The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-03-23

| adjourned.
HOUSE........... see. w AsHINaToS, March q.
The House was engaged in a gener-
al discussion, as If in Committee of
the Whole, the principal topic being
the financial question.
NeWeomb spoke on general politics.
Blair, of Michigan, spoke on
finances, opposing the payment of the
debt In greenbacks, arguing that it
should not be increased a dollar; that
the present was no time to consider
the payment Of the principal; and that
undivided attention should be given
to the restoration of the country on a
solid and enduring basis.
NIb!ack asked why Blair spoke of
the policy of paying for bonds in
green backs, as a Democratic scheme,
and why he referred to the Demo
cratic Stlte Convention in Ohio and
Indians, IN that connection, when he
knew the Republican Conventions in
those States adopted the same policy.
Blair did not understand the Repub-
publican Conventions to endorse
that policy, but only to approx
innate to it. They, had simply
made an unmanly exhibition of
partisan fearlessness whenever the
question came up in the House; hoW-
ever the Democratic members had,
nine out of ten, voted for the pay
ment of the debt in greenbacxs,
while the Republican members had
taken the opposite side.
Niblack regretted the imputation
on the Republicans that they were
not as sound on the question as the
Democratic party. The scheme orig
mated with Stevens, of Pennsylva-
MIA, aud Butler, and was, therefore, a
Simon-pure Republican measure.
Mr.. Lawrence, of Ohio, said that,
when in order, he would move for in
quiry, by the Judiciary Committee,
whether public lands, sold under
treaties with Indian tribes, are held
by valid titles, and whether such lands
can be sold except in pursuance of
law duly enacted by Congress; he re-
marked during four years prior to
Janury 1868, there had been sold, in
large tracts, to individuals and com
panies, under eight treaties with In
dian tribes, 1.478.528 acres of public
lands for S10,811, ,122; this is destruct-
i've to homestead policy, aud he denied
that lands could be sold except IN
pursuance of the law Of Congress. He
had introduced a bill to require rail
road companies, hereafter receiving
grants Of lands, to sell them at low
price to actual settlers. 1t was Che
duty Of Congress to stop the systems
by which the public lands were aceU
mul4ting IN the hands of a few 10 be
sold at enormous prices to actual
settlers, especially to arrest this un-
constitutional manner Of disp0sing
of the public lands by acts under
which no valid title was acquired.
Perham spoke on the Financial
question, especially advocating allow
ance. There were drawbacks on ma
terlals entering into the cons truction
of vessels.
Woodward answered the argument
of BrOomwall advanced the other day
on the bill to guarantee to all States a
republican form of government
Niblack made brief speech against
the Freedmen's Bureau Bill of Ala
bama
Peters advocated the bill for the
admission of Alabama.
Paine, speaking in reference to the
Russian "A merican possessions. ar
gued that the treaty king power
was absolutely in the Presideat, aad
the Senate only where treaty could
be performed without encrOaching on
the constitutional powers of Con
gress.
Wilson, of Iowa, referred to the