The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-12-18
XLth 00NGRESS-Third Session.
SENATE,

WASHINGTON, u C. II Mr.. McCreery sub.
mitted resolutions to amend the Constitu ton
OF the United States, designed to protect the
rights OF mlnorlties and provide against con
tlngency OF bringing the election of President
and Vice President to the House of Represent
tatives. Referred to Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Sherman, from the Committee on FL
nance, reported abill amending the act inn
posing taxes upon spirits, tobacco, &C., by ex-
tending the ii e for affixing stamps to the 9th
OF February. Passed.
Mr.. Rice introduced two bills for the removal
of political disabilities from certain persons.
deferred to Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Pomerov introduced Joint resolution
that ALI men who volunteered to serve as SOL
dlers or cooks for three years or dnring the re
rebellion, and were han0rably discharged, shall
receive the same additional bounty upon the
same terms and conditions as other soldiers
who have received aud are receiving bounties
under the acts of uly IS, 68, and the acts
amendatory thereto, Notwithstanding they may
have been borne upon the rolls as slaves. Re-
ferred 10 Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. Sawyer moved to take I'D the House bill
removing political disabilities from certain cit
jz-ns in South Carolina elected to State offices.
Mr.. salisbury said he would gladly vote to
resieve all people of the South from political
disabilities, but he could not vote for this bill
because he saw it stated in the newspapers
tlat the persons to be relieved all belonged to
one political party, and he was opposed to such
particularly in granting relief.
Mr.. Sawyer replied-Some of the men to be
relieved by this bill were Democrats, who were
willing to acknowledge the existing State gov
eminent and who had been elected to Office.
The bill was then passed by years "A, nays
On motion of Mr.. Sumner the Senate took
up the joint resolution of sympathy with the
people of Spain in her efforts to establish new
order OF things.
substituting for those words the words "a Re-
publican form of Government"
Mr. CONFESS thought better expression
would be, "A popular government" or More
liberal institutions" a new order OF things
might possibly be worse order of things.
Mr.. Bayard was in favor of the wise and well
es ablished principle intervention in the
affairs of foreign nations. What would be
thought of a resolution Of the Senate recon-
manding the abolition OF the established church
OF Ireland.
Mr.. Thayer moved the amendment suggest
ed bv Mr.. Pomeroy.
Mr.. Sumner spoke at some length in favor of
his motion, but before vote could be taken
the morning hour expired.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
resolution reported by the Finance Committee
disappearing the Presidents financial recon-
Hendatiops
were to be submitted, that the Senate had a
right to express its disapprobation of the Pres
ideLts recommendations in this way. He
thought the committee was entitled to some
moIion III its present form. 1t was merely an
expression of opiuon adverse to the Pr-si-
S"nts proposition, and therefore he could vote
fr it.
Mr. Dixon discussed at length Senator Nor
IONS plrns for resuinlpg specie payment, and
SAID he hoped it would not be adopted because
il il we've it would produce a state of protract-
ed financial agony as to the time when specie
payments were to be resumed under it. He
thought the statement OF Mr.. Morton. that the
Of 10 en- had IN f,, VII h
Its depreciation erroneous.
Mr. Morton denied that he made that state
mept. What he had said was that the eXs-
tence of the bonded debt had nothing to do
With the depreciation OF the currency.
Mr.. Dixon insisted that Mr. Morton's print
ed speech convey ed that idea. He thought the
real cause OF the depreciation Of the currency
was still mystery. The proposition of Nj,
Stewart 10 punish the holding OF flee in vio-
lation of the IA h amendment, he regarded as
shocking proposition, making the holding by
an American citizen of an off conferred
upon him by his feliow-citizens crime.
Mr. Ferry repeated what he had said in the
speech commented upon by his colleague, that
the present state of things was entir -ly differ
ent from that which existed at the South two
years ago, or one year ago, the Southern oil
gsrchy being now convinced of the uselessness
of further resistance to the ma ioDal wi ], or il
net so convinced, powerleSs TO lead the people
further in that direction.
Mr. DixoL remarked that although he doubt
co IDc possibility OF reSumlng Snecie payments
by legislation, yet he did not wish to be under
stood as saying he would not vote tor bill for
that purpose. He moved to amend the resolu-
ton before the Senate by inserting statement
that Congress agrees with the President in the
sentiment expressed in his message that our
national credit shall be sacredly observed.
Mr.. Howard objected to the amendment be.
cause, in his judgment, it was not in harmony
with The plain objects of the Presidents re.
concentrations on this subject, of which the
object was reputation.
Mr.. Dixon argued that the message could
not be fairly construed to mean reputation
because 1t proposed nothing compulsory upon
the creditors.
Mr.. HIVE moved to amend the resolution so
as to state that Congress agrees with the sen
timents which ought to hav- been but were
not expressed in the Presidents message that
ed.
The amendments were lost.
The resolution az reported to the committee
was then adOptt d, 43 veas to 6 nays.
Mr.. Trumbull introduced a bill 10 provide f3i
giving effect to the treaty stipulations between
this oDd foreign gov 'rnmepts for the eXtradi
ton of criminals, which was referred
Mr.. Conking offered.a resolution requesting
the President to communicate auy information
in his possession concerning the exercise b.
United States COnsuls in Japan oil judicia
powers in cases arising between American cit
liens and citizens OF foreign countries othe
than Japan, and state unGer what authority
such powers have been exercised; and als'
what further lie islatiOn is necessary tor thu
better protection of the rights of Americans il
Japan. Adopted
AT 4 40 the Senate adjourned