The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-05-16
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, May Is.
HOUSE.

Mr.. Woodward offered preamble
relative to the letter addressed to Sena-
tor Henderson by the Missouri men,
bers, stating that such communica-
tion addressed to Senator sitting in
Judgment on the President of the L nited
States is gross breach of privilege on
the Senate, calculated to degrade the
House and obstruct the course of pub
lie justice, and concluding with the
resolution that q select committee of
seveS be appointed to inquire if said
communication was received by Sena-
tor Henderson; what is the legal char
acter of the offence, and what penalty,
if any, the House ought in vindication
of its own dignity to infict, as we'll as
to what proyis ions of the law are nee
essary to prevent the recurrence of the
same wrongs, with power to send for
persons and papers, and report by bill
or otherwise.
Mr.. Garfield objected to its reception.
The Speaker-The Chair is about to
decide the question as to whether the
resolution is or is not a question of priv
ilege. In the opinion of the Chair it is
not question of privilege. The word
ing of the resolution expressly shows
that it is not the charge, it is that the
matter alleged is an Infringement of the
privileges of the Senate. 1t has not yet
occurred in the recollection of the Chair
that the House of Representatives has
been recognized by the Senate as having
charge of the protection of its privi-
leges. If the privilege of Senator be
assaulted that body is competent to pro-
tect its own privilege, nor would the
| House consent that the Senate of the
United States should assume to protect
the privileges of the House, the Chair,
therefore, does not think the resolution
in its language presents question OF
privilege.
Mr.. Eldridge-Is there not another
allegation in the resolution which does
present question ofprivilegei
Mr.. Speaker-If the gentleman from
Wisconsin appeals from the decision OF
the Chair, the Chair will put the ques-
tion to the House.
Mr.. Eldridge-I do not appeal, but
wish TO call the attention of Mr.. Speak
er to the fact there is another clause in
the resolution which does present a
question of privilege, aud that the reSo-
luton can be modified by striking out
that part of it referring to privileges OF
the Senate.
Mr.. Speaker-The Chair rules that
this is not question ofprivilege.
Mr.. Garfield-I demand the regular
order of business; that is the only way
to stop it.
Mr.. Woodward consent to the mod
ification of the resolution by striking
out that part of it ia reference to the
privilege of the Senate. 1t Is
not at all essential. If that
is the only reason why the reso-
luton is not a question OF privilege l
will strike out that part of it.
Mr.. Garfield demand the regular
order of business.
MIR. Loan-I desire to say that all the
communication had by the members Of
the House from the State of Missouri
with the Senator of that State were had
at his special instance and request and
the paper was signed at his instance.
Mr.. Eldridge-So mach the worse; ten
times worse.
The Speaker-The question is not de-
bateable. The gentleman from Penn
sylvaHia has modified his resolution by
striking out that part referring to the
infringement of the privileges of the
Senate. The Chair is the opinion still
that it is not question of privilege.
The nearest point to it that he can see is
found on page 1876 of Digest-that of
alleged corrupt combination. 1t does
not appear from the resolution that any
corrupt combination is charged upon
the members of tho House as to
the intercourse between them aud
their colleagues in the Senate. The
chair cannot assume that in order
to make it question of privilege.
Mr.. Woodward Then ask the nnan-
imous consent of the House to offer the
resolution.
Mr.. Epson and others objected.
The House resumed the consideration
of the bill for the relief of William Nc
Garrahan reported last Saturday from
the Judiciary coEmittee, which con
firms his title to 10000 acres of land in
California, embracing the New Idra
quicksilver mine. Tho bill was explain
ed and advocated by Mr.. Wilson, of
Iowa, as Chairman of the Judiciary
committee, who said that in the com
voice; that OF Mr.. Boutwell,
Mr.. Bout we'll stated the grounds on
which he opposed the bill in tie COM
mittee, and on which he thought it
should be defeated in the House.
Mr.. Washburne, of Illinois, inquired
whether the titleof the property was
not in the United States to-day.
Mr.. Wilson replied that it was.
Mr.. Washburne then wanted to know
what justice there was in giving this
property, worth two or three millions of
dollars, to McGarrahan or any other
man, and why the law allowing mineral
lands to be occupied and taken out of
tho possession of the government should
not be repealed.
Mr.. Wilson said he would answer
those questions in his argument.
Mr.. Van Wyck opposed the bill, argu-
ing that the claim originated in fraud
and forgery and had been propped up
by perjury.
Mr.. Johnson expressed the belief that
Mr.. McGarranan's claim was just.
Mr.. Wilson recited facts in controver-
sy, sustaining the claims of McGarra-
han aud arguing against the claim of
Juo NcN luid nlDIuS SOlupduy, SldJiHH
that ifthe bill was not passed the quick
silver monopOlyin California would con-
troll the product and the price of quick
silver.
After further debate, Mr.. Highly
moved to table the bill. Rejected.
The bill then passed.
The House went into committee of
the Whole on the State of the Union,
Mr.. Lawrence, of Ohio, in the chair,
with the understanding that no further
business be done to-day, the Speaker,
however, notifying the House that it
was impossible, as the attendance of
the House might be desired at the bar
of the Senate at II o'clock tomorrow.
Mr.. Garfield delivered an deliberately
prepared speech Or the financial ques-
ton, after which the committee rose
and the House adjourned.
New York Items.