Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-03-20
WASHINGTON. March i9.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, March 10.
SENATE.
PETITIONS PRESENTED.
Mr.. Sumner presented petition Of citizens OF New
York. asking that no State which has rebeed be re-
admitted to a share of the governing power, until aI
pie security for the future is obtained Referred to
Committee on Reconstruction.
Also, petitions from authors and editors of Rich
mond Raleigh and Mobile, asking for the passage OF
an international copyright law. Referred to Com
mittee on Foreign Relations.
Mr. Wilson presented the petition of officers of the
army asking an increase OF pay. Referred to Com
mittee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. Wilson presented the petition of certain slaves
of the late g. W. Parke Curtis setting forth that by
his will provision was to be made for their support
they being set free and ask for portion of the Ar
lingtOn estate. Referred to Committee Judiciary.
MILITARY AND NAVAL ASYLUM.
Mr.. Wilson, from the Committee Military Al
fairs, reported the bill to amend act to establish
mai; Onal military and naval asylum for the relief O.
totally disabled officers and with the House
amendments conhnng its provisions to soldiers and
a recommendation that the amendment he concuIfed
in The bill was considered by unanimous consent,
and the amendment cOncurred in.
Personal EXPLANATION.
Mr. FesseEden rose to personal explanation, and
read from the card Of Hon. W. A. Graham, published
in the Inteltgeacey Of March H. in regard to test
mony taken before the Committee on Reconstruction.
Mr. f. said that the Senator from Kentucky (Mr
Davis had made grave charges against the Commit
tee, and the Senators from Maryla ana hr Johnson
replied and stated that the Committee had never
fus ed to take testimony from any who applied. He
Mr. F. had not much experience IN such matters,
and wh IN Mr. Graham had applied for permission to
cross-exapine witnesses he had referred the matter
TO the tee and it had been conceded that such
a practice was not customary. Considering the mat
ter at an end he did rot tina II necessary TO answer
the second letter Of Mr.. Graham on the subject In
his Judgment such course was not necessary 10
eliminate the truth, Il Nag oe taken for granted
thata Congressional Committee appointed to lnles-
tgate such matter. would aaEe amfif power AM
TALLY to arrive at correct c0ncusi ion. Mr. Graham
had also labored under Misrepresentation in stating
that the testimony had HSeH Closed ofn q0 SS
More of the evidence II regard TO North Carolina
had been published as it was in The charge OF Sena
tor Howard who had been called home, The Com
mittce were ready and willing to take the testimony
of Mr.. Graham or any southerner he might MANI
but they did not think it Incumbent On fhen TO a.
nit him in the character of counsel lie thought II
necessary to dsabuse the pubilc mina OF any ere
neous Impressions formed by tins publication OF ar
Graham differing he did from the opinions Of tE&t
gentleman. The Committee were actuated by u,
feelings of partizanshp or prejudice and desire" 70
fairness, acting according 10 their own convictions 81
mr.. Dayis-I ask the Senator 10 send me the pa
nor so that in justice 30 Mir. Graham may read tie
CORES pondence in full Mr.. ID. then read from the
Inteiiig. ncer He maintained that tt e Committee
was acti, in judicial character and it was their
duty TO not fy Mr.. Graham and all other gentlemen
apnlving for seats here, and give them an opportu
nifty to nine witnesses ID matter m %ngA
the Committee would have been TO enter On order on
their journal that Mr.. Graham should be notified
when any testimony concerning the state Of NgFLl
Carolina was being made, ana should nave then given
the privilege of asking questions and summonlnf
witnesses to reasonable extent put Il appears 'Lat
no further notice was taken OF hls'appl4eatlvh'
LAND TITLES.
Mr.. CONFESS introduced bill 10 acquire land tities
in the State of California Referred 20 the commit
tee on Public Lands.
BouNrIEs TO SOLDIERS.
Mr.. Wilson introduced a bill to provide for the
equalization of bountles to soldiers IN the late var
of the rebellion.
Section first. provides that to each and every sol
dier who served in the armies of the United States
in the late war of the rebellion and VINO has been
or may hereafter be hOnOrably discharged thereirnl,
there shall be paid except hereinafter prescribed
a bounty Of eight and third dollars per month
for each and every month OF service rendered.
