The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-06-10
XLth OONGRRSS-Seoond Session.
SENATE.


were presented by Messrs. Cameron, Ramsey
and others, praying for a reduction of the tax
on tobacco, which was referred to the Commit
tee on Finance.
The Senate took up the bill for the relief of
certain contractors. After discussion the bill
was laid aside, and the omnibus bill, so called,
came up.
The question was on an amendment to adj
NIT Alabama.
Mr.. Wiley made an argument in favor of the
amendment.
After some remarks by Mr.. Salisbury, Mr..
Wilson's amendment to include Alabama was
agreed to, % to 21.
Mr.. Howard moved to amend the ID section.
making it read as follows: That if the time
fixed for the meeting of the Legislature of
either of said States by the Constitution there
OF shall have passed, or shall have SO nearly
arrived before the passage of this act that there
shall not be time for the Legislature to assem-
BILE at the time fixed by the Constitution of
said States its Legislature shall convene at the
end of twenty days from the time this act
takes effect, unless the Governor shall sooner
convene the same. The amendment was
adopted.
Mr.. Howard moved to amend the Sd section,
to read as follows:
That the LIST section of this act shall take eff
feet as to each State except Georgia, when
such States shall by its Legislatures duiy rati-
fly article IA of the amendments of the Consti-
tuition of the United States, and as to the
State of Georgia when it shall in addition
give the assent of said State to the fundamen-
tai condition hereinbefore imposed upon the
same.
Mr.. Edmunds said that this point had been
considered by the committee, and they had de-
cided to let the usual course be taken, Of al
lowing the responsibility to remain with the
President of announcing the result by procla-
nation at the proper time.
Mr.. Frehnghuysen suggested that the pur-
pose OF both Senators could be attained by
leaving IN the section, the clause making it
the duty of the President to issue such procla-
nation within ten days after the necessary Of
gcial notification of the ratification.
Both Senators assented, and the amendment
was so modified and then adopted
Mr. Sherman moved to amend by striking
out the clause imposing upon Georgia the
further fundamental condition of declaring
null and void by her General Assembly GER
tain provisions Of the Constitution relative to
debts contracted prior to June l, 1865.
Some debate ensued, during which Mr.. Nor
ton pronounced the provisions demonstrations
al and dishonest when without action on tue
the amendment, the Senate went into execu-
i've session and soon after adjourned.
HOUSE.
The House assembled an hour earlier for the
official reception of the Chinese Embassy.
The Chair announced the appointment of
Mr.. Brooks on the reception committee vice
Wood, detained at home by sickness.
Soon after the Embassy appeared at the
doors escorted by the committee of reception
Mr.. Schenck on the part of the committee an
nounced the Embassy.
The Speaker, in the name of the people of
the youngest nation babe welcome to the rep
resentatives OF the oldest, complimented Mr.
Burlingame and wished and predicted the EN-
bassy cordial meeting wherever they went on
the Thames, Seine, Danube, Rhine, Baltic or
Adriatic.
Mr.. Burlngame presented to the Speaker
the address of welcome. He said:
Mr.. Speaker-On behalf of my associates
and myself, thank you for this warm and
unusual reception. 1t transcends all personal
people by another; it is the occident and the
orient for the first time in that electric con-
tact whose touch "makes the whole world
kim; 1t is the meeting of two civilizations
which have hitherto revolved in separate
spheres; it is a mighty revolution. Let us
hope, sir, that it will go on without those con-
vulsons which are too apt to mark great chan
ges in human affairs; let us hope that it will
be achieved without the shedding of one drop
Ofhuman blood. We are for peace. We come
not with the beat of drum nor martial tread.
Though representing the latent power of 3d.
100000 of fighting men we are the heralds of
good will. We seek for China that equality
without which nations and men are degraded
We seek not only the good of China, but seek
your good and the good of all mankind. We
do this IN no sentimental sense; we would be
practical as the toilng millions whom we rep
resent We invite you to a broader trade; we
invite you to a more intimate examination of
the structure of Chinese civilization; we in
wife you to a better appreciation of the man
ner OF that people, their temperance, their pa
thence, their habits of scholarship, their COM
petltive examinations, their high culture of tea
and silk, and we shall ask for them from you
modern science, which has taken its great de-
velopment within the memory of man and the
holy doctrine of our Christian faith. 1t is for
the West to say what our reputation shall be.
