The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-07-21
WASHINGTON, July 20.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, July 20.
SENATE.
Mr.. Stewart called up the bill grant,
ing the right to all citizens Ofthe United
States, who have declared their inten-
ton to become citizens, to enter and ex-
plore unoccupied mineral lands, and
providing the manner in which they
may obtain and retain possession, The
bill was passed.
Messrs. Lane, Van Wrinkle and Davis
were appointed Committee of Confer
ence on the bill increasing the pension
OF widows and orphans of soldiers who
fell during the war of the rebellion.
Mr.. Poland introduced bill to pre-
vent the courts from being used as in
strumentS of persecution against loval
persons, which was referred to the Com
mtttee on Judiciary. 1t provides that
any action of Tort to person or property
done between April ID, 1861, and july
l, 1865, it shall be lawful to plead or
give in evidence in the bar of said nc
ton. list, that at the time when the
wrong was committed the plaintiff was
engaged in instruction and rebellion
against the United States. Sd, that the
plaintiff aided and comforted and sym-
pathized with rebels and insurgents
against the Government of the United
States. 4th, that the plaintiff applied
for or obtained pardon from the Presi-
oent relieving him from the penalties
of treason. The establishment of either
point shall be good defense.
Mr.. Fessenden, from the Committee
on Finance, reported the bill to protect
revenue and for other purposes, with
amendments.
Mr.. Sumner, from the Conference
Committee on the Consular and Diplo-
matte Appropriation Bill, made a re-
port which was read.
MIR. JOhnson-"I desire to ask the
Senator from Massachusetts' (Sumnerl>
whether the mission to PORTUGAL has
been abolished, or whether it continues,
Mr.. Sumner-"Thec compensation has
been taken away from the present in
cumbent and there is no appropriation
for him for the ensuing year" Mr..
sumner explained that it was in conse-
quence OF letter written by the min
lister at PORTUGAL (James e. Harvey to
the Secretary of State animadverting
on the action of Congress. 1t was
shown to the President and by him
recommended to be printed, which was
done in the New York Times. Some
discussion then occurred, and the letter
referred to was then read.
Mr. sumner said he sympathized
with the House, and saving that the
writer of such letter, setting forth
such sentiments thus hostile to those
principles which the majority of the
Congress of the United States regard so
essential to public welfare ought not to
hold Office abroad. 1 do not wish any
such man to speak for our country
in foreign land but this whole dis
position seems to be good deal out of
place. The question is on agreeing to
the report of the Committee of Confer
ence, which involves u great MANY
matters, of which this is only one, and
involves the fate of the bill.
Mr.. Howard: at has been remarked
LlaL the letter nn1nr con
published at the request of the Presi-
dent of the United States. l would
enquire OF the Senator from Massachu-
fact" u '''''
Mr.. Sumner: Certainly. the Sec
rotary of State says so in his letter"
MIR. Howard: 81 am inclined to
think the House has done exactly right
in calling Oft all compensation to the
minister resident in Portugal"
Mr.. sumner: 1.-The letter was wit
ten in April.r
been in session some months before the
date OF the letter. 1 do not understand
what right an American minister
abroad has opaSS such reflections upon
the legislative authority of his country,
whether they could be found in pri-
vate letter or public one."
Sir, an American minister who as
country at home or its policy. or set
himself up as Judge or censor of his
country, is not in my opinion, fit to be
representative of that country. lis
tened, sir, with a good deal of pain to
the sentiments contained in that letter,
1t is written in u spirit of partisanship
written for the avowed purpose of be-
ing used as partisan document. The
person to whom it was addressed saw
mt to use II for that purpose, and it has
been used for the promotion of the in
terest in which it was written. l pre-
Ter sir, to teach the gentleman who thus
assumes to represent the American
Government abroad that for the future
he cannot be puid for spending his time
in Portugal in such vile and unworthy
employment.
Mr.. Hendricks said he would regret
very much to see the report adopted,
consequently it would not, he Thought
be sustained by the country in any
such action. He ha d heard it stated
over and over again, that the fate of n
bill depended on agreeing to the report
of Conference Committee. He did not
believe it in this case. There were four
days of this session still remaining, and
he had seen many preposterous bills
passed within two days of the adjourn
ment. There was no danger ofthe fail
ure of the bill, and he hoped
that the Senate would, not be
drawn into agreeing to what 1t did not
endorse. There was no justification for
refusing to pay this salary except it
could be found in the fact that the
Minister had written n private letter
which had become public with
out his knowledge or consent. But sup
pose it was public letter addressed TO
one of the journals of the country bv
himself for publication, would that be
sufficient justification for refusing to
pay his salary? He thought not. He
contended there was nothing in Mr.,
Harvey's letter which merited the
punishment proposed by the Commit
tee.
Mr.. Cowan defended Mr.. Harvey and
in the course of his remarks read the
following dispatch received yesterday
from Governor Brownlow, which he
said was a filthy allusion to the Presi-
dent written by high official and pub
lished by the Secretary of the Senate:
To Hon. John Il. Bingham, Washington,
We have fought the battle and won
the victory. The legislature ratified the
Constitutional Amendment TODAY.
Two of JOhnsOn's tools refused to vote.
Give my compliments to the Dead
Duck at the White House.
(Signed) w. G. BRowNLow.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Price, from the Committee on the
Pacific Railroad, reported a bill to au-
thoriZe the loan of certain bonds, de-
nomination greater than $1,000, which
was read three times and passed.
The House proceeded to consider the