
having been read, Mr.. Edmunds moved that
the oath of office be administered to those
gentlemen by Senator Anthony, senior Sen
ator.
This motion was tabled by a vote of 36
yeas to "a nays, Mr.. Davis, of Illinois, voting
with the Republicans in the negative. Ma
hone did not vote, and Platt and Fair were
paired.
A debate then ensued on the question of
electing a President pro tenn. before acting
upon the credentials of three Senators elect,
who had not yet been sworn in. The ques-
ton was disposed of by deciding to organize
before admitting the members elect. Mr..
Edmunds then moved that Mr.. Bayard be
elected President pro tenn. for that day only.
Lost. He then moved to strike out the name
of Thomas F. Bayard and insert that of Hen
ry B. Anthony. Rejected-yeas 80; nays
"a; Messrs. Bayard and Anthony being
paired. The original resolution was then
adopted-yeas "a nays 80, and Mr. Bayard
was escorted to the chair by Senators An
thony and Pendleton. On taking the chair.
Mr.. Bayard, after acknowledging the honor
paid him, said:
ave are all painfully mindful Of the un.
usual circumstances under which we meet,
and of the National bereavement which has
caused this special session of the Senate.
May it not be hoped that, touched by sense
of common sorrow, and chastened BY grief
that penetrates every household in our great
family of States, our proceedings may be
marked by spirit of concession and harmony,
and generous consideration for mutual differ.
ences of opinion and softening of partisan as
perities, and high intent to perform our
duties in manner responsive to the demands
of the occasion and the best interests of our
common country2 With such hopes and in
such spirit, l now assume and shall endeavor
to perform the duties of the high position to
which your favor has assigned me-"
At the conclusion of Mr.. Bayard's speech,
Mr.. Edmunds moved that the credentials Of
N. w. Aldrich, of Rhode Island, be placed on
file, and that the oath of Office be administer
ed to him.
Mr.. Pendleton, in order to give an oppor-
tunity for examining the credentials Of the
Senators from Rhode Island and New York,
moved that the Senate adjourn.
Mr.. Hoar called Mr.. Pendleton's attention
to the fact that it was customary to inform
the Executive branch Of the Government
that the Senate was organized.
Mr.. Pendleten expressed his willingness to
withdraw his motion, to admit Of that being
done; but Mr. Edmunds insisted upon his mo-
tion taking precedence.
Mr.. Pendleton, thereupon, refused to with