The Portland daily press., 1869-12-22
LATEST NEW S
BY TELEGRAPH TO TIE
XLIss O0NGRESS---Secoad Session.


requirement of the law for the filling of the
vacancy occasioued by the death of Mr.. FEES
sender as one of the regents of the Smithso
MAN Institution. The law provides that thi:
vacancy shall be filled in the same manner thai
committees are appointed.
Mr.. Cragln reported favorably with an
amendment, the bill TO provide for the execu
ton OF the law against polygamy i'll Utah.
Mr.. Spencer submitted resolution request
ing the Secretary of the Treasury to commune
cate to the Senate statement of the origina
cost OF the revenue cutters now employed and
information in regard to the number and com.
pensation of officers and men in that line.
Mr.. Warner introduced a bill for more
equal distribution of the National banking cap
ital, providing the amount of outstanding note:
to be issued to banking associations shall not
exceed S34O, 600, 900, and i'll issuing said notes
preference shall be given to banking associa-
lions in the section having the least National
bank circulation; that the Secretary of tle
treasury be required to retire and cancel Uni
ted States 3 per cent. certificates to the extent
OF the issue of bank notes under this act, and
shall cease to pay interest on per cent certi-
fcates of the United States Referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Mr. Sumner moved to take up the bill rela-
i've TO Geographic communications between
the United States and foreign countries. He
urged that prompt action was very important
Discussion ensued concerning the propriety
Of giving priority to this measure over others
deemed by other Senators equally important.
Mr.. Ramsey moved to go into executive SEES
sion. Agreed to, and at 1886 p. NJ. the doors
were closed.
After the lapse of an hour the doors were re-
opened, when Mr.. Sumner renewed his motion
to take up the bill relative to Geographic COM
munlcation between the United States and
foreign countries
Mr.. Trumbull urged the necessity of the con-
sideration now of the bill relative to restoring
Virginia.
Mr.. Howard stated his disposition in favor of
the restoration of Virginia so soon as her fidel-
acts can be shown. At present he desired fur
Their information on the subject.
MIR. Conkling, from the Committee on Reyis-
ion of Laws, reported favorably and without
amendment the House bill for taking the ninth
census. Mr.. Conkling made statement of his
reasons for reporting bill without giving it
more deliberate consideration.
Mr.. Wilson moved to recOmmit the bill to the
committee. The motion was agreed to.
MIR. Conkling, from the Committee on the
REVISION OF Laws, reported by direction of the
commissioner a joint resolution suspendipo
until February l, 1870, all the existing laws
relating to taking the census
Ih3 Joint resolution was taken up and passed
The motion of Mr.. Sumner to take up the
ocean telegraph bill was then agreed to, when
tne senate went into executive session for a
short time.
On the conclusion of the executive session
the Senate took up the bill relative to tele-
graphic communication, the question being
upon the proposed amendment of Mr.. Sumner
to make the bill applicable to existing as well
as future cables
Mr. COnkllng opposed the amendment.
Atter considerable discussion Mr.. Conkling
suggested an amendment protecting the rights
now enIoyed by the New York, Newfoundland
% LONDON Telegraph Company, and authoriz-
ing the extension of cables to the shores of the
United States at some point north of Cape
Hatteras.
Mr. Howe moved to recommit the whole sub
ject
On motion of Mr.. Howe the Senate took up
the joint resolution relating to steamboats, and
the vessels owned in loyal States, directing re-
endorsement of owners in loyal States of the
steamboats, and other vessels taken by govern
ment during the war. Mr.. Howe explained
that the bill passed the House at the last ses-
sion, but failed in the Senate for want of time.
The whole amount of compensation applied
for under the bill would not exceed 1898, 900.
The vessels here included were only those
which came within well matured regulations
The JOINT resolution was then passed.
Mr.. Hamlin moved to take up the bill to en-
courage and promote an International Expo-
sition to be held in Washington city in 1871.
Pending this motion the House as O. clock
adjourned.
HOUSE.
The reading of the journal was dispensed
with IN order thai debate on the Georgia bill
be continued.
Several members obtained leave to print their
speeches on the subject.
