1877. Feb. 21-The President proclaims the ratification of an extradition treaty with Spain. Mar. 1-The statement of the public debt made by the Secretary of the Treasury declares that the decrease of the debt since June 30, 1876, had been $10,658,201; making the whole decrease since the close of the war $667.650,427. 66 2-The count of the electoral vote by the two Houses of Congress is concluded. Rutherford B. Hayes is found elected President of the United States, and William A. Wheeler Vice-President. 64 แ 4-The Forty-fourth Congress comes to a close. 5-Hayes is quietly inaugurated President in Washington. The Democratic party has given proof of moderation and patriotism in submitting to a decision they deemed inconclusive, and which deprived them of victory at the moment of seeming success. "22-It is decided, by the new administration, that the Southern States are now so fully reconstructed that Federal interference is no longer necessary; that the harmony of the sections, and even the welfare of the Freedmen will be promoted by confining the action of the General Government to its ordinary sphere. This is called the President's "Southern Policy." South Carolina and Louisiana have each two Governors claiming legal election; the Republican Governors, in each, being upheld in nominal authority by United States troops. At a Cabinet meeting this day, it is decided to invite Governors Hampton (Democrat) and Chamberlain (Republican), of South Carolina, to visit and confer with the Government at Washington. Apr. 10-The result is the withdrawal of the United States troops from the South Carolina State House, the retirement of Chamberlain, and the recognition of Hampton as Governor without disturbance. "20-A commission, appointed by the President, arranged the contest in Louisiana between two rival Legislatures; the troops which had sustained Packard (Republican) were withdrawn; and the Democratic administration, with Nichols as Governor, was recognized. "24-Russia declares war against Turkey. May 16-Marshal McMahon, President of France, refuses to permit his government to be controlled in its policy by the majority of the Representatives of the nation, and reconstructs his cabinet to suit his own views; a month later dissolving the Assembly, by the consent of the Senate, and ordering new elections. June 15-About this time an Indian war commences in Idaho, under the leadership of Chief Joseph, by the massacre of some twenty settlers. Gen. O. O. Howard defeated the Indians in battle, and, after a long chase, captured them, and put an end to the war (September 5th). 1877. June 22-President Hayes issues a circular to office-holders under the United States Government, forbidding them to take part in the management of political organizations, or to make, or pay, assessments for political purposes. The Iowa Republican Convention protests against the President's July 5-On the other hand, proceedings are instituted against the Louisiana 66 "16-A strike of railroad employes commences on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and soon spreads to most of the roads in the Northern States; the strikers taking energetic measures to interrupt railroad traffic till their demands should be complied with. They refused to accept a reduction of wages, generally determined on by most of the railroad companies. 19-Troops are called out to suppress the unlawful obstruction of business. Riots in Baltimore and Pittsburgh are especially bloody and destructive to property; and disorders occur at numerous points, the destruction of property being due to the criminal classes rather than railroad employes. The interruption to business lasted nearly two weeks, and was ended partly by conciliatory measures of railroad officers and partly by the submission of the strikers. Aug. 29-Brigham Young, the Mormon leader, died at Salt Lake City, Utah, aged seventy-six. Sept. 5-The ex-President of the French Republic, Louis Adolph Thiers, a wise and eminent statesman, died, aged eighty. "20-Senator L. V. Bogy, of Missouri, died, aged sixty-four. Oct. 15-An extra session of the Forty-fifth Congress commences The special necessity for it was to make appropriations for the support of the army, which had not been made at the usual time. The elections in France, of the 14th, result against President McMahon, and in favor of parliamentary and popular government. Nov. 1—Hon. Oliver P. Morton, a distinguished statesman and United States Senator from Indiana, dies, aged fifty-four. He was born in Wayne County, Indiana, in 1823, graduated at Miami University, and was admitted to the bar in 1847; was elected Circuit Judge in 1852. He took part in organizing the Republican party; became Lieutenant Governor of Indiana in 1860; was acting Governor from 1861-4, when returned to the office by election; and represented his State in the United States Senate from 1867 to his death. He was a natural leader of men, and respected, even by his opponents, as an able and upright statesman. Dec. 3-The extra session of the Forty-fifth Congress terminates, and the first regular session commences. 1877. Dec. 10-The Russians capture Plevna-an event decisive of the war in their favor. "13-President McMahon submits to his defeat, and forms a cabinet acceptable to the majority of the French Assembly. It is one of the most significant events of the century, as indicating the progress of popular government in Europe. 