Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 March 1877 — SENATE—EXTRA SESSION. [ARTICLE]

SENATE—EXTRA SESSION.

Monday, March s.—The Senate of the Forty-fifth Congress convened in extra session and re-elected Mr. Ferry, of Michigan, as President pro tem. The roll of the newiy-elected Senators was called, and Messrs. Anthony, Beck. Blaine, Hoar, David Davie, H. G. Davis, Kirkwood, McPherson, Plumb, Rollins, Saulsbury, Teller. Windom, Coke, Garland, Harris, Hill, Johnston and Ransom were sworn in. A resolution was adopted that the credentials of Senatoree’ect in all disputed or contested States should lie upon the table until the 6th, and tn accordance with this resolution Messrs. Kellogg, of Louisiana; Morgan, of Alabama; Lamar, of Mississippi: Corbin and Butler (contestants), of Booth Carolina, were not sworn in, objection* being made thereto. Lafayette Grover, of Oregon, did not respond to his name, and no objection was made to his being sworn in. Vice-President Wheeler was escorted into the Chamber and Mr. Ferry presented him to the Senate and administered to him the oath of office. After the inauguration ceremonies, an adjournment was had to the Sth. Tuesday, March 6.—A lengthy discussion occurred over a motion that L. Q. C. Lamar be sworn in as Senator from Mississippi, Mr. Blaine, among others, signing that hie (Lamar’s) credentials being entirely regular, he should be sworn in now, and any question as to the legality of the Legislature which elected him should be a matter of subsequent inquiry by the Senate. After debate, the resolution that Mr. Lamar be sworn in was adopted—s" to I—Mr. Wadleigh voting in the negative: Mr Merrimou, who would also have voted in th* negative, was paired with Mr. Spencer. A resolution was then offered by Mr. Blaine that William Pitt Kellogg be sworn in ss Senator irom Louisiana. Mr. Blaine than proceeded to arene that Mr. Kellogg was elected by the legal Legislature of hie State, and that the same Returning Board which had rightfully declared that the Hayes Electoral ticketin the State was elected had also declared, who constituted the Legislature of the State, which body had chosen Mr. Kellogg Senator, and declared who was the legal Governor of the State. Mr. Bayard took the floor to reply to Mr. Blaine, but yielded for a motion to adjourn. Wednesday, March 7.—A motion was made that Lafayette Grover, Senator-elect from Oregon, be sworn in, which motion was objected to. and subsequently Mr. Mitchell stated that he had several petitions from citizens of Oregon objecting to the seating of Mr. Grover, which pettttonsveremd. charging that, he procured his election by bribery and corrupt use of money; that he unlawfully and corruptly issued a certificate of electian to Mr. Cronin, red falsely testified before the Committee on Privileges and Election* to sustain his act. Mr. Bayard replied to Mr. Blaine relative to the eme rs Mr. Kellogg, of Louisiana, claiming that his (Kellogg’s) credentials did not present s nrtma /art* case, because •Obey were signed by Mr. Packard, who

w*» nat the Goverwref th* State, either de Jure or de facto; on the contrary. the Seqste muit lake cognfxauce of ttopublte fact the*'Mr Nicholls was Governor, *n4 had a legal Legislature acting in accord with him. lie (Bayard) contended that the declnion of the Elrctoral Commission had no lores in law to centre! the action nt ths Senate in this case. Mr. Blaine replied,rettarattag tbs assertion that the same authority of the State which gave the Electoral vote to Hayes and Wheeler also declared the Packard Government to be the legal State Government Mr. Morton also advocated the claims of Mr. Kellogg, end a resolution was Anally adopted It to Si—that the Credentials He on the table until ike appointment of the Committee on Privileges and Election*. The aame disposition was made of the credential* ofMe-ara. Coibln and Butler, of South Carolina. An Executive seeslon was field, at which objections were made to the Cabinet nomination* sent in by the President, especially to those of Messrs. Evarte> Schur* and Key. '