The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-12-21
investigation to include the examipation ~ al

from among tue most distinguished men of tn
country outside of political life.
Mi. Sumner suggested the name of Gen
| Sherman, when Mr.. Sherman replied tina per
maps his friend, Mr.. Sumner, knew that Gen
Sherman had a decided opinion upon thi
question, and when once decided was almos
as lmpervlous 10 an opposite conviction, as til,
senator from Massachusetts himself
MIR. Sherman proceeded to discuss the causes
. | which led to the rejection of the Dominican
treaty in the Senate, chief among them beins
Inc want OF necessary information and the pc
cullsr circumstances under which the treaty
was negotiated, tending to create doubt and
hesitation in the absence of reliable data.
Remarks ware also made by Messrs. Buck
1ngham in support of the proposed reference
aud Davis to the effect that the resolution was
to further pet scheme of the President, which
was unconstitutional and monstrous
Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont opposed the resolu,
ton, as tending to commit the Senate in ad-
vance to the annexation project, which he re-
garded as unWise and full OF injury to the
| country.
Mr.. Edmunds favored the resolution as an
opponent OF annexation, believing that an in
vestigaton would demonstrate the irpolicy of
Incorporating the island into our political sys-
tenn Without disposing of the subject, the
Senate adjourned.
The report of the Committee on Foreign AZ
falrs relative to Paraguay was made the special
order for Thursday, Jan. 9th, to the exclusion
OF all other business. r5
Mr.. Ingersoll of Illinois obtained leave to
make personal explanation relative to the
i recent attack upon him in the New York Eve
ming Post =
The House then proceeded to the considera-
tion OF the amnesty bill, Mr.. Degener of Texas
ano Mr.. Manning OF North Carolina speaking
IN Iavor of general amnesty.
Mr. Bingham of Ohio then addressed the
House in support of his amendment, excepting
rom amnesty only the officers of ,he United
states in 1860 and 81 who participated in the
rebellion and those who since the Is. of June
last had falsely taken the iron clad oath.
MI. Fitch of Nevada spoke in favor of am
nesty.
Messrs. Griswold, Conner, Briggs, Shsler,
luxe, Mckee and Tillman also spoke IN favor
| OF general amnesty.
Mr.. Prossor of Tennessee argued that a large
portion OF the persons under disabilities in the
South were not willing to accept the situation
IN good faith, and were not prepared to abide
1y the legislation Of the Republican PARTY or
the democratic party even now. They were q
lawiess band of cOnspratOrs who did not de-
serve and ought not to receive any measure of
magnanimity from Congress- It was the full
intention Of the Democratic party by violence
ana az an.,mdatlon to carry every Southern State
fore demanded some measure of legislation that
would stop the lawless proceedings in every
Southern State.
Mr. Butler of Massachusetts at g. 80 moved
| Vh0 PtCNiouS 4uccLiOu Ou MT bingham 8
amendment, saying he wished to have the bill
In such position that he could move recon-
initial, and thought thatit was time to stop
this darrhoea of words.
Mr.. Bingham twice asked Mr.. Butler to in
| clude the whole bill as we'll as the amendment
in his motion for the previous question: adding
i that he wished the gentleman from MasSachu-
sets to keep faith with the House, and If not
he would ask the House to compel him to do
| SO; that was all. He remarked in an under
| fnna vuaS aIo
rage" The previous question was seconded,
| 81 to "a. -,- :
Mr.. Coburn's motion to lay the bill on the
table having been rejected, and Buffers being
| ton of his time to Messrs. Cable and Boag, ard
subsequently to motion to adjourn.
WARRINGTON.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2O.-Lieut. James M.
| Smith is relieved from duty as Indian agent,
and ordered home to await orders.
i-5gq- THE AGRICULTURAL REPORT.
The December report of the Department of
Agriculture estimates the crops OF corn
for the year 1870 at 1,100OO0OOO bushels;
Of tobacco 30O,0O0,0 900 pounds; of bay 10000
600 tons; OF potatoes Ill 900 900 bushels. The
hay crop is 10 per cent. and the potato crop 20
per cent. less than those of last year.
Full crops of peas, beans and fax are report
ed. That of sbuckwheat is smaller in the
New England States than last year, while
orchards, though remarkably productive in the
Eastern and Middle and Western States yield
ed less than usual in the south and on the
Pacific coast.
| seafsl- THE NATIONAL AsYLUMs. ..
The managers of the National Asylum for dis
eased soldiers were in session here to-day. The
whole number Of soldiers supported during the
past year was 4.194 an increase of 400 over last
| year. There were 142 deaths, more than one
half of which were from consumption and S91
were honorably discharged with recovered
health and in circumstances to earn their own
living. Qftbe whole 2,101 were supported at
the Central Asylum. Dayton, Ohio; ~ at the
eastern branch, Augusta, Maine; 700 at the
western branch, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; 451 at
Philadelphia, and 1875 by out door relief
All the labor and service at the asylum is
done by the inmates. Last year 663 paid in
sums varying from S. to S25 per month, the
sum of $67O0. A workshop is established ut
each asylum and last year realized $50 OO0
while the farm and gardens realized $29, 900
n ore. Each asylum has library and reading
room and there were taken out and read last
some go daily newspapers, over 200 weekhes
each asIeS Thsy havs ,s ss
are prepared as school teachers, book-keepers,
clerks and telegraph operators to earn living
for themselves. About 400 attended the
schools last year. There are amusement halls
with ten-pin alleys, billiards, bagatelle, etc,
and concert halls where musical and draWat-
give ample amusement to the inmates. There
are also chapels with regular religious exer-
cises at each asylum and Christian associations,
bible classes, S1nday schools and temperance
societies, etc.
These influences have worked a marked
change in the conduct and morals of the meo,
so that discipline has become easy and rules
almost unnecessary. The average ratons have
been only 20 l-3 cents per day, while the aver
age total cost of maintaining each man, in
| Guiding all pKDonspa .Of kind w On1v
$184 per annum, less, it is believed, than any
similar institution in the United States. The
managers will hold their next meeting in
March. --- r.es-7 t+-4.
THE PACIFIC RAILROADS.
Secretary Boutwell, to-day sent to the House
information relative to the financial account
between the Government and the Pacific Rail-
roads. He encloses various letters and Attor-
ney General Akermans opinion, which be
says the department accepts as correct inter-
probation Of the law in case it makes No recon-
mendations.
SEIZURE OF FISHING VESSELS
Il, The President to-day sent to Congress all
partment relative to the seizure of the schoon-
er Granada, of Provineetown, at Port Hood,
Ms. SEA =
NEW HAMPSHIRE
THE WEATHER.
SUMMIT MT. WASHINGTON, via Lttletor,
Dec. 20.-Observations taken at I o'clock p
M. barometer % OF; change $50. Their
mometer 159; change 60 rise. Relative hu
nudity .73. Wind s. W.. velocity CT miles per
hour. Showing all day.
(Sigued) J. H. HUNTINGTON.
PENNSYLVANIA.
THE RAILROAD CONVENTION.
ERIE, Pa, Dec. 20. The railroad men we're
n cal q Ia Inu 1oef sc1t