The Portland daily press., 1870-02-11
XLIst C0NGRESs---Secoud Session,
SENATE.

oENAIE
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.-A Joint resolution
was introduced that 10 agricultural colleges
shall be allowed land grants unless instruction
is given regardless of lace or color. Referred
Mr.. Chandler, from the Committee on Com
merce, reported favorably on the bill to pro-
mole commerce among the States, and author
iziDg railways from the city of Washington to
New York, to Pittsburg, and to Cincinnati,
aud telegraph lines from Washington to the
two latter points.
A greater portion Of the morning hour was
consumed by Mr.. Scott in reiutatioa of the
theories and statistics of the Special Commits
sioner of Internal Revenue, and particularly
as to the cost of the manufacture OIL pig IRON.
Upon the expiration of the morning hour
Mr.. Ramsey made an effort to bring before the
Senate a oil to abolish the ranking privilege
remarking that he had been instructed by The
Postal Committee to urge its immediate con-
sideration.
Mr.. Morrill, of Maine being awarded the floor
called up the bill making appropriations to
supply uiiciencies 10 the appropriations to the
naval service for the present fiscal year. He
explained that the bill was intended 10 enable
tue Navy Department to meet the exigeucles
of the public service, and that the amount APP
proprialed bad beeu reduced to the lowest fig
ures consistent with the interests of the gov
eminent.
The bill was then passed with an explanato-
ry amendment.
On motion of Mr. Tfumbull the Mississippi
the chair to be upon The amendment of The
committee 10 strike out from the bill the pre-
amble and all conditions, Leaving the simple
proposition to admit the State to representa-
ton.
Mr. Trumbul made statement EXPLANATORY
Of the prescnt c-'IIdrsion OF n4 airr il, Mssssin3
pi, ree.iDS that of four preeorfptrve cfaimS
OF the constitution submitted to the people by
the State Convention, three had been rejected
by the voters of that State; the constitution in
the main being adopted by an Almost unani-
nous vote. He said that the Mississippi bill
which passed the House was the exact COW of
the bill admitting Virginia, which contained
various conditions, but the Judiciary Commit
Tee now, as in The former case, were opposed to
5he imposition of CONDITIONS. They believed
that our Union could not long exist as con-
federation of unequal States, and therefore the
Committee proposed, inasmuch As official poti-
ticatou had been received of the ratification of
the H. and 18th amend ments TO the constilu-
ton, that toe State Was entitled to representa-
ton.
The bill gave rise to lengthy discussion up
| on the policy of imposing fundamental condi-
| tious prior to the representation of State in
| Congress Messrs. TrumbulI, Morton and
Stewart favored unconditional representation,
| aud Messrs Pomeroy, Edwards and Allison
opposed it.
Debate on the bill continued until adjourn
ment.
A bill was introduced for the establishment
| VI d. SttduSuip HUG VI CulUd
The resolution reported some time since
| from the Committee on Foreign Afflirs, call
ing gu the President for Information CO Germ.
ing the imprisonment of American citizens in
England for political offenses, came up for
discussion in the morning hour.
Mr.. Wood of New York addressed the House
on the subject, taking strong ground against
| the British government. He blamed the Pres
ident for not having taken steps to effect the
| release of the prisoners 10 bis message to
/ fba do nt q n Ga
| for struggling patriots; but words were che p.
| This House, however, should do ITS duty. Et-
| ficient intelligence on the subject shOnld be
| got from tne State Department, and then it
| be that Congress, If not Congress the Ameri-
| can people would demand the release of their
country men from the British peope. If nego-
tiation failed, then they should appeal to the
God of battles, that high umpire which was
| sometimes most ecumenical, most wise aud
most judicial. The Presidents mind was on
| other subjects. He was seeking to strengthen
his own political position by enlarglng the
| area of negro dominion
The discussion was further continued by
| Messrs. Haight of New Jersey, Schumacher of
New York and Wilkinson of Minnesota and
the matter went over.
MIR. Wood OF New York asked leave to offer
a resolution directing the Committee on APP
preparations to refund to the CITY of New York
the monies disburSed i'll 1861 under the direc-
ton of the Union Defence Committee, amount.
ing to nearly million of dollars.
| Mr.. Cullom of Illinois objected, unless an
appropriation to Illinois was connected with
| it.
Mr.. Banks of Massachusetts moved that the
privilege of the floor this day be given to Mr.
John Kits, the gentleman standing by bis
side, who was born in 1862, was a sol der of the
revolution, witnessed the surrender of Corn.
wallis at York town, and had also served in the
war OF 1872. The motion was agreed 10 unaui-
mously, and the old gentleman was soon sur
rounded bv the members, with whom he chat
ted in lively and lgent manner shown
but slight indications of his extreme age.
The House then went into committee of the
whole on the Legislative Appropriation bill.
A very sharp personal debate took place
confined chiefly to Messrs Bntler of Massa
chusetts and Cox of New York. At 4.3O the
committee rose and the House adou rned.