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Show GENERAL. FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS. SECOND SESSION. Washington, 5. Morton submitted a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution of the United States to provide for the election elec-tion of president and vice president by the direct vote of the people-, which was read and laid on the table until the appointment ot the commissioners, commission-ers, then to be referred to the committee commit-tee on privileges and elections. Edmunds moved to tako up the resolution submitted yesterday, ordering order-ing an inquiry into the late election in various souinern jluc motion led to a loug debate. Morton presented a document compiled com-piled by the chief clerk of the senate, in regard to ths counting of electoral votes from 1794 to 1873, and said the information contained was of great importance and valuable to the country at this time. He moved that ten thousand copies be printed foi distribution. Tnurman said he had Been man inaccurate statements on this subjeei , prepared by others. He had great I confidence in the ability of the cutei clerk, but he would like to examine the compilation for himself beiore authorizing its distribution among the people. It was finally agreed to print 1,500 copies. Spencer introduced a bill to establish estab-lish a territory of the Biack Hills, and provide a temporary government, j Tabled until the committees were appointed. 13y a strict party vote, 39 to 22, it ' was agreed to take up the Edmunds' 1 resolation, ordering an inquiry into the late elections in the southern states. The resolution was modified to extend the inquiry to the election of 1S74. The president's message was then i referred as utial. i Withers otic-red a resolution, re-; questing tho president, etc., to in-' tnrm the senate under what authority United States troops occupied Petersburg, Peters-burg, Va., on election day. Edmunds obecling, the resolution was laid over. Tnurman asked that EimunJa' resolution be laid over till to-morrow. E Iniunds refuted. Alter touj'.'-ler. sharp bv Ed'jiuu ia, Thurui-iu, U byte, Morton and Bjyard, Mcrriman eub-mittt-J an aun-ndment to tne firit resolution confining tne commute to tiie inquiry whetfvr any prr-on has been dnitl tue r;iit to vute by tne constitution or laws of said aUitca; rejected by a party vote. Other a-nendmnti wore rejected, and the first resolution au'h )riz;ng the committee to inquiro into the elections in Svjth Caro.in, lieorgia, Alabama, Miivipfi, Eitirida and Luiilaua for la7I-5 u was agreed to, 41 to 25. 'I tie second resolution authorizing the employment of stenographers, etc., was agreed to, Tne tnird r'ni-lution r'ni-lution about depositions wat agreed to. Whyte ti. rn aubmittrd a a aul stitut) for Edmunds' resolution tne appointing a committee of rune to itiveotufatu the elections in the thrtf disputed states, and the actions o! the returning boards and report thf facts essential to an honest return of tho votes received by presidential electors for a ucl states, whether they are entitled to be considered in tne electoral count. Tne committee i.- empowered as in Edmund' resolution. resolu-tion. It is instructed lo enquire into the ineligibility to cilice under th" fed Ttl constitution of any alleged ineligible, electors to whom ccrtiticatti of uler.tion have ben or iiwill be issued, and whether forcible or fraudulent fraudu-lent means have b;eri Uitd in any nt.ito in the appointment of electors, and whether the acti n of r.n h elector hag ben in any wiso uncon-s'.itutionally uncon-s'.itutionally or unlawfully inlnrlernl with. After ome discusiion the substitute sub-stitute was rejected. Kdmunds' I vnt resolution concerning concern-ing the eligibility of elector, was then agreed to. From tlie 4lh to tlio J J th preamble wits alto ngrerd U). Edmunds taid to-morrow ho would movo consider the joint resolution respecting the count of the electoral votM, repeirle,( by it jo election cun-mittfc cun-mittfc in May Inst. Merriman introducd a bill changing chang-ing the tirno ol presidential er;tn,i and counting the vote. Ordered print' d and referred to the elections committee, jt provides for tho election elec-tion in October and tho meeting of the electoral college, in January following. Adjourned. not si:. Immediately nller tho rending of the journal, I'l.mled, rising to a privileged privi-leged ejuei-tion, nerted that on the vote yettrnliy ovening on Jlnwilt'n rtsolution (or three n--t committees commit-tees for Jtiiiiaria, Florida mid Hotith (Jiirolina, be had distinctly voter) in i tho negative, and hnd oulwDquently heard his name so read by tho clerk, but he now found that ho was not no recorded in the journal, ilo claimed that tho neremiry two-thirds vnte was readied only by hii vote, find aked for the ce)rreetrr)n of the rneord. Any changoof tho journal which would afliict Iho report was opjHed by Ifolman and ffther il'TiioernlH. On tho re?port ol tho elerk, it was Kranled by the speaker th tt thn journal nut not rorrsel,, and that I'lai-tted's vote had not been hnard. 'J he, upshot ol the matter wnii that I'laMted' vt.tn win changed; aUo thn vote of Fuller, who clioum that bis fote ivl been misun lojstood by the clerk. This I' ft, tho votn nn previously recorded, and tlm speaker, lo avoiil nil misunderstanding, exerr.jn-i wliat hn claimed to bo hn cotniilutioii'il right lo vofe, mid voled, Tim re olu tion Undn lo appoint rommilLer-H ,j irivrwliiilirjrr for Hiulh ('irohna, I' lririibv ruid JjiiHiutia, Tho hoii"e IhiTiiidoptid I fnuiilton'n reolulion fixing H.iiiirdny for the prefer i tut ion tif Huiiahlo resolutions on tho late Hpenk';r Kerr. The clerk then read the president's J nessage, which with the accompauy-ng accompauy-ng documents were ordered printed', n pamphlet form, and referred to the 1 :ommitiee of the whole. The speaker announced as tho ' select commilteo on Louisiana: Mor- 1 rison, Junks, McMahnn, Lynde, Blackburn, Meade, House, Phelps, New, Ross, Townsend, Pa; Dan lord, Hurlbut, Ills.; Crapo and Juyce, On Florida: Thompson, Debolt, Walhng, Hopkins, Garfield and Dun-nell. Dun-nell. On South Garolina: Cochran was appointed rice Stringer, excused. The house adjourned. |