Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-03-19
FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS.

SENATE. Mr.. Conkling, from the Commit
tee on the Judiciary, to whom were referred
the credentials of Gen. Ames, reported the
same back with resolution that that gentleman
was not eligible to a seat in the United States
Senate from Mississippi.
Mr.. Rice, as a member Of the Committee,
said he did not concur in the report.
Mr.. Fenton offered joint resolution au-
thorizing the government to have the Tehun
tepec surveyed by corps Of engineers with
the view for the construction of a ship canal.
Mr.. Wilson offered the following as an
amendment which he intended to offer to the
Georgia bill:
That in consequence Of the disloyal organ
ization and revolutionary proceedings OF the
General Assembly of Georgia, it shall be and
hereby is declared that the term of service Of
the said General Assembly shall date from
the 26th of January, 1870 and shall continue
until the persons, TO be chosen on the Thurs
day after the first Monday of November, 1872,
members of the General Assembly Of said
State, are qualified rs provided in the
last clause of the second subdivision of
the first section of the third article of the
constitution of Georgia, in the following
words:
The General Assembly may by law change
the time of elections, and the members shall
hold until their successors are elected and
qualified, but it shall never be by anv leeisla-
tnre exercised SO as to extend the time of any
Office beyond the regulor period named in said
constitution; and the said General Assembly
shall by joint resolution consent to this funda-
mental condition before this act shall take
effect.
The Senate resumed consideration of the
Georgia bill.
Mr. Homroy made an argument to show
that the government of the state was now and
always had been since the war, provisional,
Mr.. Edmunds did not know and did not
care how he should vote. but wished it to be
understood that he in way acquiesced in
the construction that members of legislature
can perpetuate themselves in Office. Such a
construction was repugnaht to the spirit OF
our institutions and our republican form of
government, and therefore it would require
express language in the constitution to sus-
tain the position.
Mr. Stewart favored continuing the present
legislature in power for limited time, say
two years, as there could not now be any
thing like fair election or execution of the
laws in Georgia.
Mr.. Schurz said the question was not
whether the so called Bingham amendment
should be adopted or rejected but whether
any legislature could arbitrarily and by its
own act continue itself in office. He could
come to no other conclusion than to continue
the legislature in existence for two years be-
yond the term for which the members were
elected, would be an act of wanton and flag
rant usurpation and Furthermore, if Congress
Countenanced such an outrage, and encouraged
or winked at it, with full knowledge of the
fact with which to prevent it, Congress would
carried out in Georgia. Then the State could
make itself responsible if the laws could not be
be declared in state of instruction. Did
the Senators doubt the power or willingness
of Congress TO pass the necessary law to sup
press Instruction Was not the executive
power welded by Pre- sdent who would exc
cute the laws with vigor? Were they re-
duced to the pitable extreme that could pro-
tect citizens in their rights only by the viola
ton instead of the enforcement of the laws
the people accepted, or palliated a stretch of
power when the nation was in danger? But
be not deceived.
Mr.. Schurz further argued, that TO continue
the legislature in power, would be danger
Gus and short sighted policy for the repubii-
can party.
Mr. Drake said he would die in his seat
before he wonld vote for anything that would
tie loyal hands ir Georgia, and give aid to
their internal enemies.
The Senate then agreed to Mr.. Morton's
amendment, repeating so much of the army
ern states from organizing and calling out
militia. He proceeded to discuss the amend
ment offered by Mr.. Drake, in the form of an
additional section, allowing the President to
send troops TO southern states at the request
of governors or legislatures. Commanders in
arriving in disturbed districts, are to pro-
claim national law, suspend the habeas cor
pus, and collect transportation and other
states stores.
Mr.. Thayer and Mr.. Sherman supported
the amendment.
Mr.. Carter opposed the amendment.
Mr.. Hamln made few remarks, approx
ing Mr. Sherman's view, and suggesting that
it would be better to have a separate act to
meet the situation, than to incorporate such
mn amendment in this bill without action. The
Senate then adjourned till Monday.
House. After several petitions had been
referred, the bill allowing the application for
the further extension of the patent of X. Is
Goodyear originally granted on power looms,
was tyken up.
Mr.. Dawes of Mass, opposed the whole
system of selecting certain inventions and
having them extended to an undue length of
time, and hoped the House would cease Civ
ing encouragement to combinations and mon
opolies. Hr al..
The bill was defended by Mr.. Jencks Of
r. l. "a
Laid on the table. f Ia. ,a
Several bills allowing applications for ex-
tensions of patents were passed.
The House then went into Committee of
the Whole on the tariff bill, and was ad-
dressed by Mr.. Stevenson of Ohio, in con-
tisaation of his speech commenced last night
in favor Of reduction of taxation, and against
the protection of tariff. ~ ....,.,.yt. ,-,..4
The committee rose, and the House passed
a number Of bills relating to the District OF
Columbia, including one, establishing ten per
cent. as the maximum rate of interest, and
six per cent. when not otherwise stipulated.
The bill Incorporating the Washington and
Boston Steamboat Company was passed.
A bill was introduced and referred for re-
lief of families of the men lost on the United
States Steamer Maria, lately run down by
the Monitor Miantonomah. t.