Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-05-06
MI. Dawson objected to the introduction Of

MI. Dawson objected to the introduction o
the resolution.
MIR. Sehenck made . few remaks in addi
ton to his former statement, to the effect tina
he drew his pay up to the 9th Of December
as a Major Gendral, or up to the time his res
ignation took effect, and did not begin t
draw pay as q member Of Congress until tn
WASHINGTON, April 20.
SENATI-Mr.G Grimes presented the memoria
OF Clausen Pentield, Clerk in the Treasury De
partment, praying for the construction Of res
ervoirs for supplying the Upper Mississippi
with q medium stage Of water for navigation
throughout the dry summer months, and
canal from the head of Lake Superior to tn
Red River Of the North cia Sandy Lake,
distance Of 40 miles, thence ola Grow Wing
Leaf River and Alantal Lake to Breckenridge
a total distance Of $40 miles, thus openiny
navigation by Red River and Oaskatchawai
for two thousand miles, to the base of tn,
Rocky Mountains, and furnishing an outlet t,
the Hudson Bay region. This would requir,
an improvement of 43 miles less than tn,
Fox or Wisconsin river canal route, and 81
miles shorter than the Illinois and Mississippi
Canal.
Mr.. Ramsay introduced a bill for the bette
management of Indians, by which the Presi
dent is authorized to locate them upon new
reservations, congress retaining the power Il
vacate such reservation, when the Presiden
can locate them again and sell their lands.
Mr.. Doolittle presented a memorial, from
citizens of Wisconsin, asking for an ~increas'
of ten per cent. on foreign wool. Referred Il
Committee on Finance. He also presented
resolution of the Legislature of Wisconsin
asking for the improvement Of locks on tn
Erie Canal. Referred to the Committee OF
Commerce. lr'
Mr.. Harlan introduced q resolution of the
Iowa Legislature asking for increased mai
facilities in that State. Referred.
Mr.. Henderson offered q joint resolution
to provide for printing the report of tn,
Commission Of which Major Gen. McDowe Ell
was President to examine into cotton specu.
lations and frauds on the part of officers ir
the West.
A modification OF Mr.. Grimes requesting
the Secretary of War to transmit the repor
was accepted.
On motion Of Mr.. Lane, of Kansas, tn,
words 'if not incompatible with the public
interests" were added, and an amendment o.
Mr.. Grimes requiring all information touching
the persons supposed to be implicated in the
report was adopted.
Messrs. Wilson and Fessenden thought tn,
resolution had best not be adopted now.
Mr.. Henderson said that information on tn,
subject was desired, as it would bear on tn,
bills pending before this body, and this wa.
the only authentic way to obtain it. He hat
read letters during the last three days frou
the Red River, saying our defeat there was or
account of speculation. The cavalry in ad
vance on that occasion, numbering 5000
men, had 265 wagons, which became entang
led and the confusion brought on disaster.
Mr.. Wilson wanted to know il the gentle
man charged that the Red River Expedition
was undertaken for the mere purpose o.
gathering cotton?
MIR. Henderson sad no such thing. HI
merely wished to know what this brigade o
cavalry wanted with 265 wagons. unless i
was to gather up the products of the country
Mr.. Conness stated, on what he considered
the highest authority, that these wagons wert
part of the regular train Of the army, ant
whatever might have been the defect Of gen
eralship which brought them there, the state
ment that they were intended to bring il
cotton was not correct.
Mr.. Henderson made no charges himself
but it was singular that the disaster had fol
lowed the statements aud predictions Of tn,
newspaper writers. He read q letter from
Grand Ecore, dated four days before the bat
tie, alleging a conflict of authority between
Banks and Admiral Porter, and stating tina
the latter was Selling cotton on the land a.
naval prizes, and predicting disaster.
Mr.. CONFESS denounced the statement reat
as a cruel and base SANDER on Admiral Por
ter, which he had the highest authority 70,
denying.
The resolution, as amended, was adopted
Mr.. Nesmith called up the Senate bill L
establish branch minis at Carson City, Neva
da' Territory, and Dallas City, Oregon. Ar
amendment striking out Carson City wa,
adopted, and the bill passed.
The National Currency bill came up ir
order, the question being on the Finance
amendment to the 4Ist section, as proposed
to be amended by Mr.. Pomeroy, by the inser
ton of a provision exempting from State
tax that portion of that capital invested in OF
based on United States Bonds. The amend
ment was rejected by % TO II.
Adjourned.
HousE.-Mr. Highly, Of California, from
the select committee on charges against Mr.
Blair, of Missouri, moved that the evidences
be printed.
MIR. McClurg reminded the House that
when the report was made he waived his re-
marks in order that the tax bill might bt
acted On. ' He regretted that the military
member Mr.. Blair was not now present.
This military member had the audacity te
attack the five radical members from Mis-
souri, 10 a clandestine manner, and made per
sonal illusions against them that he Blair
never uttered in his printed speech.
The Speaker reminded Mr.. McClurg thai
his remarks were not in order.
On motion of Mr.. Stevens Mr.. Mcclure
had permission to proceed. Isa.
lie denied that he had made a direct
charge against the military member blair
of a liquor speculation. He [McClurg] was
a great admirer of Sec etary Chase, whom he
compared to an iron-ciad, plated with siz
inch iron, and the individual Blair, pursuing
him, to a Major General firing paper wad>
from a pop gun and the sentinel not aroused
from his slumber. "a"
Mr.. Clay, of Kentucky, from the Select
Committee, remarked to the gentleman
McClurg that there was nothing in the evi
dence to show that Mr.. Blair was engaged Ii
a liquor speculation. The military member
and the officers of. his staff were cognizanl
of the fact that the original order, which
they had signed, had been altered. They
were not only morally but legally bound by
the act of the forger, Michael Powers, who
was agent. He repeated they ratified the &C,
and it will not do now to repudiate the act o.
their agent. He was satisfied that the public
would come to the same conclusion.
Mr.. Highly maintained that the charge Of
c~riminality against the Treasury officials was
not sustained by the facts. e. y.
Mr.. Clay, a member of the Select Commit.
tee, said Mr.. Blair was completely exhonor.
ated from the charge against him, but he did
not agree with the gentleman Mr.. Highly as
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