The New York herald., 1869-03-12

which shall thereafter be the limit, and
and the number OF masters and ensig ms is fixed at
100 10 eecn grade. The number Of ofiicers In the
medical pay and engineer corps is 70 be reduced TO
epeclned nIniIs Joy ceaslng to make promOtons un-
til the limits are reached The marine corps Ii to be
constituted as folows:-One brgadier general, COM
mandant; one colonel, one lieutenant colonel, three
majors, one adjutant and Inspector one paymaster,
one quartermaster one assistant qpartermaster,
ty-four second lieutenants one sergeant major,
quarternaster sergeant one drum major, one prln-
clpai musician, 100 sergeants, $50 corporals, lSo
The reduction IL 10 be made by ceasing promotions.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
blls on eave were introduced and referred as fol-
BY Mr. WILSON, rep.) OF Maas.--Granting 100000
scoos q Il as ST s o 70 he
Committee on Public Lands Also for the removal OF
political disabilities from various persons. Referred
BY Mr.. HOWARD. (rep9 Of Mich.-Authorzing the
lines with the Northern Pacific Railway Company.
Referred 20 the Committee on Public Lands.
BY Mr. Pool gep.) OF N. C.-To dispense with the
Post OGlce Committee
BY Mr. PoxERoY, (repl Of Kansas--For the i'm.
actual settlers on Indian lands IN Kansas.
BY Mr. CoRBErr,. (rep.l OF Oregon-To establish a
department OF Indian affairs Referred to the Com
Also to aid In the construction OF the Oregon
branch Of the Pacific Railroad. Referred to the
BY Mr.. COLE, lrep) OF Cal.--To encourage and
facilitate elegraphicicommuncatlon ReferredIto the
BY Mr.. SUMNRR-Reating to telegraphic commu-
nicat0n between the United States and foreign
countries. Referred to the Committee on Foreign
BY Mr.. FERRY, rep, Of Conn.--To enforce the
fourteenth article OF the amendments TO the const
tuition. Referred to the Judiciary Committee.
RELIEF OF A. b. SHEPHERD.
On motion OF Mr.. HARLAN, (rep) OF Iowa, the
House joint resolution to supply an omission In the
by inserting nm item OF $1,000 for A. b. Shepherd,
amount Of check for Indian supplies, which check
CLAIMS AGAINST VENEZUELA.
On motion the President was requested TO inform
had paid the first nstalment due TO American citi
zens by award OF the mixed commission.
THR PUBLIC CREDIT BILL
The Senate then, at O'Clock, took up the bin to
strengthen the public credit and relating to con-
tracts for the payment OF com.
Mr. SUMNER moved to amend the bin by striking
out the second section, which iegalizes con
s, tracts TO & be hereafter made specifically ssan
favor 1 c Of TIN; the principle Of Of % the e section, A.
and had voted for It at the last session. but that
since the recent decision Of the Supreme Court on
policy OF passing It now. According to that deci-
sion contracts in gold were legal; what more was
| gressf He saw no reason why Congress should in
tervene In order to give any additional sanction 10
contracts In gold On the contrary he saw Difficult
ties IN the way. 1t was an embarrassing question
which had not been opened under the decision OF
the supreme Court. He had, therefore, come to the
conclusion that was better to rely that decision
as all-sunicient for the present.
Mr. snKRMAN. gep.l OF Ohio, opposed the amend
ment offered by Mr.. Sumner The TWO sections OF
| the Ill were harmonious. He had examined the
decision OF the Supreme Court The point decided
was simply that contract payable IN coin made
enforced. He was in favor OF the section, because
u would act as guard against usury IN restricting
| Is the consideration.
Mr.. COLE was IN favor of striking out the section
on account OF its effect on business in California,
which was generally done on coin basis. and be-
cause OF the legal inference to be drawn from de-
claring valid such contracts heretofore made.
Mr.. WILLIAMS, (rep.) OF oregon, was ia favor of
retaining the section, although lie did not attach
very much importance to It, He did not agree with
the legal proposition stated by the Senator from
California.
