Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-03-11
FORTIETH CONGRESS,
This Afternoons Prooeediugs,
WkDNEsDAY, March II.


SHNATk-Mr Oonkling presented a memo
rial OF Boston booksellers. demonstrating
against the passage of an International COPY
night law. Referred 70 the Joint COMMITTEES on
the Library.
Also. a memorial of citizens OF Jefferson
county. Colorado, stating that the present State
movement Is fraud upon the people of that
Territory, and demonstrating against the al
mission OF the Territory ss s State LAID on
the table.
Mr. Morgan presented a memorial Of ship
builders OF New York, asking the exemption
from taxation of articles used IN the construc-
oon OF vessels. Referred to the Finance Com
m ittee. .#. r.
Mr.. Williams called up the bill TO amend the
Judiciary act of 1872, providing that final judg-
ments against collectors of internal revenue
may be taken to the Supreme Court under writ
OF error, without regai to the sum In contro-
yersy; which was passed. t.
mr.. Edmnnds called mp the bill providing
that all monies accruing from the sale of cap
tured and abandoned properly be covered by
warrant into the Treasury. -.
Mr. Edmunds moved that the Senate
concur In the amendment Of the House striking
out the appropriation Of &lU0,0VO to enable the
Secretary of the Treasu Jury to defend suits which
may be brought against him in the Court Of
CLAIMS.
Mr.. Trumbuu moved that the Senate concur
in the amendment which was not agreed TO by
vote Of Is to l6
Conference was ordered on the bill.
On motion Of Mr.. Sherman the Funding bill
was taken mp.
HOUSE OF REPRRsENTATIvEs.-Mr Ferry,
(Mich.,) from the Committee on Naval Affairs
reported a bill to restore Commodore Thos H.
Stevens to his position in the Navy. To b.
printed and recommitted.
On motion of Mr.. Butler, (Mass.,) the House
decided to nOn-concur in the Senate amend
msnts TO the appropriation bill for Invalid
Pensions, and committee of conference was
asked for.
The Speaker laid before the House = com rnu.
nication from General Grant stating, i'm an
swer to a resolution Of March 9Th, that General
Meade reported the total number OF votes cas-;
in Alabama for the new constitution 20 el2, aud
the whole number against IL 1,OO9 votes Re-
ferred TO Committee on Reconstruction.
On motion Of Mr.. Nicholson, (Del. y the Com
mittee on Appropriations was discharged from
the further consideration Of the petition OF cin-
zens of Wilmington, Della ware, for the improve
ment of Christian river and the same was re.
frred To the Committee on Commerce.
The House res umed the consideration of the
bill reported yesterday from the Committee on
Fr edmen's Affairs TO continue the Bureau
for one year from July next.
Mr. Eliot Mass proceeded 10 address thu
House, and said this bill wonld involve no new
expense, for the Bureau had been so well man.
aged by General Howard that he had q la rg.