1t is for the West to say whether or not it was
sincere when it continued for long time to
invite China to more intimate relations with
it. 1t is for the West to say whether it is for a
fair and open policy, or for one founded on
prejudice and on that assumption of superior
ity which is justified neither by physical abili-
ty nor by moral elevation. The people of the
United States have responded through their
Executive, through this House and through
their Speaker with unanimity and nobility
of sentiment which makes me proud of the
civilization in which 1 was reared, and glad to
see it passed in review by the scholars and
statesmen of China. L trust, sir, the Ameri-
can people will abide by that sentiment |
hope that it is but an earnest of that spirit
which will meet us on the shores of the dis
tant seas and on the banks of the beautiful
river which you, sir have named.
Thanking the House for this reception, and
you, sir, for the felicitious and able manner in
which you have expressed its welcome, we
await such further action as the .proprieties of
the occasion may require. Applause and
floor and by the spectators in the galleries)
At the conclusion of the speeches the mem
bers were introduced to the Embassy. At II
the Embassy departed and the House proceed
ed to business
Mr.. BeamaD, from the Committee on Recon-
struction, reported bill to erect two add ition-
al States out of the territory or State of Texas.
Ordered to be printed and recommitted.
Mr.. Paine, from the same committee, report
ed back the bill to provide for the Inauguration
OF State officers in Arkansas, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia and Ala
bama, and for the meeting of the Legislatures
of those States.
Mr. Brooks made brief protest against the
whole syst; m of legislation of which this bill
is part, and then the bill was passed by par
ty vote, yeas 113, nays 81.
Several unimportant executive communica-
tions were presented.
The bill for the relief of the Navajoe Indians
with Senate amendments, was tabled.
Mr. Schenck introduced Joint resolution
directing the Secretary of War to sell damag-
ed or unserviceable arms, ordnance and ord
nance stores. Referred to Committee on Mill
tary Affairs.
Mr.. Blaine offered the following, which was
adopted:
ResOlUed, That the Committee on Foreign
Affairs be instructed to inquire whether the
action of the Mexican governme mt in establish
ing free ports at Matamoras and other points
on the Rio Grande is not in violation of the
treaty stpulations, and unfriendly to the COM
mercial rights of this country.
The bill allowing the construction of a bridge
across the Mississippi at St. Louis was passed.
Mr.. Farnsworth reported bill chartering
the New Orleans and Mobile railroad compa-
ny, and authorizing it to construct bridges over
the navigable waters on its route.
At the suggestion of Mr.. Washburne of Hi
nos, who said this was very important bill
and that it seemed from its reading it was for
the benefit of capitalists in New York and Bos-
ton, and the bill went over until tomorrow.
Mr. Hill reported back the bill to provide for
an American line of mail, emigrant and pas
senger steamships between New York and one
or more European ports, authorizing the Post
master General to contract with the CONNER
cial Navigation Company of New York.
Mr.. Stevens of New Hampshire, introduced
joint resolution to provide for the appoint
ment OF an Auditor of Accounts OF Congress.
Referred to Committee on Accounts.
M. van Horn, of Missouri, from the Com-
mttee ON Indian Affairs reported bill for the
consolidation of the Indian treaties and to Or
game system OF government in the Indian
territory. Recommitted
MT COOK from the Committee on Roads and
Canals made report on the resolution ia re-
iatloh 10 the right of Congress to exercise con-
!ro' over railroads, and also presented minor
NY IePorC IN favor of Karr. Ordered to be
printed and recommtted
The House went into corNmttee of the wbola
ana resumed the consideration of the tax bill
commencing at section IS.
Ihe paragraph taxing retail Dealers in Sec
ZION o. was at the instance of the Committee
Oh ways and Means, amended so as to read
every person whose business it is to sell or of
Ier To- SAFE any goods wares OF merchandise OF
farel2n or domestic production, not including
Wines distllied spirits, malt malt liquors, crude
pelroieuhl, TOBACCO, snnff or cigars and whose
annual safes exceed $1,000 and do not exceed