The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-12-17
XLth O0NGREsS-Third Session.
SENATE.

motion, was LAID OF tle table to be calieI at an
early day:
Rssoloed By the Senate, That neither the pub
lie POLICY or tue guoI faith of the uation will
allow The r. demption of the $40 bonds unit
the United states shall perform is primary
duty or paying its notes in coin, or maxi g
th-m equivalent thereto, and that measures
should be- adopted by Congress to secure the
resumption o. specie payment at as curly a
period as practicable.
Mr.. Sherman also reported back from the
same committee, without amet dment the Joint
resolution IN reduced by Mr.. EImunIs in No.
vember, 1867, which read as follows:
Joint resolutions pledging the payment Of
the public debt in coin or its equivalent.
Whereas, the public debt of the United
States was except where specially or other
wise ocdeied, contracted and incurred upon the
faith and credit of the United States, that the
equivalent; and
Whereas, doubts have been raised as to the
daty and proprety OF dscharging such debt in
Coin or its equivalent; therefore
Resoloed5y the House of Representatives of the
United States Of America In Congress assembled,
That the public debt of the United States, ex-
cept in the cases wherein the law au horizng
the same, or provision was expressly made is
owing III coin or It's equivalent, and the faith
OF the United States is hereby solemn My pledged
to Iis Payment accordingly.
The President presented a communication
from the Secretary OF the Interior transmitting
the report of the Government Director of the
Pacific railroad in regard to the condition of
the road, dated August 15 1868.
Mr. Williams offered 4 resolution instruct
ing the judiciary Committee to inquire into
the ptacticabllity and expediency of some inn
mediate legislation to prevent the discharge of
persons convicted of crime by extraordinary
decisions of the U. s. District Judges of Vir-
gnia. Amended by striking out The word
Extraordinary" and adopted.
Mr.. Williams, from the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs, repor ed joint resolution douar-
ing condemned cannon to erect monument
to Major General X arney, VIII CHI was adopted
Mr.. Cole introduced bill to provide tenn
porary government for Alaska, which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Terr tories.
Mr.. Conness moved to take up his bill to Fl K
the compensation for labor Performed for The
government, providing that there shall be no
reduction of pay on account of the hours OF
Labor. The motion vas lost % against 49,
MIR. CUrbeit offered resulu ,ion REQUESTING
the Secretary of the Treasury to infotm the
Senate Of the total cost of issue OF the aited
States fractional currency up TO this tlms.-
Adopted. .....-..
Tue Senate then, on motion of Mr.. Morton,
took up his bill for the resumptlon.o specie
payment, upon which he spoke at length.
At the conclusion of his speech, Mr.. Morton
moved 10 refer his bill to the Finance Com
miitee, which was DONE.
On MOI ON of Mr.. Cattell, the Senate took
up the resolution reported by the finance
Committee expressing the Senate's disap-
pointment OF the financial views of the Presi-
dent expr+ ssed ia his message.
Mr.. Davis offered a substitute, which he at
forwards withdrew, declaring the measure of
the liability OF the government upon is BIO ads
to be their va ue in coin at the dates of issue
with interest thereon.
Mr.. Hendricks thought the right way for the
S-naie to express its dsapprob ltion of the
Presidents views, was by refusing to legislate
according to his recommendations and not by
resolution OF censure. He then offered the
following AZ q substitute for the resolution:
Rsso,Ued. That the Senate cordially endorse
the .utment in the Presidents mess ige that
our national ere lit should be sacre1ly oDserv-
ed, and declare that the public debt should be
paid as rapidly as practicable, exact in ac-
cordapce with the terms of the c1ntracG under
which the several loans were made, and that
where the obligations of the government do
not expressly set upon their face or the Ia
6naer which they were issued does not provide
that they shonld be pad in coin, they ought in
right and justice 10 be paid in the lawful money
OF ,he Uuited States
After discussion the amendment was LOST
against "A.
Messrs. Buckalew and Salisbury opposed,
and Mr.. Howard supported the original reso-
lu ion.
Mr.. Anthony moved an executive session. -
Lost.
The Senate then adjourned without voting
ON the resolution.
Mr. Robinson, of New York, offered resolu-
tons on he subject Of imprisonment OF Amir
leans in ireland, and providing Ior the appoint.
ment of select committee to examine the lat
ter and report.