surplus on hand He then proceeded 10 noticl
the fact that this Bureau had been assailed Al
all points. and he proceeded TO defend the Bu-
reau ''s an institution that had been productive
of the greatest amount of good. The war
against the Bureau had been commenced by he
President, and was continued by those who
followed him, and all sorts of charges had been
brought against the bureau. Mr.. Eliot then
quoted from the first official statement of rh,,
President i'm relation 10 what the Bureau would
cost, and Contend.d that the Pres ident had
then been mistaken in his statements, He
also noticed the response of the prr~i-
dent TO the Committee OF the PhiladrIphia
convention of 1c66, who waited upon him aud
his speeches while on his tour IN io66. IN MIA
ton 10 the cost OF the Freedmen Bureau. and
he prunon need the statements then made by the
Executive 10 have been untrue The Pres idaut
had said the original appropriation was for
Sl2,tWWsi, and be knew that not 60. vet
those " ho have affiliated with him confinu, To
make that assertion Now, he desired TO ssy
that down 70 January let, Iesjs. the whoir
amount OF money tar en from the Treasury for
the Bureau was S.s47 ,S54 30 This WAS ali that
mad been drawn from the Treasury since IFS
beginning. Besides, OF that amount the Bur.au
sci aside SJ0,OVO for the support OF starving
white men. Besides that amount S5O,Nu vas
appropriated to purchase seeds for the Sou-h
Add these amounts, which were not prupertly
amonh' aor b"rsan @ pgrposes' and the Whole
Besides these amounts some money WAS
realized from the rents. &c OF rebel prom
erty, and from these sources the sum realized
was 81 sol ,6p2 62, Of which amount &3e, Joe os
went for educational purposes; and he could
show that If il had not been for the intsrference
OF Andrew johnson, there would be enoush
money from rebel sources TO support the Bureau
without taking q cent from the Treasury of the
United States. besides he amounts above
stated, the Bureau had expended $4,000 for the
relief OF the destitute in this District. In 1885,
no appropriation WIS made for the Bureau In
1866, the amount appropriated {and which lad
not been used) was -, 944 $50: and for 1865 thu
amount appropriated was So $4,000, and ali
mad not been used, ~ was above shown
Mr.. E1dridge Wis., asked il the Bursau hal
not obtained money from other sources, and
which were charged against other funds-if
ior instance, expense for transportation had
not been charged TO the War Office fund
Mr.. Eliot replied that all the TRANSFORMATION
ior th. Bureau was Charged against the Bureau
itself, and against no other fund. The Bureau
had met all it's own liabilities. With reeard to
the distribution Of rations, Mr. Eliot said the
distribntion WIS made without regard 10 color
and negroes and white refugees Were served ia.
discriminatply
Mr. Eldrdge asked IL the Rur-,u had mn,
realized large sums from the use OF abandoned
lands so that we could not arrive a. the real
amount expended for the Bureau
Mr. Eliot said he had already stated that
there was large revenue from abandoned prom
erty, and he would reprat that if this property
mad not been interfered with by Andrew John-
son ana his supporters, and given back 10 rebel
owners, il would have supported the Bureau
Wlthout taking any amount from the treasury
of the United States.
M Eldridge desired 10 know whai amount
had been realized from these abando lands
MI Eliot said he had stated once. and hr de.
cilned 10 answer the question further. He then
proceeded TO argue that the safety and security
OF the loyal people OF the South-whitp and
black demanded its continuanoe-without il
untold and undiscovered murders would have
been perpetrated and would still be perpetra
Ted. The Bureau had done a great work and
would nave done more but for the Interference
OF the President. But he contended that this
opposition 10 the Freedmen's Bureau was MOTH
ing new. but that il was but a continuation of
the same principle that declared thar ali that
Congress had done to put down the rebellion
was outside of the Constitution
Mr.. TriInble, (ky.) asked Mr. Eliol how IA.
could reconcile the two points that rii. fraad-.
men were dee med sufficiently responsible 10
organize governments, yet they were in thu
condition Of paupers, and had TO be fed by th,
Government.
Mr.. Eliot replied that he could not hop, To
give an answer 10 satisfy the gentleman from
Kentucky.
Mr.. Trimble hoped the gentleman would bs
able 10 satisfy the country.
Mr.. Eliot then proceeded TO argue I'm favor OF
his bill, and to compliment Gen/Howard for
the manner in which he had conducted aud
managed the bureau from the beginning As
ohe OF the results Of Gen. HOward's lxbors
there were now in schools IN the So nth over
two millions OF freedmen and children of frsad-
men. -a
Pending Mr.. Eliots remarks the morning
hour expired, but his time was extended ten
minutes to enable him to complete his rp,narl,s
the RePublicon party, which he sad would in
march Of civilization and humanity -
The bill then went over until to- morrow.
Senate amendment TO House bill To facilitate
payment Of soldiers bounties was non.,a,n
CURED In, on motion Of Mr.. Payne fWisl and
a uoittAe of feronce was ordered 4.