1878. Jan. 9-Victor Emanuel, King of Italy, during whose reign Italian unity "20-An amendment to a post-office bill revives the franking privilege for members of Congress. "28-A bill remonetizing silver, making the old silver dollar of 4121⁄2 grains a legal tender, becomes a law by its passage over the veto of the President in both Houses of Congress. Mar. 3-Peace is signed between Russia and Turkey. "18-The Louisiana court before which General Anderson, of the Returning Board, was tried, had sentenced him to two years in the penitentiary. The Supreme Court of the State overrules the decision, and orders his release. Apr. 1-Since July, 1877, the public debt has been reduced more than twenty million dollars, in spite of financial trouble. The most noteworthy fact of the month has been the success of the Secretary of the Treasury in preparing for formal resumption of specie payments by the Government; the nominal differ ence between the value of greenbacks and gold, and actual resumption by many banks and business houses. May 1—The national debt was reduced $3,015,865. The International Exposition of France is formally opened by Congress is in session during this month, and produces some im- June 12-William Cullen Bryant, a distinguished American poet, dies, aged 83. "20-The second session of the Forty-fifth Congress comes to a close. The first session commenced; in December, 1877; the second, in March, 1878. July 9-A “heated term" of unusual severity commences, during which hundreds of deaths by sunstroke occur. Aug. -The Yellow Fever commences with grecat fatality in Memphis, New Orleans and other parts of the South, mostly near the Mississippi River, causing a general suspension of business in those regions. All parts of the country, and especially large northern cities, supply the sick and suffering with many hundred thousand dollars in money. Great political activity, and an attempt to build up new political parties have characterized the spring and summer. Sept. 3-The State election occurs in Vermont, followed Oct. 8-Ohio, Indiana, Iowa and West Virginia hold State elections. Nov. 5-Thirty-one States hold elections for State officers and Representa tives to the Forty-sixth Congress. There is a considerable reaction in favor of the Republicans on the whole, although the Democrats will have a small majority in both Houses of the Forty-sixth Con. gress. New parties show less strength than was expected, owing chiefly to the success of preparations by the U. S. Government to resume specie payments in January coming.j Dec. 2-The third session of the Forty-fifth Congress commences. The Public Debt, less cash in the Treasury, Dec. 1st, was $2,027,414,325. " 17-Gold was sold at par in New York for the first time in nearly sev enteen years. 1879. extent of 2,688 Iron has been Jan. 1-Resumption by the U. S. Treasury becomes an accomplished fact. Railways have been built in the last year to the miles, making the total miles in the U. S. 81,896. produced in the country during the year to the amount of 4,154,000 tons, about one-fourth the production of the world. The mining of precious metals for the year gives a value of about $84,000,000; the crops raised by the farmers were the largest in our history, The exports of merchandise for the year was about $100,000,000 more than in the previous, or any other year, in our history. Mar. 4-The Forty-fifth Congress comes to an end with its work incomplete. The President, by proclamation, calls together the Fortysixth Congress in extra session for March 18th. CHAPTER XXX. PARLIAMENTARY RULES. We give in this chapter the Standing Rules and Orders for conducting business in the House of Representatives of the United States, as a proper compend of parliamentary rules for the people of the United States. They are naturally a standard of procedure in all public bodies in this country so far as the circumstances are parallel; they have been carefully compiled and adopted by our highest popular Legislative Body during the course of more than three-quarters of a century, and may therefore be considered thoroughly well adapted to the genius of our people and the character of our institutions; and they were originally based on Jefferson's Manual, compiled by him for the use, and at the request of the Senate when, as Vice-President of the United States, he became its presiding officer, and was digested by him from the usages of the English Parliament and other Legislative bodies in Europe. The value of this manual is attested by its use continued to the present day, so far as it is applicable. The Rules of the House are therefore representative of the wisdom of the Old World on this point as well as of the usages of the New. They deserve to be carefully studied by American citizens above any other body of parliamentary rules for several reasons besides those mentioned above. Hardly any other will be likely to contain so many points of adaptation to popular use; every one should be fairly acquainted with the prevailing usages that he may be ready to act his part well if called on to preside in any public meeting; all who read the reports of congressional doings require such acquaintance with parliamentary usage to fully appre ciate many points in such reports, and these Rules are a fine illustration of the spirit of our government and the genius of the American people. |