Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-12-16
F0RTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings.
THURSDAY. December 16.

THURSDAY. December 16
SENATE.-Mr. NORTH, of Maine. introduced
bill to provide reporters for Circuit Courts d
the United States. Referred 10 Judiciary Com
mittee.
Also, concurrent resolution to print s,eOs
copies of eulogies on late Senator Fessenden;
5000 for use Of House and 600 for use of Senate
Referred to Committee on Printing.
reported favorably bill to authorize erection OF
bridge over the Delaware river between
Philadelphia and Camden.
Mr.. Cragin introduced joint resolution autho-
rizing settlement of accounts Of John W.
Forney, late Secretary of the Senate, he having
settled all balances sgair st him.
N, MI; Cameron said he was now satisfied that
been wronged by the action OF his confidential
clerk. The Government would lose nothing,
put MI, Foney would lose largely. AZ he MT:
rather reflected upon Mr.. Forney, he conceived
1t his duty to say this much.
The Joint resolution was then passed.
Mr. Wilson offered resolution requesting Ju-
dietary Committee to inquire whether any fur
ther legislation is necessary to protect public
meetings in the District Of Columbia
had heard Of public meetings in this District
being Interrupted, and he believed 1t the right
Oh All citizens to meet together without inter
ruRf.oRM; Mo, The resosStion es @ wa was lad adopted; A.
reconstruction of the State of Georgia.
Mr. Morton moved to amend by providing
the Legislature snail be PROVISIONAL until it
has ratified the l4th and 18th amendments.
Mr. Carpenter oppose the amendment as un-
necessary and perncious. Unnecessary because
the people of Georgia would understand what
they were expected to do before they got in, and
perniciOus because hereafter i'm the discussion
upon these matters, it would be claimed that the
southern States had not ratified these amend
ments voluntarily.
Mr.. Drake inquired who would raise these OBJ
jections?
Mr.. Carpenter.-The enemies of the country
Su Mr: Drake.aOh, l supposed It might be the
supreme Court. L want this thing to be laid
down plainly, that neither States nor the Su-
preme Court can interfere with the sovereignty
OF Congress. want the infamy of that Georgia
Legislature wiped out / want those rebels i'm
the South, just as much rebels now as they ever
loyal people.
Mr.. Morton said that the objection of Mr..
Carpenter impeached all that had been done on
the subject of reconstruction. All the South
ern states had been required to ratify the 18th
amendment, and why should not Georgia he re-
quired to ratify the 18th amendment Colored
suffrage in those States would never be secure
until the ratification of the 18th amendment
and 1t was wrong to run any risk about it.
The morning hour here expiring the bill went
over and the unfinished business, being the bill
in relation to the appellate jurisdiction of the
supreme Court, was taken up.
MIR. Trumbun said this bill had not been re-
ported with any view to encroach upon the inde-
pendence Of the Judiciary. Such would be the
impression from remarks in the public press,
encroach upon the judicial. Non more than
he considered it essential that there should be
division or the powers Of Government, and no
man would do more than he to preserve the in
pendence of the Judiciary i'm its proper sphere:
and if he thought that this bill was going to
strike down the Judiciary it could not receive
cry which had been raised against the Supreme
Court in certain quarters. He had the highest
respect for that tribunal. The ablest men i'm
the country had sat there from time to time.
haI ly haa fbx-a ~
all respect. The present bill was not designed
to interfere with any case before the Supreme
Court: AS ne understood it, there was now no
the reconstruction acts. But efforts were Con-
so as % get from Il an opinion as to the e recon-
stfucdon acts. The Supreme Court has nothing
70 do with these acts, and this bill was to pre-
vent their being brought before it.
The first section of the bill declares that the
judhcial tribunals have no political power OF au-
thority to decide political questions. This is
where win den it. The Supreme Court has de-
clded II over A. over again. Mr.. II. alluded
te the Dred scott and Milligan decisions, where
the Court had travelled out of its proper sphere
10 aeliyer political essays and give its opinion
as 10 the powers Of Congress, and this unauthor-
lied departure from its legislative sphere of
duty had excited the disapproval OF the country.
HOUSE.-Mr. Schenck (Ohio) introduced a
bill to establish bureau of customs revenue in
the Treasury Department. Referred to Com
mittee of Ways and Means.
Af. Knott (Ky.) introduced a bill to amend
the laws Of the United States relating to collec-
tors and assessors OF internal revenue. Referred
to Committee of Ways and Means.
Mr.. Stone Md introduced a bill to repeal the
tax Of ten per cent. on notes OF State banks:
Referred to Committee of Ways and Means.
Mr. Dawes lMass.) introduced a resolution
that the Committee on the Judiciary be instruct
ed to inquire If any further legislation Is neces-
sary to provide for the determination of any
election contest that may arise in the electoral
cohege. Referred to Committee on the Judi
oiary.
Mr.. Whittemore offered joint resolution ap-
propriating Sl30 900 to enable the Secretary of
group Of statuary in marble tor the south wing
Of the Capitol, so that the building may be com
pleted by 1875. THE group proposed is a match
piece to the Progress Of Civilization" now
upon the pedment of the north wing to
"embOdy the great feature Of emancipation and
fix in unperishabiy form the "Act" whereby
four million bOndmen were made free.'1 Re-
and Grounds.
Mr.. McGrew West va.) offered a resolution
that the Committee on Foreign Affairs examine
fi the accounts Of Andrew Cauldwell, deceased,
titled to relief to make report accordingly. Re-
ferred to Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Mr.. Paine lWis;) introduced bin for the i'm
prOyement of the harbor Of Kenosha, Wisconsin
Referred to Committee on Commerce.
The regular order Of business was then de-
manded, and the House probeeded to the con-
tee of the Whole to the Census bill
The amendments were agreed to without di-
vision until Mr.. Farnsworth's amendment to the
franking privilege section was reached, when
separate vote was demanded. The amendment
provided that accurate accounts should be kept
of money expended for postage, and that the
money should be refunded, and this to be in lieu
OF the exercise of the franking privilege. The
amendment was rejected.
Mr.. Bailey IN. W moved to reconsider the
vote whereby the 6th section of the bill was
adopted yesterday. The amendment provides
for the appointment Of almost as many experts
as superintendents and district superintendents
may see proper to appoint.
Mr.. Jenckes (R. I) moved to lay the motion
to reconsider on the table. The motion was re-
jected-yeas sc, nays Ill.
The House then rec0nsidered the vote by
which the section was adopted, and the question
recurring upon its adoption, it was rejected.
The bill was then passed, and the title was
amended 50 as to make IL read Gan act to pro-
vide for taking the ninth census Of the United
States"
Mr.. Loughridge offered the following resolu-
ton, which was adopted:
Whereas il Is alleged that the Washington and
Georgetown Rrilroad Company, Q corporation char
tered BY Congrsse and given valuable privileges and
fra5ehises in the District q Columbia has returned
their original investment and fifty per cent In
addition thereto, besides acquiring several acres OF
valuable property In the District Of Columbia, and
has, IN many respects, maintained its charter and
tailed ior the last years TO keep its cars In clean
Bs e Ssscicsd, That the COMMITTEES On the District
Of Columbia be, and is hereby directed TO inquire
INTO the exPedency Of the passage Of bill prohibit