Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-01-10
LATEST TELEGRAMS.
MIDNIGHT DISPATCHES.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
Senate.

Senate.
WASHINGTON, Jan. "a number Of
petitions, of no general interest, were pre-
scented and referred.
Mr.. Sherman, from the Committee on
Finance, reported House bill to prevent
frauds in the revenue from distilled spirits,
with an amendment striking out the words
" in bond" Mr. Sherman stated, in answer
TO question from Mr.. Conness, that the
words gin bond seemed to limit the ope-
ration of the bill. The bill and amend
ment passed.
Mr.. Wilson presented a petition from
several members of the Constitutional
Convention of Alabama, for the removal
Of the disabilities of Gov. Patton. Re-
ferred to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Williams, from the Committee on
Finance, reported bill for the conversion
Of registered bonds into coupon bonds, and
moved its indefinite postponement. The
motion was agreed to.
On motion of Mr.. Morton the Senate
took up his resolution to instruct the Judi
ciary Committee to report bill to abnegate
the existing State governments in the
South, and provide provisional govern
ments instead.
Mr.. trelinghuysen moved an amend
ment by referring the resolution to the
Judiciary Committee, with authority to
report back a bill.
Mr.. Morton urged the necessity of such
legislation in view of Gen. Hancock's
course, and other recent occurrences occu-
plying public attention at the present time.
The special order, the bill to prevent
further contraction of the currency was ta-
ken up. The question was on the amend
ment that, after the passage of this act, the
authority of the Secretary of the Treasury
TO cancel notes, shall be suspended
Mr.. Sherman advocated the bill, as it
would satisfy the public mind that no fur
Their contraction would be made, and quiet
the apprehension of many that it would re-
store to Congress power too important to
be legislated, to be suddenly exchanged to
expansion. Such a crisis might occur
with us, and without at all rejecting on
the present Secretary of the Treasury. His
discretionary powers should be removed,
and the matter placed on a firm basis of
legislation.
Mr.. Howard followed, advocating the
bill.
Mr.. Morton favored the bill on the
ground that more currency is required for
the business of the country. He thought
that 1871 would be time enough to
resume specie payment, as gold and silver
would then simply add to the volume
of currency. He was opposed to any fur
Their contraction before that time.
Mr.. Howe in the course of a lengthy ar
gument against contraction, said the United
States, like Macawber, had given their |
o q, and thereby doubtedly like him, con-
sidered their debt honorably discharged.
The only difference was that Macawber
could not enable his creditors to circulate
his paper, but the United States could.
(Laughter.)
Mr.. Morton said he wished to ascertain
the sense of the Senate as to whether it
would abnegate the illegal State govern
ments or not. He commended that these
State governments were directly antago
nistic to the legislation of Congress and
obstructive to the acts of reconstruction.
and wished to draw the attention Of the
Senate to the fact that these governments
have been already illegal by the violation
of the acts of Congress. Mr.. Morton said
he had seen an order of Gen. Hancock's
which had been received BY the Secretary
Of War, in which he took the ground that
the laws of the State of Louisiana are SUI
perior to the military government estab-
lished by Congress. He (Morton) pro-
nOunced the order of Gen. Hancock's
fragrant defiance of the laws of Congress,
in which he declares that all civil proceed,
ing shall be submitted to the civil tribu-
nails of the State, when these tribunals
are subordinated to the military power. He
was satiied they would fail in their task of
reconstruction if they allowed the military
power to take side with these illegal State
governments. He desired that the judi
claTy Committee report bill that will
wholly abnegate these State governments.
1t being evident that no vote could be
reached to-day, the Senate went into exec
utive session, and soon after it adjourned
HOuse Of representatives.
Mr.. Eggleston offered a resolution in
structing the Secretary of War to cause
the examination of the Ohio river bridge
at Louisville by a corps of engineers, as it
was currently reported the bridge was be-
ing constructed in violation of the act of
February 18th, 1867. deferred to the Com
mittee on Finance.
A joint resolution requesting the Presi-
dent to intercede with Queen Victoria for
the release Of Father Mcmahon. Passed
unanimously; also a joint resolution of
the same nature in reference to Robert
Lynch, of Milwaukee, and Coils. Warren
and Nagle.
Mr.. Wilson, Of Iowa, introduced reso-
luton for the protection of certain cases of |
persons making disclosures as defendants
on testifying az witnesses. Referred to
the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Schenck from the Committee on |
Ways and Means reported a joint resolu- |
ton for the commission of five persons by |
the Secretary of the Treasury to examine
all mechanical contriyances for measuring /
and ascertaining the productiveness Of |
articles prepared for distillation, subject |
to tax; the commission to report to Con- |
gress through the Secretary Of the Treas
ury with such recommendations as they
may deem expedient by the 18th of Feb
ruary, and pending the action of the COM
mission, all work on the construction of
meters shall be suspended. Pending its
the Senate amendment 10 the
House bill in reference TO bonded ware
houses for whisky was concurred in, in
of the resolution being re-
sumed, Mr.. Schcnek favofing it.
Mr.. Logan followed, sustaining the reso-
luton abiding TO the Metropolitan
Revenue Board. He said it was a dishon-
eat and corrupt machine from head to foot.
He said he didn't care how high the Presi-
dent or Secretary of Treasury might stand,
they were dishonest themselves. or 80
ignorant that they couldn't tell when a
fraud was committed. He exonreated
Rollins from dishonesty, but
said he would notify him that unless he re-
ported those men who he Logan had sig4
lifed 70 him az dishonest scoundrels, he
would denounce him from his seat in the
House. Mr.. Logan continued in the same
train, denouncing the President and his
The debate was continued
It some length By Messrs. Logan, Keer,
Mungar and VanWyck.
Mr.. IngersolI tried 10 offer a resolution
falling on the Secretary of the Treasury
or information as to the appointments
Il inspectors and revenue agents, who APP