Ar. HOWARD was opposed to the section, because
he thought 1t an encroachment the rights Of the
States, the question Of private contracts being with
In the exclusive control o the State legislatures Ii
the section were to be retained he would move an
amendment to Il providing that such contracts
should be In writing.
MESSAGE FROM THE Observation-Disclosures SESSION.
During the discussion one OF the Presidents
taries General Porter, appeared and delivered
message in writing, and Immediately afterwards tat
sn minutes pas. one se senate on notion OF Mr.
CONSIDERATION OF THE PUBLIC CREDIT BILL RE-
suMED
The Senate resumed its legislative session at two
O'Clock and continued the consideration or the bill
TO strengthen the public credit and relating to con-
tracts FOR the payment Of coin. the question being
on Mr.. Summers motion TO strike out the second
section and Mr.. Howard's amendment to Mr.. SUM-
ners motion, providing that the contract shall be
written. That amendment was modified by making
the second section read that any written contract
hereafter made specifically payable IN coin &c. As
80 modified IL was agreed to-
Mr.. BAYARD, ldem.) OF Del, argued In favor OF
striking out the second section, saying that 1t
an attempt to emasculate the decisions OF the SUI
preme Court and that 1t would lead TO endless tga
ton.
striking out the sectlon or of amending it so to
read:-'sThat any written contract made specifically
payable in coin shall be legal and valid, aud may
be enforced according TO Its terms"
The discussion was further continued by Messrs.
Sumner, Corbett Ferry, Williams and Morton, all OF
whom argued against the second section.
Mr.. MORTON, rep.) Of Ind. confessed his surprise
at the decision OF the Supreme Court OF the United
States egazing coin contracts, and stated that u
in conflict with all the decisions that subject
| made by the Supreme Courts Of the various States.
Congress had it In It's power to remedy thai disas
| tr0us decision, and IL should do so.
Finally the question was taken on Mr.. Stewart 70
| amendment, and IL was rejected.
| The question recnrred on Mr. Summers amend
ment TO strike out the second section and resulted
| yeas n, nays las follows:--
YrAs-Msssrs. Bayard, Boreman Carpenter, cassery,
opS seDenad Morton, Nye Pratt Ross.on SOt Sawyer
sckarz, Scott. spraeue sewa stockton, Sumner, fhurma
Abbott, anthony BrowplOw Drake Grimes,
Sherman, Warner and williams-N
so the section was struck out.
| Mr. THURMAN, tdem.l OF Ohio, moved to amend
the first section by providing that 1t shall not apply
TO the iive-twenty bonds Rejected--yeas IL, nays
| 80 as follows:-
YEAs-Messrs Bsyard Boreman Casserly Cole, Morton,
Osborn Pratt Ross SprAgue, Stockton, Thurman and
ers-l2
NAYs-Messrs. Abbott, Anthony, Brownlow, Carpenter,
Conkng, Corbett Cragin Drake Fenton, Ferry GILBERT
Grimes, Hamn, Harris, Kellogg, Mcdonald, Morrill, Hye
art, Sumner Tiptcn, Trumbal, Warner and wIia,ns~S
Mr. MORTON moved TO amend the first section by
striking out after the word '.aw' the words ..ai-
thorizng the issue OF any such Obligation so that
II win read '.and OF all the interest bearing obliga-
tions OF the United States except In where the
fou haQa fnq
| In lawful money! &C.
He explained his amendment by showing that It
was not In every case that the law authorizing the
| issue OF bonds provided for the manner IN which
| they 10 be paid. That provision some.
times made IN the law, and therefore this section
| should he made general IN It's effect
Mr. MORRILL,, (rep.) OF VT, opposed the amend
ment and said the senator from Indiana was going
as far In his doctrines as Mr.. Pendeton who had at
| tanned such notoriety on that question.
Mr. MORTON retorted that the Senator from Yer
mont either did not know his mr. Morton's) position
or did not know Mr.. Pendleon's position. fIe went
ON TO argue that II the country would have returned
to specie payments before any OF these bonds be-