Section second That i'll calculating the amount 81
bounty due al to be paid TO each and every soldier
under the provisions OF this act deductions shall be
made for any and al! payments of bounty made
agreed to be made by tbs United States, that IN no
case will any soldier receive greater sum in bounty
month of service: and no bounty wAateyer shall Ge
paid to any soldier who has deserted from the ser
vice; nor to soldier BhO prisoner 0t war at
the time o. enlistment: nor TO any soldier who has
been discharged at his request, unless for the
purpose of accepting promotion or appointment IN
the army or navy, who has been discharged at TIC
request of parents guSrdans CT other persons OF "n
Section tbiri-Proyides inst any soldier who has
bartered, sold, assigned, transferred, loaned, eN-
changed or given away bis final discharge papers. "f
any interest in any bounty provided - TINS or any
any bounty whatever under this act. and before pas
meRt is made to a0y soldier he shall be required -
make oath or affirmation that neither his DISCHARGE
papers, nor any interest as aforesaid IN any bounty
has been bartcred, Sold assigned. transferred,
changed loaned or given away.
the bounty herein provided for it shall be the duty
of the PaymaSter General. under such rules and reg
ulauiOns as may be prescribed by the Secretary Il
War. TO examine the account Of each and every sol
der living to whom the said bounty is payable end
upon ascertaining the amount due to cause the same
IN he Assistant Treasurer National
Bank, United States PaymasteT, Pension Agent,
other person, 10 be designated by the Secretary -
War ri, d stationed i'll or near The same county
district w, tn the claimant, who shall pay the sad
bounty;to t. e soldier himself and TO other pe~
son. and who shall require the identification Of said
soldier by affidavit OF TWO r. pectable jurors resi-
dents of said counlv or district, and under no cir
cumstauceS whatever shall any agent, attorney, or
third person. be allowed 10 act for or take part IL
the prosecution collection, remittance or paymentct
claims for said bounty, eXcegt te person or persons
designated for that purpose by me secretary oil an
nor shall any power of attorney, transfer, assign
ment be recognized or entertained by any 2ccount-
ing officer disbursing agent Of the Governme2t IN
the settlement payment OF claims Tor said bountS
and the said bounty shall be paid Il e heirs OF de-
ceased soldiers, whose claims shall be rf3eiyed and
settled by the Second Auditor Of the Treasury, a.
Section fifth-Provides that the proceeds of the
tax laid, ard Of any tax which mag hereatterbe
laid on cotton, shall be set apart fund for the
payment Of the bountes herein provided for, and for
the extinguishment Of any debi incurred IN paymen.
of said hounteS.
ohi ds 4SSiANp " the N%~AHA4vs~S O~ ~~-A'''F
Affairs.
CONT sTEp SEAT.
Mr.. Trumhull said the case of the Senator trcm
New Jersey Mr. Stockton had been set for to day,
but as there ere severa Senate now absent who
wished to be present when the vote taken, he
would not call 1t up befoso Wednesday.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
On motion of Mr.. Doolitle. the bill to provide for
an annual inspection into Indian Affairs, and for
other purposes. was taken up and considered
1t provides that there shall be five inspection dis
Eicts of Indian affairs the States of California and
Nevada, and the Territory of Arizona to comprise
the first. the State Of Oregon and the Territories Of
ashington and Idaho the second the Territories OF
Colorado. Utah and New Mexico the third, the State
Southern Dacotah the fourth, and the State of Min
Il esota that part of the Territory Of Dacotah north
OF Nebraska, and the Territory of Montana. the
fift,, the Secretary of the Interior under the d.
recti of the President having power to change the
boundA ries.
ated To co 1sst each of three members, one chief in
speetor to b, appointed by the President subject TO
the confrmat OF te senate 20 mold once Tor four
army to he ann ally detailed by the Secretary of
War, and one to be nnually appointed by the Presi
dent subject to cohh. NATION by the Senate. from
among such persons as M y be recommended as suit
able persons by the annual 'eetngs or CONVENTIONS
of the religious denominations " VI t9 n!
ted States. Each inspector appu- teu " t!e rel
dent to receive annual salary Of ofUjV' ara lhe
officer detailed as inspector to serve 'n9Gt aoi:
tona pay or % bc eG mbG o. &
tricts at least year. to examine into their
dtion and hear complaints. to exercise supervisory
powers the agents and superintendents and the
military forces. They sha!l report as often as reqUi-
ed to the Secretary Of the Interior.
The fourth section confers upon the chief inspect
ors and the agents and superntendents Of Indian at
fairs, the powers of ircut Court Commissioners in
all cases where Indians concerned.
The salaries of ali Indian agents are hereafter fixed
at 81 800 per annTm.
The last section provides that no member of tie
board of inspectors SHALL during his continuance in
office. carry or be interested any trade or bust
ness with the Indians.
A very lengthy discussion ensued on the bill par-
ticipated il by Messrs. Doolittler Guthrie CONFESS
Trumbull and others.
Mr.. Grimes offered amendment as an additional
section which agreed land which provides that
any loyal citizen of the United States of good moral
character shall be permitted to trade with any In
dian on executing bond to carry out in good faith
the requirements regulating intercourse with the
lpdian tribeE.
The bill having been read three times, was passed
by yeas 10, nays Is
FOREIGN CRIMINALS.
On motion of Mr.. Sumner, the joint resolution
protesting against the pardon by foreign govern
lnents of criminals, convicted of infamous Offences
condition of emigrating to the United States
taken up.
Mr.. Sumner said that the fact Of Criminal in
Switzerlant being pardoned this condition was
already known. and from information which he had
Received from thu State Department this morning it
appears that the government of Great Britain had
Ia