The Portland daily press., 1869-03-19
Friday Morning, March 10, 1859.
XLIst OONGRBss---First Session,
SENATE.


WASHINGTON, March 18.-Mr. Sumner pre.
sented memorial asking the government Of
the United States to issue cali for an Inter-
national Congress of Republicans.
Bill 10 incorporate the Washington General
Hospital Asylum passed.
Mr.. Morton introduced a hill to provide for
the construction of military wagon road
through Dakota, Montana and Washington
Referred.
Mr.. Chandler introduced bill to. provide for
enrolling and licensing certain foreign vessels,
which passed.
Mr.. Harlan introduced bill relating to ope-
rating the pension laws and for other purposes
Referred.
Mr.. Ramsey, from the Committee on Post
Offices, reported, without amendment, bill
to encourage and facilitate Geographic com
munication with Europe. 1t authorizes the
American Atlantic Cable Company of New
York to take any route for laying their cable to
Europe.
Mr.. Conkling introduced bill to regulate
proceedings for the naturalization of aliens
Referred to the Committee ON Judiciary. 1t is
substantially the same bill as the one reported
from the committee last session.
Mr.. Kellogg introduced bill to provide for
the construction of railroad and telegraph
line near the 32d parallel to the Pacific Coast.
Referred to the Committee on Pacific Rail
roads.
On motion of Mr.. Sherman the bill supple
mental to the act to provide national curren-
cy, secured by pledge of United States bonds,
was taken up.
Mr. Wilson offered an amendment, which
was read
The expiration of the morning hour put the
bill over and brought up, as unfinished bust
ness, the bill to repeal the tenure of Office aot
Mr.. Morton resumed his argument in favor
of repeating the law.
Mr.: Davis followed in favor of unconditional
repeal.
Mr.. Brownlow then obtained the hoor He
was too feeble to read his remarks SO they we've
read by the Secretary. The passage of the
tenure of office act, he said, marked an import
ant era in the history OF our government; it
had imposed a long needed check upon the
usurpation of powers by the Executive, and
the advantage thus gained should not on any
account be yielded up. He was, therefore, op-
posed to the repeal of the law, although will
ing it should be modified so far as Congress
might think expedient; the chief reason given
for repeating it seemed to be the confidence of
Congress and the people in President Grant;
but that seemed to him no reason at all; no
one within or outside of the chamber had q
higher estimate than he of President Grants
character, but in considering such PROPOSE
ton as the one now pending he could not, nor
should the Senate be governed by anything so
unreliable as individual character, or SO evan
escent as individual life.
Mr.. Scout next took the floor, but immedi-
ately yielded for motion to adjourn.
Mr.. Trumbull announced he would press the
Senate to vote before adjourning tomorrow
The Senate then adjourned
HOUSE.
Various resolutions in reference to contested
eiecuons, referring to papers, extending time
Tor taking testimony &c., were referred To- the
committee on Elections. One of them, offered
by Mr. Woodward, in relation to the 81 at Dis
trct of Pennsylvania (Mr. Covode's) gave rise
to considerable discussion.
The resolution, on motion of Mr.. Schofield
was laid on the table-yeas 100, nays A.
The Speaker appointed Messrs. Jencks and
Niblack Conference Committee on Retrench-
ment. The disagreement is as to the compost
ton of the committee, the House desiring to
have 1t composed of four Senators and seven
Representatives, and the Senate three Senators
and four Representatives.
Mr., Hooper, from the Committee on Ways
and Means, reported bill to amend the act OF
10th Of July, 1858, imposing taxes on distilled
spirits and tobacco, which was ordered to be
printed and recommitted.
The bill modifies to some extent the provis-
ions OF the law as to ownership of real estate
on which distilleries stand, as to what consti-
tutes rectlhers OF spirits, and as to revenue
stamps on tobacco and snuff, and extends to
April 20, 1870, the time for withdrawing dis
titled spirits from bonded warehouses, subject
to the additional tax of one cent per gallon
per month.
Mr.. Farnsworth, from the Committee on Re-
construction, reported substitute for the SEN
ate Joint resolution as to the removal of civil
officers in Virginia and Texas. The substitute
provides that officers commanding in Virginia,
Mississippi and Texas, shall have thirty days
to complete removals from office of civil officers
who cannot take the test OATH
Mr.. Butler expressed regret that he was
compelled to oppose the first resolution re-
ported to the House from the committee OF
which he was chairman. He proceeded to ar
que against it, contending that there was no
necessity for it, and that its effect would be to
rehabiitate officers who were disqualified from
holding office.
Mr.. Maynard inquired whether the resou-
ton was to be considered as a republican or as
a democratic measure?
Mr.. Farnsworth replied that he labelled il as
a republican measure.
Mr.. Butler-And oppose it as a democratic
measure.
Mr.. Farnsworth-As am the older republi-
can, my testimony is at least as good as that of
the gentleman from Massachusetts,.
Mr.. Butler-Nothing but wine and cheese is
judged of by age.
Mr.. Farnsworth-I believe was republi-
can when my friend from Massachusetts was
in his republican swaddling clothes.
After further discussion the House refused
to second the previous question by 30 to 20,
and the joint resolution and amendment were
submitted to the Committee on Reconstruc-
ton.
The joint resolution reported Yesterday by
Mr.. Bingham, from the Judiciary Committee,
for the relief OF Blanton Duncan of KY, was
discussed by Messrs. Bingham, Schofield, Hoar
and Maynard.
The amendment offered yesterday by Mr.
Schoheld providing that Mr.. Duncan shall first
release all claims for rents or use of his prop
erty prior to the passage OF this act was agreed
to, and the resolution passed.
The Speaker announced that he had appoint
ed Mr.. Lawrence, of Ohio, to fill vacancy on
the Reconstruction Committee, to take rank
next before Mr.. Beck. Adjourned