After short deblte Mr.. Robinson withdrew
AR. Eliot introduced bill prohibiting the
car iage as freight in passenger vessels OF nitro
eIycerine, petroleum, &c. Referred 70 the
Committee on Commerce and ordered to be
printed.
Mr.. Paine, from the Committee ON Recon
struction reported bill to relieve from lega
and political disabilities about dozen citiz .bs
OF South Carolina recently elected to office,
which was on motion OF Mr.. FarnswJrth
amended by adding Dewitt G. Senter, Lieut.
Governor of Tennessee, and, after debate
passed.
Mr.. Paine also reported bill to repeal the
six b section of the army appropriation bill o
March I'd, 1867, which prohibits the organiza
ton and maintenance OF militia In the iats
rebel States, so far as the same applied to the
States of North Carolina South Carolina
Florida, Alabama and Louisiana.
Mr.. Eldridge inquired why Georgia was LEFT
out ss
Mr.. Paine replied he was not sure Blu G he
should be in favor of admitting Georgia, but
there was an inquiry going on before Congre IS
as to the condition Of things in that Stat
which made it questionable whether this bill
should be extended to it at present. The bill
passed.
MIR. Schenck, from the Committee on Way
on Means, reported a bill to amend the 18tl
section of the Internal Revenue bill of July 20
1868. by extending the time fixed therein from
the 1st of January, 1859, to the 18th of Febru
aiy, 1869, so that the section will provide tina
after the 18th Of. February, 1862 all smokin
and fire cut chewing tobacco or snuff shall b
taken and deemed as having been manufac
tured after the passage OF the bill. The bi
was passed.
Nj. Dawes, from the Committee on Elec
tons, reported bill adding registers 10 bans
FrgDtey to officers now designated by law fo
taking testimony in contested election cases.
The bill passed.
Mr.. Julian asked leave to offer preamble
and resou ion reciting that hundreds of per
instructfng the Judiciary Committee to inquir
into the expediency of providing by law for tn
apnointment of u S Commiss oners in Ken
lucky, 20 hear and determine applications il
cases involving illegal slave holding.
ObjectionSwere made by Beck and Trum
bull, OF Kentucky, on the ground that the allie
cations In the preamble were untrue.
Mr.. Paine offered resolution instructng tn
Committee on Banking to inquire into the pre-
priety OF reporting bill prohibiting. unde
sew re penalties, any national bank from CERT
tying auy check unless the maker of it has ol
deposit, subject 10 draft, the funds necessary t
meet it. Adopted.
Mr.. Munger offered resolution of inquir
relative 10 arrest of American citizens in Para
gnav. Referred to the Committee on Foreig
Affairs.
Mi, briggs introduced bill more effectuall
to provide relief for claimants under the lat
convention between the United States an
Venezuela. Referred to the Committee o
Foreign Affairs.
Mr.. Jones, of Kentucky, offered the follow
ing, and moved the previous question on it:
RESOLVED, That all females in tbe employ
ment of the Government be allowed pay whe
they perform like serv ce with the m lies.
The previous question was secmndr d and IN
main question was ordered. The resolutO
was ALLOTTED -123 yeas, q nays.
Mr. Bingham introduced bill to incorr Orai
University for the Bind in the DIS riot Q
Columbia Referred to the Committee on To
Mr.. Julian off red resolution nstruc in
the Judiciary Committee to inqu'rs into tt
expediency of enacting Congressional regi;
try law for the territories. Adopted.
The Speaker stated he was informed that tt
morrow after the reading of the journal tn
death Of Mr.. Stevens would be announced b
his successor, Mr.. D.ck4y aud that eghtee
gentlemen desired to speak. SO that the entir
day would be occupied Ia that way L.
alsJ the infection, on Friday at half past /.
fo announce the death of Mr.. Finnev bv hi
success or, Mr. Pettes.
The Speaker announced that he had appoin
ed on the select committee on the New Yor
election Messrs. Kerr of Indiana, and Phelu
Of Indiana in place OF Messrs. Marshall an
Hubbard, excused.
Mr.. Phelps asked to be excused and NJ
Ross of Illinois be appointed 10 his place.
The Sneaker presented communicate
from the Secretary of the Treasury with
c,py of bill for the coinage of nickel copp'
n eces of five cents and under. Referred