Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-01-08
FORTIETH CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings,
WEDNESDAY, January 8

SENATE.-The Chair presented a communi-
cation from the Secretary of the Interior, en-
closing letter of Commissioner of Indian At
fairs, asking an appropriation for the destitute
Sioux Indians near DEVILS Lake, in Dacotah
Territory. Referred to Committee on Indian
affairs.
Iasking legislation for relief of adopted citizens
|yin foreign CT untries. Referred TO Committee on
Foreign Relations.
II Mr. Trumbull, from the Committee on the
Judiciary, reported in favor of the indefinite
postponement of the bill amending the Bank
rupt act; which was agreed 10.
Mr.. Morrill, (Vermont) offered a resolution
instructing the Committee of Finance to inquire
into the expedlency Of afiixing penalty upon
any officer of the Government who shall au-
thorize a payment or appropriation of any
money for any purpose not previously author
Mr.. Conness said there was nothing which
required the scrutiny or 'ongrsss more than
this matter. Men whom the Senate had rejected
as unfit for positions TO which they had been
nominated, were sent on SPECIAL missions TO do
nobody knew what, and paid out OF the public
funds.
Mr. Edmunds said a subcommittee of the
Joint Committee on Retrenchment was now
engaged in vigilant examination of this whole
matter, and would report as soon as possible.
The resolution was then passed.
Mr.. Sherman called up the House Joint rpso-
luton, directing that certain monies now in the
hands of the Treasurer, as special agent of the
rresury, be covered by warrant into the Trea-
Mr. Trumbull took the floor in an elaborate
attack on the Secretary of the Treasury, for his
action in returning the proceeds OF captured
and abandoned property to the claimants. and
asserted that the Secretary had returned hum
dreds of thousands of dollars TO disloyal own
ers. and continued 10 return after the decis ION
of the Attorney General that he had n O poy,r
so 10 do
HOUsE.-Mr. Orth, Ind y from Committee
on Foreign Affairs, submitted a report. which
was laid upon the table, and Joint resolution
requesting the President OF the United States 10
intercede with the Queen of Great Britain for
the release of Rev. John McMahon, who was
arrested as a Fenian raider in 1856, and is now
confined in Jail i'm Kingston, Canada West.
Mr.. Orth said that last March the Legis ature
of Indiana passed a resolution requesting her
Senators and Representatives to take some
action for the release OF Father M Mahon, who
was citizen OF that State. The result was a
resolution was introduced and the report sub
mitted is the result of the investigation by the
Committee on Foreign Affairs. Father McAIa.
hon was an Irishman by birth, but at an early
age emigrated to TINS country, and settled in
Indiana a. pastor Of a church. Mr.. Orth then
proceeded 10 explain that Mr.. Nc Mahon never
was engaged in the Fenian raid At the time
OF his arrest he was on his way to Montreal to
see after deceased brothers estate AT the
battle of Ridgeway a number of Father No Ma
hons parishloners were engaged, and the COM
mittee has no evidence whether Father Nc Ma
hon was on British or American soil at the
time of the battle; but after the battle he was
found upon the field ministering as a priest TO
the wounded and the dying, and was arrested
by the Canadian authorities, and tried and
convicted, as the people of Indiana be.
lieve, unlustIy, and they therefore ask this
intercession to secure the release of a citizen
who, If he was even guilty Of an act of indis-
crefion has already suffered enough by his i'm
prIsOnment. Let this House now pause i'm
more public business and consider this case of
one OF its humblest citizens. If Father McMa-
hon had been American born the case would
have been very different; and now is a case
and now is the time for Congress to assert It's
understanding of the doctrine of allegiance
and tell the governments Of the Old World that
we VIII not recognize the doctrine of perpetual
allegiance. and that we consider every natural
lzed foreigner a. much citizen the man
who Is native born.
Mr.. Orth then argued that the right of expa-
rIation was natural right and an inalienaDle
right. Our duty is plain, he said, i'm this mat.
ter, ana the naturalized citiZen must be pro-
tected at every hazard, and to-day we must say
THESE are our principles, and our Demands must
be enforced by arms IL need be. Let il be I'M
derstood that this is the sentiment of the Amer
lean people and the prison houses of Europe
Will no longer be filled with Americans
MIR. Paine wis moved to amend the reso.
luton by inserting the name of John LYNCH OF
milwaukee, after that of Father McMahon.
MIR. Orth declined TO accept the amendment
This case of Father McNahon's was a peculiar
one and had been discussed al length. He
preferred that Mr.. Lynch's and every other
case should stand upon its merits
Mr. Cullom, (Ill.) spoke in ad dvocacy of the
JOINT resolution. and demanded that the House
express its opinion against the doctrine of per
Petuai aliegiance, and declare that all citizens,
native and naturalized, shall be protected
Mr.. Cullum then went into statistics to show
the great influx OF foreigners into this coun.
Try and said our duty was plain To declare that
all natuTaliZed citiZens shall be projected Tn.
Nation who will not strive 10 protect All who
swear allegiance TO il deserves b. blotted from
the face OF the Earth. He quoted from writers
on International law TO show that all men had
a clear right of ofexpatriation and TO emigrate to
the country whose institutions they believed
Were best for their indi yidual or family intar-
rs1s. ReIsirlng 10 decisions recently made by
English Courts that The American natui iza-
ton laws We're utilities. Mr.. CulIum said such
doctrine was mon strous
Pending discussion the morning hour ex-
pred and the bill went over under the rule
The Speaker laid before the House resolutions
OF a meeting al New Haven, Conn, signed bv
Gov. English and others, demanding an assei.
uOn OF the rights OF American citizens abroad
Referred To Committee Oh Foreign Affairs
Mr.. Schenck introduced resolution direct.
ing the attention of the Committee on Military
hnaiIs and the managers of the National Asy-
lum Tor disabled soldiers to the idea of pro-
yiding al the Central Asylum and its branches
for furnishing and repairing hereafter. artificial
llmbs for all inmates OF the said institutions;
and also that the Committee of Military Affairs
enquire into the expediency Of providing tor
the transfer of the Old Soldiers Home al Wash.
lngfon, ID. e. 10 the Military Asylum for the
support OF disabled soldiers, and to which SOL
dlers OF the regular army well as volunteers
Snail become inmates, and 10 change the name
OF the institution TO the National Soldiers
Home. The resolution was adopted.
On motion OF Mr.. Schenck, the Senate amend
M nts to the cotton tax Dill We're referred to The
Ways and Means Committee
MT Spaldmg TO- asked leave TO offer res
oIuticn directing the Committee on Accounts
to inquire INTO the expense of stenographic re-
porting Tor committees of the House, and TO
recommend such changes as Will reduce the
cost.
MIR. Cobb (Wis.) objected.
Mr.. Poland (Nt) called up the resolution
heretofore reported from the Committee on
Elections in the contested election case of
Burch W.. Van Horn of Missouri, and which
gives the seat to Mr.. Van Horn, the slit ing
member.
Mr. Burch the contestant, was permitted 70
pIes' Mt his claims. and taking his position AT
the Clerks desk, proceeded to address the House
al length.
ReconstructiOn.