Mr. Potter of New York argued against the
bill lie regarded it as wholly unconstitution-
al, unnecessary and uuwise. This was but one
move in the daily strides towards centralized
and absolute government
MIR. Voorhees, of Indiana argued the bill, the
introduction of which he ascribed to the influ-
ence OF the President. His own position was
no aunI 70 l,n
even under the doctrine and action of Con-
gress she was State. Being therefore State
no should like to know from some one more
eminent in law than the present Executive
by what power the Federal government tells
State to organize her Legislature in one way
or another.
After long debate, at 3.15 P. M. Mr.. Bing-
hams motion to postpone the bill till the third
wednesday in January was rejected; 81 to i'll.
Inc republicans voting for it were Messrs
Bingham of Ohio FarnsWorth of Illinois. and
Finklebury of Missouri.
The amendment offered by Mr.. Beck was re-
lected and the bill then passed; yeas 121, nays
OIL. Among the negatives were Messrs. Bing
ham and Farnsworth.
The Senate Joint resolution suspending the
existing provisions of the law for taking the
census was taken up and passed.
Mr.. Nlblack, of Indiana, offered a concur
rent resolution to extend the recess from the
9th to the 10th January. He said he understood
UeGu Iildu6 NY IU6 principal
committees to hold their sessions during the
recess to prepare business for the House, so no
time would be lost by the proposed extension.
The resolution was sustained by Messrs. But
Ter OF Massachusetts,, and Schenck of Ohio,
and agreed to.
Mr.. Jones, of Kentucky, called up his reso.
luton, offered last week, requesting the Presi-
dent to detail one or more ships-Of-war to meet
at sea the English war ship coming to this
country with the remains of George Peabody
and convoy it into Portland; and he proceed
ed in support of the resolution to pronounce a
eulogy on the character of Mr.. Peabody.
Mr.. Swami, of Maryland, suggested an
amendment providing for committee of Con-
gress to attend the obseques of Mr.. Peabody.
Mr. Jones allowed that amendment to be
offered
Mr.. Schenck, of Ohio, moved to adjourn, CIV
ing notice that one reason for the motion was
to give time to gentlemen to consider the pro-
priety Of mourning the expense which the res
olutiOn would render necessary.
Mr.. Voorhees,, of Indiana, expressed his re-
greet that that remark should have been made.
Mr.. Schenck reminded the House that one or
more vessels of war had been detailed from the
American squadron in European waters to
form convoy, and that was sufficient. He
also reminded the House that Congress had al
ready given public testimony of its respect to
Mr.. Peabody. UngraciOus as it might be, he
would say that he would rather divide a little of
that respect and attention by sending ships to
uioOo eho uoOy VI oOuuC uuuUlo lliulf luudl poor
1t might be, who in proportion to his means
abroad, while the struggle was going on for
the life OF this nation, gave his time, his energy
and his endeavors along with his sympathes
to the Union; [Clapping of hands by several
stand alone, that up to this point he thought
they had done enough to manifest respect to
that individual, and that there were other con-
siderations which weighed on the minds of
some which would induce them to permit him
to be brought to his country and buried quiet
ly and honorably in the soil that gave him
birth.
Mr.. Swami said he would go as far as the
gentleman from Ohio to do honor to that class
whom that gentleman spoke of. He did not
think, however, that consideration of that
kind ought to be thrown out. Ii the resolu-
ton had not been introduced the House per-
haps might have done nothing; but these reso-
buttons were now before the House, and any
negative action would be construed by the civ
ilized world as mark of disrespect to the man
whom the civilized world delighted to honor
For that reason, if for no other, he desired ac-
ton on the resolution, and favorable action.
Mr.. Jones, of Kentucky, expressed regret
that any such discussion had arisen, and said
that his sense of propriety forbid him to allow
the discussion to proceed further. He there
fore moved the previous question.
Mr.. Schenck, of Ohio, moved to lay the reso-
luton on the table.
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts, moved to adj
journ.
Mr.. Schenck then withdrew his motion and
vote was taken on the motion to adjourn
The House refused to adjourn-yeas Al, nays
70.
Mr.. Schenck then said :-"Had been aware
of the fact that a unanimous consent was
asked to bring this subject before the House
certainly should have objected 1 do not OPP
pose the matter being before the House, and
having assumed its present form to make any
opposition to it. will not renew my motion
to lay on the table, but will let it go for what
,I,n+n