Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-18
ILIH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Il, 1885.

senate.
After the reading Of the Senate Jour-
nal Mr.. Dolpb presented the credentials
Of John II. Mitchell, the newly-elected
United States senator from Oregon,
which were read. Mr.. Mitchell was then
sworn in.
Mr.. Hoar, from the Committee on
Privileges and Elections, reported favor
ably the bill to fix day for the meet
ing Of the electors for President and
Vice-President and to provide for and
regulate the counting Of the vote for
President and Vice-President, and de-
cision Of questions arising therefrom.
Mr.. Hoar said that he would call up
this bill for action Immediately after
the disposal Of the presidential-succes-
sion bill and the bill fixing the salary
of the United States district judges.
The bill went to the calendar.
The Chair laid before the Senate the
resolution of Mr.. Butler calling for
committee to inquire as to the alleged
organization ofthe Territory Of Dakota
into a State, and the alleged election of
United States senator's.
After further debate the matter went
over till tomorrow, and the preSden-
tial-succession bill was taken up, and
Mr.. Evarts addressed the Senate on it.
Mr.. Evarts promised by remarking
that he would not have addressed the
Senate on the subject under considera-
ton had he not heretofore had occasion
professionally to make thorough ex-
animation Of the constitutional provi-
sions involved. There are, he said, two
propositions which, think, all
students of the Constitution will
admit without question. One is
That in the framing of the office of
President, and its origin Of authority
from the direct action Of the people in
the channel marked out by the Consti-
tuition, and written all over the Consti-
tuition in this very matter, is that Con-
gress shall not participate, either SUBJ
stantially or circumstantially, in the
election OF President Of the United
States. Then | think it would be
found generally impressed on the
constitutional would say, imbed-
ded in the Constitution--that Pc
riodicity-an accommodates and adj
iusted periodicity--in all actions Of the
great departments Of the Government
except the judicial is not to be treated
as circumstantial or only of convent
ence and propriety, but that it enters
into the very scheme by which the
election of President by the people
is effected without aid and with
out control, and without regula-
ton by Congress possible; and that
it carries with it that the presidency is
to come into the scheme Of elections
under this arrangement Of Periodicity,
with the concurrent and attendant
action Of the people on other branches
of the Government. | believe 1t
is essentially in the plan Of the
trainers Of the Constitution l
believe it is impressed firmly in
the provisions of the Constitution
that a duly-elected President, as be is
fixed upon periodicity OF four years,
is to come into power and assume the
reins of Government with the concur
renee Of periodicity in the election OF
the lower house OF Congress. be-
lieye, therefore, that in inference from
the mere nomination Of the period of
duration is not to DO found the essen
tial idea for the presidency or for the
lower house of Congress. 1t is in
this whole frame Of the Government
when it is launched into action and be-
comes the operative government OF the
people Of the United States. 1t was
understood by the trainers, and was to
be written in the provisions OF the
Constitution, that after this Govern
ment was launched and the initial date
of this periodicity was fixed, 1t was
Predetermined that it was not to be
disturbed, and that this synchronism
of action of electors for President and
voters for members Of the House Of
Representatives was not TO be dis
turbed.
Mr.. Evsrts, in support Of his consen-
ton, cited and analysed various clauses
of the Constitution, and argued that
nowhere in the Constitution could
traces be found Of an intention on the
part of its trainers to vest in Congress
any authority in the promises. he
suesesssd that II Legislators and ccns!s
tuiiopsl lawyers would submissivs!y
spd carefully weigh vhst IVES IN The
ninds Of he patriotic men Who
fysned ths Csnstitution Gkass Wesld b
lsss loose diseusaion Of what va IN tho
Censtituiiou. Hs insisted The Con-