The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-01-14
TIE FORTIETH CONGRESS.


WASHINGTON, Jan. Is 1869.
The PRESIDENT presented communication from
the Secretary Of the Interior transmitting certain
papers relating to Indian afYairs.
NEW SYSTEM OF TELRGRAPHNG.
Mr. SUMNER, (rep.) OF Mass, presented the petition
OF Mahon LOOMS, N. D., Of the District OF Column
ba setting forth that he has discovered and invented
new mode Of telegraphing, dispensing with the use
OF wires ana using the earth now to form onehalf
of the circuit ana the continuous electrical element
far above the surface Of the earth for the other part
Of the crcu and asking an appropriation Of
value Of his invention Mr. sumner said, In present
ing the petition he merely performed duty but he
OF moonshine or else II marked an epoch In the
progress Of invention. The petition was referred to
the Committee on Patents.
ton Of Charles Cattel Of Williamsburg virginia,
for the removal OF his political disabilities.
THE OREGON PACIFIC RAILROAD
Mr.. WILLIAMS, trep.) OF oregon offered an amend
and to the Oregon branch Of the Union Pacific Rail-
road, and moved its reference 70 the same commit
tee with the original bin. 1t provides that the gov
merely guarantee the payment OF the interest on the
bonds OF the company.
ELRcTroN OF REPRESENTATIVES, IN CONGRESS-.
Mr.. BucKALEw, (dem.) OF Pa, introduced bill to
modify the system OF representatives Of the people In
Congress. II Is AZ follows
IL
more than represnatve . be from state,
number Of votes equal 70 the HunOsr spi natives to be
y s s .sa sS s sans osa to
the greater number o. canddstes and The csnddAes
on motion Of Mr.. BucKALEw the bill was referred
to select committee to be appointed by the Presi.
dent pr0 le,R, who is one Of the compittee.
Mr. u n 5vs Z aSs up s1 al reported BY
him Yesterday to provide for the removal to this
country OF the remains Of Mr.. CogsweL late Minister
Mr.. M0RRII- trep.) OF Vt. opposed the bin as IN
constitutional and constituting bad precedent
were 90 peculiar that Il could hardly be made pre-
cedent for future action except In . similar case.
REsoyxI x or F' CASES TO THE FEDERAL COURTS.
Mr.. CAMERON, trep.) OF Pa. moved to take Up the
bill to extend the provisions OF the act OF March.
1904 relating to hsoess CORPUS ana t 70 q ave
removal Of cases from the State to the federal
courts In any suits or prosecutions against common
carriers for any damage done 70 property occa-
stoned by persons hostile to the United states.
Mr.. GRIMES, trep.l Of Iowa, desired some expana-
Mr.. CowKfrNG said that the necessity for Il had
arisen ont Of the fact that In the Southern States
particularly. to his knowledge In Georga-suits are
holders resided during the war in loyal States by
citizens OF the South for damages for properly OF
fcrces. The Gefendants wish to raise the question
whether they were deprived OF the property by the
public enemy: but the state courts rule against
them ana refuse TO make any ruling on which an
exception can be taken az to the question OF law
ana submit to the juries as mere questions OF
fact--virtually as q question OF damages The pur-
pose Of this bill was to enable the defendants In
such cases transfer them to the federal courts,
"a 10 have the question whether the property was
Mr. EpNuNDs, (rep.) Of Vt, thought there was
some doubt whether the bill was CONSTITUTIONAL be-
cause It proposed TO allow the removal OF cases from
the state to the federal courts without regard 10 the
citizenship OF the parties,
After somesurher discussion OF the bill II passed,
by vote OF 80 yeas to 10 nays
RELIEF OF MISS MURPHY, OF ALABAMA.
The Senate then resumed the consideration OF the
bill for the relief or Sue Murphy, OF Decatur, Ala.
Mr. WILLIAMS said he had had some difficulty In
making up his mind how 10 vote on this bill. Hts
sympathies were on one side ana his Judgment on
the othor About the law ofte he had no doubt.
II Mas Murphy should bring suit at law 10 re.
cover damages for the taking and use or her property
she must certainly be defeated upon principles Of
International law already stated In the course Of
the debate he commended that no citizen Of any Of
the so-caled Confederate states during the war mad
any right To demand anything rom the government
OF the United States, and that everything done Tor
ter OF favor not Of right. The Senator nom lndl-
ana mr. Mortonl had asked yesterday why loyal
citizen OF Alabama should not he paid for HIS pro-
perry taken and used by tho government, just es a
ctizcn or New York would be paid Tor his properly
under the same circumstances. The fallacy lay IA
tne assumption that property. could have been
tAkcn IN New YORK under the same circnnl-
stances as IN Alabama. sDuTing the war
nruneriy NJ New YORK was under the pro-